Will Trees In Center Lanes Make Seattle's Aurora Avenue Safer? A Study's Findings

James

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Post on May 13, 2025

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Will Trees in Center Lanes Make Seattle's Aurora Avenue Safer? A Study's Findings

Aurora Avenue, Seattle's infamous "death strip," has long been a concern for traffic safety advocates. With its high speeds and lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, accidents are tragically common. Now, a new study is examining a potentially game-changing solution: planting trees in the center median. But will this ambitious greening project truly make Aurora Avenue safer? Let's delve into the findings.

The idea of using trees as a natural traffic calming measure isn't new. Studies have shown that greenery can reduce speeds and improve driver behavior. By creating a visual barrier and subtly narrowing the perceived roadway width, trees can encourage drivers to slow down and pay more attention. This is especially important on a high-speed arterial like Aurora Avenue, where even minor inattentiveness can have devastating consequences.

The Seattle Study: A Closer Look

The recent study, commissioned by [insert commissioning organization name here, if known], analyzed the impact of the newly planted trees in the center median of a section of Aurora Avenue. Researchers collected data on several key metrics, including:

• Average vehicle speed: Did the presence of trees lead to a statistically significant reduction in average vehicle speeds?
• Accident rates: Did the number of accidents (both severity and frequency) decrease after the tree planting?
• Driver behavior: Did the trees influence driver behavior, such as lane changes and following distances?
• Pedestrian safety: Did the trees impact pedestrian behavior and safety, particularly near crosswalks?

Preliminary Findings: A Mixed Bag

While the full study is still under review, preliminary findings suggest a mixed bag of results. While some data points towards a slight decrease in average vehicle speed, the reduction wasn't dramatic. Accident rates, unfortunately, haven't shown a significant decrease either. However, the researchers emphasize that the study period is relatively short, and more time is needed to collect sufficient data to draw definitive conclusions.

Challenges and Considerations:

The study highlights several challenges associated with using trees for traffic calming:

• Limited impact on high-speed roadways: The effectiveness of tree planting as a traffic calming measure might be limited on roads with already high speeds like Aurora Avenue. Other complementary safety measures might be necessary.
• Maintenance and upkeep: Maintaining healthy trees along a busy roadway requires significant resources and ongoing maintenance.
• Visibility concerns: In some areas, the trees might inadvertently obstruct visibility for drivers and pedestrians, potentially negating some of the safety benefits.

Looking Ahead: A Multi-faceted Approach

The study's findings underscore the need for a multi-faceted approach to improving safety on Aurora Avenue. While trees can contribute to a more aesthetically pleasing and potentially safer environment, they are unlikely to be a standalone solution. Other crucial improvements include:

• Improved pedestrian infrastructure: Adding more crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and dedicated pedestrian walkways.
• Reduced speed limits: Implementing lower speed limits in key areas.
• Enhanced street lighting: Improving visibility at night.
• Increased enforcement: Stricter enforcement of traffic laws.

Conclusion:

The jury is still out on whether trees alone will transform Aurora Avenue into a safer roadway. The preliminary findings from the study offer a cautious optimism, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach involving a combination of engineering, design, and enforcement strategies. Only time and further data analysis will reveal the true impact of this ambitious greening initiative. We will continue to monitor this ongoing study and provide updates as they become available. In the meantime, let's all remember to practice safe driving habits on Aurora Avenue and throughout the city.