Thanks for the love

We would like to thank everyone in the Northshore community for their recent acknowledgements, sympathies, words of wisdom and, above all, love during our grief over the loss of our son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, Peter Andrew Kienast. Our hearts are aching, but we are trying to remember his spirit and his “million-dollar” smile.

The Kienast family

Bothell

All this road,

nowhere to walk

I’ve lived in the Bothell/Kenmore area for more than four years now, and live along the State Route 522 construction zone that runs through Bothell and Kenmore.

First, let me say I agree with the changes being made, it’s a step in the right direction. However, I do feel that as far as pedestrian safety goes, there is much more that needs to be done. From the 96th Avenue Northeast/SR 522 intersection (which leads to Wayne Golf Course) to 80th Avenue Northeast, there is no safe area to walk.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I read no plans to put in sidewalks either. While I understand that traffic takes a precedent with more and more people taking/relying upon mass transit to get around, I feel that sidewalks/protected walkways are essential. There are about two to three bus stops along the aforementioned stretch of roadway, yet no safe way to get to any of the stops, or to cross the street. There are several residential developments, apartments and condos (I live in one) and no way to walk to the bus stop a few blocks away.

I can understand why an engineer would not think to put in sidewalks what with the Burke-Gillman trail running along the road there, but there is no way to access the trail from the road. No trail down, no stairs — nothing. I propose either putting in sidewalks/or protected walkways along that stretch of road with another traffic light and crosswalk at the 91st Avenue Northeast/SR 522 intersection, or we put trail-access areas, at least three of them along that road stretch along with a traffic light and crosswalk at 91st Avenue Northeast.

I know this sounds like a major undertaking, but it’s really not. If we’re going to be paying over $4 a gallon for gas, we’re going to be seeing more and more people taking mass transit and we need to do everything in our power to assist/promote that. I urge the cities of Bothell and Kenmore, King County and the Washington State Department of Transportation to address not only the growing need for improved roads, but also the improved need for mass-transit access and pedestrian safety.

Matthew Kirchner

Bothell