Pedestrian safety is an important issue | Letter
Published 2:57 pm Monday, February 23, 2015
My wife and I have lived in Kenmore since 1996. On numerous occasions we have tried to impress Kenmore City Hall with our concerns regarding the safety issues along 64th Avenue Northeast, especially between Northeast 184th Street and Northeast 187th Street.
Parents, students, children in strollers and pets use the street with the only protection being the striping marking off the safe-zone. Automobiles will be parked in that zone. The residential speed is supposed to be 25 miles per hour, but is frequently not honored, even with the striped traffic control bumps. We don’t have any sidewalks from Northeast 184th Street until almost up at the Summit.
The Northeast 187th Street and 64th Avenue Northeast intersection is a four-way stop, that often is not observed. A lot of vehicles pause, slow, roll through or just plain ignore the stop signs. The added danger is found in the offset traveling south on 64th Avenue Northeast. The 64th Avenue Northeast jogs as one crosses the intersection.
The dip or swale on the north side of the intersection blinds the drivers from seeing pedestrians south of that intersection. The driver’s speed approaching the intersection is an important issue. We have had pets killed unfortunately. The drivers that approach the intersection from the west, particularly, don’t come to a full stop before turning. The residents who back out of their drive ways up onto 64th Avenue Northeast, often have the turning cars on their back bumper, irritated with those of us who are traveling at 25 miles per hour.
The Feb. 20 article [in the Kenmore Reporter] dealing with seeking awareness and safety for roads is an important issue. I hope that our residential street will see an implementation of safety improvements.
It would be helpful to have a digital reader sign posting the vehicles speed, as found elsewhere in Kenmore. It would be nice to be included in plans for sidewalks.
We always appreciate the presence of our police in monitoring the traffic, especially at times devoted to leaving for work and school or upon returning home.
Dr. Terrell Kjerulf, Kenmore
