Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) 2024

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This project has concluded.


The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a rolling 6-year plan updated annually with a focus on maintaining the existing transportation network and improving it in a thoughtful, safe manner working within financial constraints. The TIP covers City roadway, pedestrian, bicycle and other transportation projects. Review the 2024-2029 TIP here.

Note: The City has an existing long-term plan that identifies various future upgrades in pedestrian and bicycle facilities, many of which are adopted into the TIP.

Each year, public comment and staff input are gathered to inform new proposed additions to the TIP; then the City Council makes the final decision on each project's priority. Projects would be implemented between 2025-2030.

You can learn more about the TIP on this page and then post your comment or add a note to the interactive map (comments received by May 15 will be included in the materials for the June 4 public hearing). Some public comments may fall outside the scope of the TIP - please check the list below to see who else you might need to contact:

  • For general public works service requests (e.g. potholes, missing signs) please use our online tool.
  • For traffic enforcement issues (e.g. speeding, parking) please contact the MIPD.
  • For I-90 operational issues, contact WSDOT.
  • For Light Rail construction issues, contact Sound Transit.

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a rolling 6-year plan updated annually with a focus on maintaining the existing transportation network and improving it in a thoughtful, safe manner working within financial constraints. The TIP covers City roadway, pedestrian, bicycle and other transportation projects. Review the 2024-2029 TIP here.

Note: The City has an existing long-term plan that identifies various future upgrades in pedestrian and bicycle facilities, many of which are adopted into the TIP.

Each year, public comment and staff input are gathered to inform new proposed additions to the TIP; then the City Council makes the final decision on each project's priority. Projects would be implemented between 2025-2030.

You can learn more about the TIP on this page and then post your comment or add a note to the interactive map (comments received by May 15 will be included in the materials for the June 4 public hearing). Some public comments may fall outside the scope of the TIP - please check the list below to see who else you might need to contact:

  • For general public works service requests (e.g. potholes, missing signs) please use our online tool.
  • For traffic enforcement issues (e.g. speeding, parking) please contact the MIPD.
  • For I-90 operational issues, contact WSDOT.
  • For Light Rail construction issues, contact Sound Transit.

Post a Public Comment

We encourage you to use the mapping tool ("Map Your Input") to attach your comment/suggestion to a certain location. 

But if you have a general comment, you may also post it below; all comments will be considered as part of the public record and are reviewed by staff. You will be asked to sign in, or register (30-seconds), so that we can contact you if needed. Be a good neighbor and keep your comments civil - please refer to our moderation policy for more details. 

Remember to include location information, such as an intersection or street address of the nearest house/building. [ If you have a specific question about the TIP process, please contact the Public Works Department at PublicWorks@mercerisland.gov]

This project has concluded.


93rd Ave SE needs speed bumps or other traffic calming measures. There is a constant flow of dangerous teenage drivers that use our street to get to the high school. They can speed down our street because 92nd Ave SE has speed bumps. These new, distracted drivers will eventually hit one of the many small children and other pedestrians that enjoy walking on our street.

LD 5 months ago

Please include Traffic Calming Improvements to 93rd Ave SE near high school (between 4oth St and 43rd Street) . The residents of 93rd AVE SE are active, multigenerational with over 25 kids ages 2-16, as well as 12 senior citizens. Most of the residents frequently walk, ride their bikes, or scooter around the block and a hot topic is the safety of recreating on our street. In addition, other Mercer Island community members often come to this area to bike given the flat 1/2 mile loop . We have seen an increase in speeding and distracted drivers on our road over the last few years, especially during the school year and peak game days given the proximity to the high school. Speed bumps were added to 92nd Ave SE, which seems to have contributed to increased number of drivers on 93rd Ave SE. Just this morning I witnessed reckless driving with a vehicle speeding and driving on the left side of the road to pass another vehicle during peak hours. We have requested support from Rebecca O'Sullivan, and are requesting improved traffic calming measures as part of the TIP.

martina 5 months ago

This is Mark Clausen. These comments are identical to an email I sent to Council today. These comments follow up on my comments at the meeting of 6/4. As I mentioned in those comments, the community survey shows Mercer Island does a lot of things well, but not everything. If the Council wants to raise the level of the City’s game, it needs to focus on the areas where it is not doing well – not those where the citizens report a high level of satisfaction.

Prominent among those is the “condition of bicycle infrastructure in City.” See attached. As I mentioned in my comments, this rating is inadequate given the high ratings of City services for many other services; and given the fact that Mercer Island is home to hundreds of serious cyclists, hundreds more casual cyclists, and some of the best cycling roads in the nation. There is no good reason for the City that rates so high for parks, trails and open space should rate so low for other cycling infrastructure.

First let me point out where I think the City has done a great job with cycling infrastructure: (1) paving the shoulders on the Mercers; and (2) expediting the approval and work on the bike skills area. You and staff should be applauded for all the fine work in the past and going forward. These are the kinds of projects that will raise the community rating of the City’s cycling infrastructure. Please do more. Similarly, repaving East Mercer Way with HMA instead of chip seal makes riding those sections simply amazing. Thank you for these efforts.

Where is the City falling down? First, as other Neighbors in Motion commenters have pointed out, the N-S bike route is the orphan stepchild that deserves better treatment. We have heard repeatedly from City staff that this project is not important enough to merit staff time and attention. The latest excuse is that every City staff person needs to spend every minute of their time on the SPU pipeline break. Before that there were multiple other excuses. These need to stop and Council needs to instruct the staff to devote what will be a modest amount of time and money to getting the N-S bike route off the drawing board and onto the streets of Mercer Island. This will significantly improve the City’s cycling infrastructure.

What else? For starters, look at what Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond and other more enlightened cities are doing with cycling infrastructure. The most obvious would be separated bike lanes around Mercer Island’s schools. If there were separated bike lanes, kids could ride safely to school without fear of being run over by an oversized SUV or truck that is too large to effectively see children at certain angles. It also would encourage adults who are concerned about traffic conflicts to get on their bikes for routine trips.

You can see long lines of cars at every school at the start and finish of each school day. Parents believe they must drop off and pick up their darlings at school. This requires District staff to deal with the drop-offs, increases traffic on the Island, and obviously contributes a large share of the greenhouse gases produced by a city without an industrial or agricultural base. The City has done little or nothing to create the infrastructure so that families can ride safely and without fear of being run over.

Alternatively, the City, along with the District, could facilitate the creation of a “bike bus,” which basically is a mass of parents and kids who ride to school together. Here’s some coverage by the Washington Post about what other cities are doing:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/climate-environment/cars-are-overrated-join-a-bike-bus-instead/2024/05/24/724bfe1f-2da5-4601-b5a8-f114257aa907_video.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/10/11/bike-bus-school-sam-balto/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/06/04/bike-to-school-skip-the-car-line/

The city should prioritize creating the infrastructure that will allow kids and their parents to leave cars behind and ride bikes to and from school. This obviously will improve Islanders’ health, fitness and quality of life; reduce traffic; and shrink the city’s carbon footprint. Similarly, the City should drive a stake through the heart of the plans that repeatedly crop up to remove the pitiful few bike lanes on the Island from the Town Center. There need to be more bike lanes in the Town Center, not fewer, especially since they will be arteries leading from our residential areas to the Sound Transit train station.

I took classical organ lessons from a distinguished instructor. He insisted that I focus on the sections of pieces where I made mistakes. Focusing on what I played well, he said, only expanded my mediocrity. The Council should avoid the temptation to expand mediocrity and move swiftly and forcefully to improve an obvious problem area. Regards, Mark Clausen

Mclausen 5 months ago

Please update street design guidance to reflect best practices. Mercer Island's existing design standards concerning lane widths makes for unnecessarily wide right of way and turn radii that dramatically increase project impact area and decrease road safety.

Island Crest Way 'missing link' is critical example where the consultants recommended 12.5' lane widths which is wider than currently recommended for Interstates (12') and dramatically out of line with guidance from industry, government, and research organizations that recommend 10'-11' for similar roadways.

These wider lanes resulted in a high number of proposed tree removals and increased costs due to larger project area footprint.

Please see a list of agencies and organizations below recommending 10-11' guidance.

Federal Highway Administration
Transportation Research Board
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
National Association of City Transportation Officials
Washington State Department of Transportation
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health - Narrower Lanes Save Lives

It is critical we adopt new standards that reflect the dramatic shifts in road design that have occurred in recent history - most notably through the adoption of a Safe Systems Approach in 2022 by the FHWA via the new National Roadway Safety Strategy.

The failure to adhere to new standards unnecessarily burdens projects and creates inferior outcomes.

Additionally, with forthcoming light rail we must develop strong walking and biking connections to the station to increase access for all users.

Trevor Reed 5 months ago

Please give priority to cycling safety and continuity of routes on Mercer Island. The comments you have from Neighbors in Motion include many useful details for both the north end bike route through the bus loading zone and for opening and improving the 'missing link' for cycling through the midsection of the island around Island Park Elementary.

dan 6 months ago

Petition for Traffic Calming and Safety Improvements on 71st Ave SE

We, the undersigned, are concerned residents of the neighborhood along 71st Ave SE, from 24th St SE to the junction of 70th and 71st Ave SE. Our community elected a traffic safety committee in 2021. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all street users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Despite previous communications with the city, where we highlighted unsafe conditions, only spot changes facilitated by Lia Kleine (formerly Transportation Engineer) have been made. The street remains hazardous. A few weeks ago, there was almost a head-on collision with a child bicyclist and a car driving too fast around the corner.

We have been grateful to work with Rebecca O’Sullivan (current Transportation Engineer) this year to begin addressing our concerns with a holistic solution. This street serves as a crucial pedestrian artery into the First Hill neighborhood and requires immediate attention for the following reasons:

1/ Limited Visibility at Corners: The intersection at 71st Ave SE comprises a 90-degree and a 120-degree corner, both of which have severely restricted sightlines, particularly in the evenings.

2/ Inadequate Street Width: The midsection of 71st Ave SE, especially at 2700 71st, is only 16.5 feet wide—significantly narrower than the 22-foot standard, making it insufficient for two cars to pass simultaneously.

3/ Lack of Safe Pedestrian Pathways: Approximately 20 children under the age of 10 live within 40 feet of this street. They frequently use the street to move between homes and to access school bus stops, yet there are no sidewalks available for safe travel.

Given these critical issues, we urge the city to:

1/ Prioritize street resurfacing for 71st Ave SE in the 2024-2025 maintenance schedule.

2/ Add our street in the regular cleaning maintenance schedule. Our street is currently only cleaned 1-2 times a year.

3/ Conduct a safety review that considers new permanent traffic calming measures to replace the existing spot changes (such as the deteriorating laminated road signs).

We believe these actions will significantly enhance the safety and quality of life for all residents along 71st Ave SE, the larger First Hill neighborhood and the Mercer Island community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Diane Edmonds 6 months ago

I haven't seen any movement towards picking a preferred option in the ICW corridor safety plan.

Please prioritize!

Larry Severn 6 months ago

I would like to comment on the Transportation plan.
A safe bicycle trail through the Island Crest Way Corridor should not be delayed for two to three years by yet another Pedestrian Bike Plan. This project was identified in the 2010 PBF plan, and the need has been clear for over a decade. When I was working with the city and Bruce Bassett many years ago we identified this as an issue. I cannot understand why we can't get going on it.
We never anticipated the congestion that would be occurring around the north end bus loading zone. The bicycle trail through the north-end bus loading zone should be widened and marked. Off island commuters won't dismount, and a narrow, crowded route is inherently dangerous. Please separate the congestion so that bicycles are not required to dismount. Thank you for your consideration.

Elizabeth 6 months ago

I would like to comment on the Transportation plan.
A safe bicycle trail through the Island Crest Way Corridor should not be delayed for two to three years by yet another Pedestrian Bike Plan. This project was identified in the 2010 PBF plan, and the need has been clear for over a decade. When I was working with the city and Bruce Bassett many years ago we identified this as an issue. I cannot understand why we can't get going on it.
We never anticipated the congestion that would be occurring around the north end bus loading zone. The bicycle trail through the north-end bus loading zone should be widened and marked. Off island commuters won't dismount, and a narrow, crowded route is inherently dangerous. Please separate the congestion so that bicycles are not required to dismount. Thank you for your consideration.

Elizabeth 6 months ago

As a resident of Mercer Island for many decades I have seen a decline in the safety of routes for transit for an increasing variety of users. Bicyclists, pedestrians and car drivers are all entitled to safe passage yet a few areas consistently are not addressed. Delays must end, and the city needs to step up.

For over a decade, a safe bicycle trail through the Island Crest Way Corridor has been identified as a route that needs attention, yet school children on bicycles, and increasingly, bicycle commuters are subject to gaps in the route. This endangers all users of ICW. Delays in improvements need to come to an end for the safety of all Island residents.

Additionally, the bicycle trail through the north-end bus loading zone needs to be widened and marked so that bicycles are not required to dismount. The large number of cyclists using that route, including many off island commuters, will not dismount on this route and a narrow, crowded route is dangerous to all users, including car drivers.

JEL 6 months ago

Petition for Traffic Calming and Safety Improvements on 71st Ave SE

We, the undersigned, are concerned residents of the neighborhood along 71st Ave SE, from 24th St SE to the junction of 70th and 71st Ave SE. Our community elected a traffic safety committee in 2021. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all street users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Despite previous communications with the city, where we highlighted unsafe conditions, only spot changes facilitated by Lia Kleine (formerly Transportation Engineer) have been made. The street remains hazardous. A few weeks ago, there was almost a head-on collision with a child bicyclist and a car driving too fast around the corner.

We have been grateful to work with Rebecca O’Sullivan (current Transportation Engineer) this year to begin addressing our concerns with a holistic solution. This street serves as a crucial pedestrian artery into the First Hill neighborhood and requires immediate attention for the following reasons:

1/ Limited Visibility at Corners: The intersection at 71st Ave SE comprises a 90-degree and a 120-degree corner, both of which have severely restricted sightlines, particularly in the evenings.

2/ Inadequate Street Width: The midsection of 71st Ave SE, especially at 2700 71st, is only 16.5 feet wide—significantly narrower than the 22-foot standard, making it insufficient for two cars to pass simultaneously.

3/ Lack of Safe Pedestrian Pathways: Approximately 20 children under the age of 10 live within 40 feet of this street. They frequently use the street to move between homes and to access school bus stops, yet there are no sidewalks available for safe travel.

Given these critical issues, we urge the city to:

1/ Prioritize street resurfacing for 71st Ave SE in the 2024-2025 maintenance schedule.

2/ Add our street in the regular cleaning maintenance schedule. Our street is currently only cleaned 1-2 times a year.

3/ Conduct a safety review that considers new permanent traffic calming measures to replace the existing spot changes (such as the deteriorating laminated road signs).

We believe these actions will significantly enhance the safety and quality of life for all residents along 71st Ave SE, the larger First Hill neighborhood and the Mercer Island community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

johnbic 6 months ago

As a 13 year resident of Mercer Island's south end with three school-aged children, I fully support the Island Crest Way Corridor Improvements project, the East/West Mercer Way Shoulder Work, and all other projects that improve safety for bicyclists on Mercer Island. As it stands currently, many of the key roads on Mercer Island (e.g., Island Crest Way, East/West Mercer Way) are not particularly safe for children riding bicycles, scooters, or e-bikes. There have been a number of children just over the last few weeks who have been hit by cars while riding. It's time we made Mercer Island a safer place for kids (and adults) riding on two wheels.

Jay Greer 6 months ago

I fully support the 71st Ave safety and street improvement petition. It is much needed, not only by our street residents, but the multitude of walkers and riders that use 71st Ave.

Looking forward to bringing this project to the full Council on June 4th.

warren

apple 6 months ago

Please add my name to the list of residents supporting the petition to improve safety on 71st Ave SE.

lcstclair 6 months ago

Given the comments about increasing bicycle traffic across the northland neighborhoods, we should realize that it will continue. The E-W bike path across Mercer Island was designed by WSDOT as one of two main transportation connections between Seattle, Mercer Island and the East Side. This trail is constantly extended and will soon reach Issaquah. Just to the east of the lake, this trail will cross one that runs from Renton to Woodinville. Add in population growth, e-bikes, e-scooters, our light rail station plus increased state funding, and our focus should be on making sure we create the infrastructure needed to move these increased volumes safely across the island...and around the island. "Safely" for residents and "safely" for those using the trail.

Jstan 6 months ago

Petition for Traffic Calming and Safety Improvements on 71st Ave SE

We, the undersigned, are concerned residents of the neighborhood along 71st Ave SE, from 24th St SE to the junction of 70th and 71st Ave SE. Our community elected a traffic safety committee in 2021. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all street users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Despite previous communications with the city, where we highlighted unsafe conditions, only spot changes facilitated by Lia Kleine (formerly Transportation Engineer) have been made. The street remains hazardous. A few weeks ago, there was almost a head-on collision with a child bicyclist and a car driving too fast around the corner.

We have been grateful to work with Rebecca O’Sullivan (current Transportation Engineer) this year to begin addressing our concerns with a holistic solution. This street serves as a crucial pedestrian artery into the First Hill neighborhood and requires immediate attention for the following reasons:

1/ Limited Visibility at Corners: The intersection at 71st Ave SE comprises a 90-degree and a 120-degree corner, both of which have severely restricted sightlines, particularly in the evenings.

2/ Inadequate Street Width: The midsection of 71st Ave SE, especially at 2700 71st, is only 16.5 feet wide—significantly narrower than the 22-foot standard, making it insufficient for two cars to pass simultaneously.

3/ Lack of Safe Pedestrian Pathways: Approximately 20 children under the age of 10 live within 40 feet of this street. They frequently use the street to move between homes and to access school bus stops, yet there are no sidewalks available for safe travel.

Given these critical issues, we urge the city to:

1/ Prioritize street resurfacing for 71st Ave SE in the 2024-2025 maintenance schedule.

2/ Add our street in the regular cleaning maintenance schedule. Our street is currently only cleaned 1-2 times a year.

3/ Conduct a safety review that considers new permanent traffic calming measures to replace the existing spot changes (such as the deteriorating laminated road signs).

We believe these actions will significantly enhance the safety and quality of life for all residents along 71st Ave SE, the larger First Hill neighborhood and the Mercer Island community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

JD1908 6 months ago

Petition for Traffic Calming and Safety Improvements on 71st Ave SE

We, the undersigned, are concerned residents of the neighborhood along 71st Ave SE, from 24th St SE to the junction of 70th and 71st Ave SE. Our community elected a traffic safety committee in 2021. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all street users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Despite previous communications with the city, where we highlighted unsafe conditions, only spot changes facilitated by Lia Kleine (formerly Transportation Engineer) have been made. The street remains hazardous. A few weeks ago, there was almost a head-on collision with a child bicyclist and a car driving too fast around the corner.

We have been grateful to work with Rebecca O’Sullivan (current Transportation Engineer) this year to begin addressing our concerns with a holistic solution. This street serves as a crucial pedestrian artery into the First Hill neighborhood and requires immediate attention for the following reasons:

1/ Limited Visibility at Corners: The intersection at 71st Ave SE comprises a 90-degree and a 120-degree corner, both of which have severely restricted sightlines, particularly in the evenings.

2/ Inadequate Street Width: The midsection of 71st Ave SE, especially at 2700 71st, is only 16.5 feet wide—significantly narrower than the 22-foot standard, making it insufficient for two cars to pass simultaneously.

3/ Lack of Safe Pedestrian Pathways: Approximately 20 children under the age of 10 live within 40 feet of this street. They frequently use the street to move between homes and to access school bus stops, yet there are no sidewalks available for safe travel.

Given these critical issues, we urge the city to:

1/ Prioritize street resurfacing for 71st Ave SE in the 2024-2025 maintenance schedule.

2/ Add our street in the regular cleaning maintenance schedule. Our street is currently only cleaned 1-2 times a year.

3/ Conduct a safety review that considers new permanent traffic calming measures to replace the existing spot changes (such as the deteriorating laminated road signs).

We believe these actions will significantly enhance the safety and quality of life for all residents along 71st Ave SE, the larger First Hill neighborhood and the Mercer Island community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Emily chan 6 months ago

Petition for Traffic Calming and Safety Improvements on 71st Ave SE

We, the undersigned, are concerned residents of the neighborhood along 71st Ave SE, from 24th St SE to the junction of 70th and 71st Ave SE. Our community elected a traffic safety committee in 2021. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all street users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Despite previous communications with the city, where we highlighted unsafe conditions, only spot changes facilitated by Lia Kleine (formerly Transportation Engineer) have been made. The street remains hazardous. A few weeks ago, there was almost a head-on collision with a child bicyclist and a car driving too fast around the corner.

We have been grateful to work with Rebecca O’Sullivan (current Transportation Engineer) this year to begin addressing our concerns with a holistic solution. This street serves as a crucial pedestrian artery into the First Hill neighborhood and requires immediate attention for the following reasons:

1/ Limited Visibility at Corners: The intersection at 71st Ave SE comprises a 90-degree and a 120-degree corner, both of which have severely restricted sightlines, particularly in the evenings.

2/ Inadequate Street Width: The midsection of 71st Ave SE, especially at 2700 71st, is only 16.5 feet wide—significantly narrower than the 22-foot standard, making it insufficient for two cars to pass simultaneously.

3/ Lack of Safe Pedestrian Pathways: Approximately 20 children under the age of 10 live within 40 feet of this street. They frequently use the street to move between homes and to access school bus stops, yet there are no sidewalks available for safe travel.

Given these critical issues, we urge the city to:

1/ Prioritize street resurfacing for 71st Ave SE in the 2024-2025 maintenance schedule.

2/ Add our street in the regular cleaning maintenance schedule. Our street is currently only cleaned 1-2 times a year.

3/ Conduct a safety review that considers new permanent traffic calming measures to replace the existing spot changes (such as the deteriorating laminated road signs).

We believe these actions will significantly enhance the safety and quality of life for all residents along 71st Ave SE, the larger First Hill neighborhood and the Mercer Island community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Emily chan 6 months ago

Petition for Traffic Calming and Safety Improvements on 71st Ave SE

We, the undersigned, are concerned residents of the neighborhood along 71st Ave SE, from 24th St SE to the junction of 70th and 71st Ave SE. Our community elected a traffic safety committee in 2021. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all street users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Despite previous communications with the city, where we highlighted unsafe conditions, only spot changes facilitated by Lia Kleine (formerly Transportation Engineer) have been made. The street remains hazardous. A few weeks ago, there was almost a head-on collision with a child bicyclist and a car driving too fast around the corner.

We have been grateful to work with Rebecca O’Sullivan (current Transportation Engineer) this year to begin addressing our concerns with a holistic solution. This street serves as a crucial pedestrian artery into the First Hill neighborhood and requires immediate attention for the following reasons:

1/ Limited Visibility at Corners: The intersection at 71st Ave SE comprises a 90-degree and a 120-degree corner, both of which have severely restricted sightlines, particularly in the evenings.

2/ Inadequate Street Width: The midsection of 71st Ave SE, especially at 2700 71st, is only 16.5 feet wide—significantly narrower than the 22-foot standard, making it insufficient for two cars to pass simultaneously.

3/ Lack of Safe Pedestrian Pathways: Approximately 20 children under the age of 10 live within 40 feet of this street. They frequently use the street to move between homes and to access school bus stops, yet there are no sidewalks available for safe travel.

Given these critical issues, we urge the city to:

1/ Prioritize street resurfacing for 71st Ave SE in the 2024-2025 maintenance schedule.

2/ Add our street in the regular cleaning maintenance schedule. Our street is currently only cleaned 1-2 times a year.

3/ Conduct a safety review that considers new permanent traffic calming measures to replace the existing spot changes (such as the deteriorating laminated road signs).

We believe these actions will significantly enhance the safety and quality of life for all residents along 71st Ave SE, the larger First Hill neighborhood and the Mercer Island community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Emily chan 6 months ago

Petition for Traffic Calming and Safety Improvements on 71st Ave SE

We, the undersigned, are concerned residents of the neighborhood along 71st Ave SE, from 24th St SE to the junction of 70th and 71st Ave SE. Our community elected a traffic safety committee in 2021. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all street users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Despite previous communications with the city, where we highlighted unsafe conditions, only spot changes facilitated by Lia Kleine (formerly Transportation Engineer) have been made. The street remains hazardous. A few weeks ago, there was almost a head-on collision with a child bicyclist and a car driving too fast around the corner.

We have been grateful to work with Rebecca O’Sullivan (current Transportation Engineer) this year to begin addressing our concerns with a holistic solution. This street serves as a crucial pedestrian artery into the First Hill neighborhood and requires immediate attention for the following reasons:

1/ Limited Visibility at Corners: The intersection at 71st Ave SE comprises a 90-degree and a 120-degree corner, both of which have severely restricted sightlines, particularly in the evenings.

2/ Inadequate Street Width: The midsection of 71st Ave SE, especially at 2700 71st, is only 16.5 feet wide—significantly narrower than the 22-foot standard, making it insufficient for two cars to pass simultaneously.

3/ Lack of Safe Pedestrian Pathways: Approximately 20 children under the age of 10 live within 40 feet of this street. They frequently use the street to move between homes and to access school bus stops, yet there are no sidewalks available for safe travel.

Given these critical issues, we urge the city to:

1/ Prioritize street resurfacing for 71st Ave SE in the 2024-2025 maintenance schedule.

2/ Add our street in the regular cleaning maintenance schedule. Our street is currently only cleaned 1-2 times a year.

3/ Conduct a safety review that considers new permanent traffic calming measures to replace the existing spot changes (such as the deteriorating laminated road signs).

We believe these actions will significantly enhance the safety and quality of life for all residents along 71st Ave SE, the larger First Hill neighborhood and the Mercer Island community. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

argmi 6 months ago