Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) 2025

I wish to express my support for 90.25.0030 Mercerwood Drive Pedestrian Improvements (93rd to 96th Avenue SE) as it adds sidewalk on one side of Mercerwood Drive. Our family walks along the shoulder of Mercerwood's north side and adding a sidewalk to that section of road makes sense.

I would oppose the unfunded "Mercerwood Drive Ped Improvements (96th Avenue SE to East Mercer Way)" as written because it adds a "pedestrian facility" to both sides of the road. For a little part east of 96th, there is a wide shoulder available, but once a little bit past 97th until the street makes its 180 degree turn, there is minimal currently existing shoulder area. Going from 0 to 2 in my opinion would have an outsized impact on residents here. I would suggest the City looks into having a pedestrian facility on the (generally) north side of Mercerwood Drive for a minimal change to the identified project. For a larger change to the proposed project, based on the stated intent to connect 40th and EMW, perhaps the trail and stairs bridging the gap on 40th could be updated and that section of 40th, which is less-winding and has more space for less cars, could be considered for pedestrian facilities. It also benefits from creating a more-direct path from the schools to the SJCC and the shoulder along EMW would still provide a path to the Shoreclub.

Please prioritize the ICW bicycle/pedestrian “missing link” project that has been under discussion for literally decades. Similarly, please complete the shoulder widening project on East Mercer Way as soon as possible, and continue to expand safe bike lines in and around our Town Center.

Mercer Island is far behind neighboring communities in making bicycle lanes a priority. The huge growth in e-bikes and e-scooters has only increased the need for well-designed bike lanes that allow children and adults to safely navigate our Island.

- Jay Greer

The most frequent reason for roads to be unusable is power-lines and trees. They money should be spent putting power lines underground.

On behalf of NIM (Neighbors in Motion) and myself, I offer the following comments on the proposed TIP for 2025-2030.

Qualified support for project 90.25.0013. This project would fund an engineering study for a safe pedestrian/bicycle route along ICW from 53rd SE to SE 68th. But the study would not be funded until 2030. This missing link of the north-south ped/bike route has been in the City’s PBF plans since at least 1996—almost 30 years ago. The City did a study on the corridor in 2023. NIM has ideas on how to improve that study’s recommendations, which would reduce the cost of completing the gap and dramatically reduce the number of affected trees. We are anxious to share those ideas with City staff.
Several factors will contribute to the increased use of the ICW missing link: increased use of e-bikes and scooters, the opening of the light rail station, the bike safety area, etc. Delaying the study for another 5 years only serves to increase the risk of injury along the corridor.

Qualified support for project 90.25.0018. A revised PBF plan may be overdue, but it is not nearly as overdue as completing the ICW missing link. Funding another PBF study now is wasteful. The funds are better spent on long-overdue projects. It makes more sense to revise the PBF plan after the light rail station is opened and the ICW missing link is completed.

Support for project #90.25.0016, which would complete paving the shoulders along the Mercers, on EMW at the south end of the island. Although some may consider this a bicycle safety improvement, it is not a dedicated bicycle lane. It also benefits walkers and drivers, as well as residents who use7 the shoulder to park cars, place garbage bins, etc.

Numerous projects would improve pedestrian safety, add or enhance crosswalks for the disabled, etc. NIM supports those.

Thank you for considering my comments, and for your service to the island.

Kirk Griffin
7845 SE 73rd Place
MI, WA 98040

Dear Cycling Neighbors,
The City Council is reviewing the TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) for 2025-2030, and now is the time to advocate for projects that can make a real difference in our community. We fully support Jim Stanton’s “Let’s Talk” mail on this, but our punctuation is the following:

-We request that the City advance funding for the ICW missing link Study (Project #90.25.0013) to improve safety sooner. We urge the City Council to prioritize overdue projects like the ICW missing link over additional planning studies. A Bike/pedestrian path on Island Crest is long overdue and would provide facilities for the benefit of cyclists, pedestrians, e-bike commuters and the growing number of e-scooter riders on the Island.
-The Mercers shoulder paving project is vital for safety and benefits all residents—please ensure it moves forward.

Thank You, Jeff & Suzanne Koontz

Suggestions for improving the TIP

**1. Island Crest Way (ICW) Missing Link (Project #90.25.0013)**
- Begin construction for a safe pedestrian/bicycle route from 53rd SE to SE 68th much sooner than 2030. The need for this route has been identified since 1996, and delays increase the risk of injuries along this corridor as usage grows with e-bikes, e-scooters, and the light rail station.

**2. PBF Plan Update (Project #90.25.0018)**
- Reschedule the PBF plan after the light rail station opens and critical projects are completed. Use funds from this study to build long-overdue projects like the ICW missing link.

**3. Shoulder Paving on the Mercers (Project #90.25.0016)**
- Complete the shoulders on EMW at the south end of the island. The shoulders benefit a wide range of users users—cyclists, pedestrians, motorists, and adjacent residents.

**4. City Center Pedestrian Safety Projects**
- Move ahead with the proposed crosswalks, improved accessibility, and pedestrian safety projects. Keep the only bicycle lanes in the town center along 77th Ave SE which are the main connectors to the light rail station and it's covered bicycle parking.

Please advance funding for the ICW missing link study (Project #90.25.0013) to improve safety sooner. I urge the council to prioritize overdue projects like the ICW missing link over additional planning studies. The Mercers shoulder paving project is vital for safety and benefits all residents—please ensure it moves forward.
Respectfully,
Jose Oncina

I’m wondering how much longer the North Mercer bike path by the East Mercer Way exit (westbound off I-90) is going to be closed. It’s dangerous having to turn south and merge with heavy traffic onto East Mercer Way rather than continuing west/straight on the bike path when coming from Bellevue.

There is a tree leaning over the sight walk and the roadway near the corner of North Mercer Way and 84th Avenue SE.

I have mentioned this last year to the city. They referred me to the arborist. He replied that he has examined the tree and is satisfied with the strong root system.
Any tree leaning that much over a sidewalk and roadway will eventually come crashing down and can hit people or cars.
Thank you for keeping our roads safe. We had 2 trees coming down along North Mercer Way during the wind storms a few months ago.
Please remove that tree and plant 1 or 2 new trees like they did when they replaced the sewer system along North Mercer Way.