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Residents urge action after two child collisions at Maple Avenue and Fifth Street intersection
Summary
A Redmond resident told the council two children were struck near the Maple Avenue and Fifth Street intersection and urged immediate safety improvements including crosswalks, flashing signs, a lower speed limit and a truck restriction.
A Redmond resident asked the council to take immediate safety steps at the Maple Avenue and Fifth Street intersection after two collisions involving children during the winter holiday period.
Julie Wilson, a resident who said she and multiple neighbors live near the intersection, told councilors that "there were 2 children who were hit in that intersection Christmas week in separate incidents." She said both incidents occurred near dusk at about 4:30 p.m. and urged the council to take concrete steps such as painting crosswalk markings, installing flashing pedestrian signage, lowering the speed limit to 25 (the resident did not state the current posted limit), and prohibiting large trucks from using Fifth Street.
Wilson said neighbors have repeatedly requested improvements and described the intersection as "not designed for the level of traffic that it is currently taking," noting heavy truck traffic down the overpass and the limited visibility on gray winter days. She told the council that one collision knocked a child backward and caused a head injury and emphasized that the outcomes could be far worse if a large commercial vehicle were involved.
A councilor or city representative responded that staff and police have met about the location. On the record, a city official noted "there was a police investigation" and described one incident as involving "a child ran his bike into a car," while acknowledging the city's ongoing discussion of potential improvements. No council vote or new directive to study or construct improvements was recorded at the meeting; the resident comments and staff remarks were taken during the public-comment portion of the session.
Residents in the audience stood to show support for Wilson's request. Councilors closed the meeting and noted another council meeting is scheduled for the following week.
No specific engineering measures, schedule, cost estimates, or changes to posted speed limits were approved during the session; those details were not specified in the public record.
