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Residents urge flashing beacons at Stevenson–Cole; council adopts local road safety plan
Summary
Residents told the Enumclaw council that the Stevenson–Cole intersection is dangerous for seniors and veterans; public works presented a Local Road Safety Plan identifying nine priority areas (~$21 million) and the council unanimously adopted Resolution 1870 to pursue identified improvements and grant funding.
Several residents urged the Enumclaw City Council on March 9 to speed up safety upgrades at the Stevenson and Cole intersection, citing recent serious pedestrian injuries and a lack of 25-mph signage.
At the public-comment podium a local senior described watching people get hurt at that intersection and requested rectangular solar rapid-flashing beacons and push-button crosswalk signals to protect seniors and others who cross Cole Street. "We need to protect our seniors," the resident said, noting multiple recent serious injuries and an absence of 25-mph speed limit signs on Cole.
City public-works staff and the public-works committee described interim and longer-term measures. Council member McClure said the committee received a site drawing that would create two pedestrian bulb-outs on the south side of the intersection and reported a preliminary engineer's estimate of about $84,000 for the bulb-outs; McClure added that the cost did not include rapid-flashing beacons. City staff said the Local Road Safety Plan identifies nine improvement areas across the city with a combined estimate of roughly $21,000,000 and recommended using grants and loans as funding sources.
Action taken: The council voted to adopt Resolution 1870 (the Local Road Safety Plan) by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Staff said adoption will allow the city to seek grants and loans and prioritize projects identified in the plan; specific project funding and schedules were not established during the meeting.
Direct quote: "Please, we need your help... We're older. We need help," a resident said, urging beacons and crosswalk enhancements. Public-works reporting noted the bulb-out concept and the $84,000 preliminary estimate but emphasized that rapid-flashing beacons were not included in that figure.
What happens next: Staff will refine drawings and budgets and pursue grant and loan funding for prioritized projects; council and staff indicated the larger engineering plan should return with a more complete budget and timeline before construction is scheduled.
