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Residents urge faster safety fixes after pedestrian killed at Cole and Stevenson
Summary
Several residents told the Enumclaw City Council that a recent pedestrian fatality at the Cole/Stevenson corner shows the city should accelerate traffic-calming and temporary safety measures; commenters asked for lights, signage, enforcement and low-cost interim steps while longer-term projects await funding.
Residents pressed the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 to speed up safety work at the intersection of Cole Street and Stevenson after a pedestrian who had been struck in January later died.
At public comment, a longtime resident said she had notified staff weeks earlier and requested an update and funding to avoid further deaths. “We would still wish to have an update regarding how we’re moving forward on the Stevenson Cole area…please, can we get some pedestrian funding?” the resident said.
John, who identified himself as a Navy veteran and longtime resident, urged immediate engineering and enforcement measures: “Please put in the lights, put in the signs 25 miles an hour, and take people's cars away…do something, please,” he said, describing the risk to older pedestrians and suggesting speed checks or unmarked enforcement.
Nora Tackenboge, a city resident, said the victim, Eileen Griffith, died after a driver did not stop at the corner and suggested low-cost interim steps such as handheld attention flags to improve visibility given current funding limits.
Cindy Proctor, who said she has raised safety issues before, asked the council to reconsider previously denied traffic-calming options along Rilla Lane and Melody Lane and flagged several related concerns: excessive speeding, stop-sign violations, missing ADA curb ramps at some cul-de-sacs, and increased cut-through traffic when Cole Street is closed. She said video documentation of violations exists and urged the city to consider reflective slow markings, better crosswalk signage and a short-term drop-off zone by Cole Street.
Council members did not take formal action on these requests during the meeting; speakers asked for updates and funding, and staff/council did not announce an immediate commitment or timeline in the public record. The public-comment period concluded without a recorded council directive to accelerate a specific project.
The council's next committee and regular meetings are scheduled in July; residents asked that pedestrian safety be prioritized in upcoming budget and project discussions.
