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Residents urge faster pedestrian safety measures after fatality at Cole and Stevenson
Summary
Residents told the Enumclaw City Council they are grieving and fearful after a pedestrian death at Cole and Stevenson and asked the city to accelerate traffic-calming and low-cost interim measures while larger projects await funding.
Residents voiced urgent safety concerns during public comment at the June 22 Enumclaw City Council meeting, asking the city to expedite pedestrian protections at the intersection of Cole and Stevenson after a January crash that resulted in a death.
Nora Tackenboge, a city resident, said the victim, Eileen Griffith, died after a driver failed to stop at the intersection and urged temporary measures such as handheld flags to improve driver visibility. “I just hope that, you know, Eileen's death wasn't in vain,” Tackenboge said.
A separate resident who identified himself as a longtime Navy veteran described repeatedly seeing drivers ignore the stop sign and urged enforcement actions and physical safety measures: “Please put in the lights, put in the signs 25 miles an hour, and take people's cars away and do something, please.”
Another resident told council staff that she had left messages and sought an update on the “Stevenson Cole” area and asked specifically for pedestrian funding sooner than currently scheduled work, saying the community has already lost a person at that corner.
Resident Cindy Proctor expanded the neighborhood-safety request beyond that intersection, describing speeding and visibility problems on Rilla and Melody Lanes, missing or outdated ADA curb ramps, increased on-street parking that blocks sightlines, and the potential for more collisions. “I have personally documented and have videos that I can send of people running the stop sign,” Proctor said, and she asked council to reconsider lower-cost traffic-calming options such as reflective markings and crosswalk signage.
Councilmembers did not take immediate action during public comment; the speakers asked for updates and short-term interventions while staff pursue longer-term engineering solutions and funding. The council’s public safety report later in the meeting noted an ongoing enforcement and education effort related to new state rules for micromobility but did not specify a timeline for capital safety improvements at Cole and Stevenson.
The council did not vote on a specific safety project at the June 22 meeting. Residents asking for expedited measures said they will follow up with staff and expect further updates at future meetings or committee sessions.
