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Residents urge traffic-safety fixes after fatal crash at Cole and Stevenson
Summary
Residents told the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 that a recent fatal collision at Cole Street and Stevenson requires faster pedestrian-safety measures, pressing for lighting, signage and targeted enforcement while noting some streetwork may not happen until January.
Residents pressed the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 for faster pedestrian-safety fixes after a recent fatal collision near the intersection of Cole Street and Stevenson.
At the start of the public-comment period, a resident described a January crash that killed a local woman and asked the council for an update and expedited pedestrian funding. The resident said staff had told them the project might not take place until January and pleaded, "We really need your help." A second resident, a Navy veteran, urged the city to "put in the lights, put in the signs 25 miles an hour" and to pursue enforcement to prevent further deaths.
"I just hope Eileen's death wasn't in vain," said Nora Tackenboge, a city resident who identified the victim as Eileen Griffith and suggested interim measures such as handheld warning flags or other low-cost interventions to improve driver visibility.
Cindy Proctor, a longtime resident, urged the council to reconsider previously rejected traffic-calming measures on Rilla Lane and Melody Lane, noted missing ADA-compliant curb ramps at several access points and warned that Cole Street closures have encouraged motorists to shortcut through neighborhoods at higher speeds. Proctor said the neighborhood has increased pedestrian traffic — families, children and users of the Foothills Trails — and asked the city to pursue lower-cost options such as reflective midblock markings and improved drop-off access downtown.
The public-safety committee report earlier in the meeting noted the department is pursuing an education campaign on new e-bike rules and expects block-camera updates to be operational by mid-July. Councilmembers did not take formal action on the specific pedestrian requests during the June 22 meeting; public speakers asked staff and council to prioritize funding and provide a clear timeline for any planned improvements.
Next steps: the matter remains in the public-comment and committee queue. Councilmembers and staff indicated traffic-calming options and possible rollovers to future budgets would be considered through committee review and future council agenda items.
