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Residents urge immediate traffic-calming measures after pedestrian death at Cole and Stevenson
Summary
Residents told the Enumclaw City Council June 22 they want lights, signs and interim safety measures at the Cole/Stevenson intersection after a pedestrian death in January, citing speed, lack of ADA access and repeated near-misses; council took no immediate vote.
Residents pressed the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 for quicker pedestrian safety improvements at the Cole and Stevenson intersection after a fatal collision earlier this year.
At public comment, a resident who asked to be identified only as a local community member said she had notified staff weeks earlier and that an earlier conversation with a staffer indicated work might not occur until January. She asked the council for pedestrian funding and interim solutions, saying, “We would still wish to have an update regarding how we're moving forward on the Stevenson Cole area.”
John, a longtime resident, described repeated close calls and urged enforcement and physical countermeasures: “I am now 76 years old. I'd like to live to a 100, and I cross that street, and people just zoom by.” He asked the city to consider targeted speed enforcement and other measures to prevent further deaths.
Nora Tackenboge, who identified herself as a city resident, said the collision had claimed the life of Eileen Griffith and urged low‑cost interim measures such as high‑visibility flags or temporary devices to improve driver awareness: “I just hope that, you know, Eileen's death wasn't in vain.”
Cindy Proctor, another longtime resident, outlined additional neighborhood safety concerns beyond the intersection, including excessive cut‑through traffic, missing ADA curb ramps, and increased pedestrian use near bus stops and trailheads. She urged the council to reconsider lower‑cost traffic calming options such as reflective mid‑block markings and to prioritize ADA upgrades.
No formal council action was taken on the requests during the meeting. Council committees and staff reports later in the agenda noted public safety topics are under active committee review and that the police department expects an education push for micromobility devices and block‑camera operations to begin in mid‑July, but speakers at the meeting asked for funding and physical improvements sooner.
The comments were made during the public‑comment portion of the June 22 meeting; residents said they will follow up with staff and council committees about interim measures and long‑term engineering solutions.
