Residents press Enumclaw council for traffic calming after pedestrian killed at Cole and Stevenson

At the June 22, 2026 city council meeting, multiple residents urged swift city action after a January crash killed a local pedestrian at the Cole and Stevenson intersection.

A resident who addressed the council said she had left messages with staff and that the person struck in January subsequently died. She asked for an update on efforts in the Stevenson/Cole area and for “pedestrian funding” or other steps the city could take now to prevent another death. A second resident, identifying himself as a Navy veteran, recounted years of service and told the council: “They don't care. They're in a hurry to go to work,” and urged enforcement actions including unmarked speed enforcement and additional signage.

Nora Tackenboge, a longtime Enumclaw resident, said the family of Eileen Griffith had suffered a loss and urged temporary safety measures while permanent funding is sought. “I just hope that Eileen's death wasn't in vain,” she said, and proposed short‑term tools such as highly visible handheld flags to encourage driver eye contact at stop signs.

Cindy Proctor, who said she has repeatedly raised neighborhood safety concerns, described frequent high speeds, motorists running stop signs and missing or outdated ADA curb ramps that force people into the roadway. She told council she has documented violations and can provide video evidence. Proctor asked the council to reconsider previously denied traffic calming requests and to pursue lower‑cost options such as reflective markings, clearer crosswalk signage and measures to reduce shortcutting traffic through residential streets.

Why this matters: Residents described a pattern of dangerous driving that they say places children, seniors and people using mobility devices at risk; they asked for both interim, inexpensive interventions and updates on the city's timeline for physical improvements.

Council response and context: Council did not adopt an immediate action or allocate new funding at the meeting. Public Safety Committee materials referenced during the evening note that staff and the police department are tracking complaints and that enforcement and education are part of the committee's approach; committee staffing shortages and budget constraints were also raised in committee reports. Several residents urged the council to accelerate temporary measures while project funding is resolved.

What’s next: The council did not announce a specific funding commitment or date for construction during the June 22 meeting. Residents requested follow‑up and indicated they could provide documentation to staff. The public comment period closed with the council moving on to committee reports and agenda items.