Residents urge action on pedestrian safety after death at Cole and Stevenson

Residents urged the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 to speed up pedestrian-safety work at the Cole and Stevenson intersection after recounting a January crash that later proved fatal.

At the public-comment portion of the meeting, a resident who had notified the city after the crash said a person struck in January later died and asked the council for an update on the Stevenson–Cole corner and for pedestrian funding. "We really need your help," the resident said.

A resident who identified himself as a Navy veteran described repeatedly seeing drivers speed through the intersection and urged steps including traffic enforcement, placement of lights and signage, and use of temporary measures while permanent fixes are planned. "Before we have more deaths, we don't need that," he said.

Nora Tackenboge, a longtime city resident, reiterated that Eileen Griffith died after a driver failed to stop and suggested low-cost, temporary measures such as hand-held or stake-mounted flags to increase drivers' awareness. "I just hope that Eileen's death wasn't in vain," she said.

Cindy Proctor, another longtime resident, asked the council to revisit denials for traffic-calming on Rilla Lane and Melody Lane, flagged missing or outdated ADA curb ramps near a trailhead and bus stop, and recommended pragmatic, lower-cost options such as reflective markers and crosswalk enhancements to protect children and other pedestrians.

Why it matters: speakers said collisions are recurring and cited nearby pedestrian destinations (a bus stop, trailhead and school-area routes), arguing that both short-term and longer-term interventions are needed. No formal council action occurred during public comment; the meeting moved on to committee reports and agenda items. Councilmembers did not vote on any pedestrian-specific measure at this meeting, leaving next steps to staff follow-up and future agenda consideration.