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Residents urge faster traffic-safety fixes after pedestrian death at Cole and Stevenson
Summary
Public commenters told the Enumclaw City Council that lack of signs, speed control and ADA access at neighborhoods including Cole & Stevenson and Trella & Melody have led to repeated near-misses and one fatality; speakers asked for interim low-cost measures while longer engineering work continues.
Several residents pressed the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 for faster action to address dangerous driver behavior and pedestrian safety in neighborhood corridors, saying recent incidents include a fatal collision at the Cole and Stevenson intersection.
At the public-comment portion, a resident who did not give a name described a January collision that later proved fatal and asked for an update and a faster timeline than the one staff had indicated. The resident asked, “If nothing else, can we get some pedestrian funding?” and said the community “needs that” to prevent further deaths.
A second resident, a Navy and Army Reserve veteran, said he regularly sees drivers using phones and speeding at the Cole and Stevenson corner and urged enforcement and physical controls: “Please put in the lights, put in the signs 25 miles an hour, and take people's cars away,” he said, noting a 76‑year‑old pedestrian’s death.
Nora Tackenboge, who identified herself as a longtime city resident, said the funds currently available may be insufficient for a major engineering project and suggested interim, low‑cost measures such as high‑visibility flags to help drivers notice stop signs: “I just hope that, you know, Eileen's death wasn't in vain.”
Cindy Proctor, another longtime resident, expanded the scope of concerns to nearby Trella and Melody lanes, citing repeated stop‑sign violations, missing ADA‑compliant curb ramps near a bus stop and more pedestrians due to nearby trails and families. She said on‑street parking and shortcutting drivers reduce sightlines and increase risk.
Councilmembers did not take immediate legislative action during public comment. The speakers requested that staff clarify timelines and budgets for both interim safety measures and longer‑term engineering solutions; the council’s public‑safety and public‑works committees have previously reviewed traffic‑calming options. Residents said they had documented repeated violations and offered to provide videos to staff.
The meeting record shows no vote or formal directive to fund an immediate capital project at Cole and Stevenson; councilmembers and staff are expected to address the requests through committee follow‑up and budgeting processes.
