Residents urge immediate pedestrian safety fixes after fatal crash at Cole and Stevenson

Public commenters pressed the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 to move faster on pedestrian safety after what several speakers described as a fatal crash at the Cole and Stevenson intersection.

A resident who identified themselves as a long-time community member told the council they had reported an earlier crash and then learned the person involved died. The commenter asked for an update on the project and “if nothing else, can we get some pedestrian funding?” (Public commenter S6). Another resident, a Navy and Army veteran, urged enforcement and engineering changes including lights and 25 mph signage, saying, “Before we have more deaths, we don't need that” (Resident S4).

Nora Tackenboge, who identified herself as a city resident, said the community lost Eileen Griffith in the collision and recommended low-cost interim measures—hand‑held flags and visibility aids—because larger capital work may not occur until January (Nora Tackenboge S7). Council members did not announce a schedule change during the meeting.

The speakers said they had discussed funding at prior meetings and repeatedly asked the council for a progress update and interim countermeasures to reduce immediate risk. The council’s public-safety committee report later in the meeting noted pending work on e‑motorcycle and related safety issues but did not provide a specific acceleration of the Cole/Stevenson project during the June 22 session.

The council did not take formal action on the intersection at the June 22 meeting; public commenters were told the item would remain under staff/committee review.