So I have been having several discussions over the last few days about some of the difficulties that our community faces. It has been interesting to see what some of the concerns are. They include the road work on 275th, the new parking changes on Brown Ave, the lack of parking downtown, the continued issues with Broadstripe, and others.
We are at the point in our town's development that we are no longer the tiny town we once were but we are not quite the big town we are going to be. This is a period of adjustment and change and we need to work together to get all the kinks out.
I have found that when I have a problem I talk to my friends and quite often they are able to provide me with an answer to my predicament. So I am asking for all of us to start that discussion. Let's put our concerns out there and see if we can find some new solutions to them.
My concern today is Novelty Hill Rd. I drive it twice a day and it is in need of some improvements. Over the last several years the county has installed a new stoplight at the bottom and new flashing speed indicators midway down the hill. These are not enough. We need to improve this corridor sufficiently to ensure its safety and its long term viability. I would start with imposing a weight and size limit on the road, developing a plan for a new corridor and making maintenance of the road a higher priority for the county.
So what are your ideas? What's our problem?
Thomas, right you are. Novelty Hill needs some changes and soon. If you go to the King County Road Services website you will see that there are many projects that are either in design or are under construction on that road - making it safer for wildlife, for one...adding message boards so you know when a road is closed...things like that. Maybe you can post a list of those projects on here - might help the discussion.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few projects for Novelty Hill, Avondale and Woodinville - Duvall. Good idea to take the discussion step by step.
ReplyDeleteFor Novelty Hill they're planning to replace the Evans Creek bridge, construct stormwater facilities, stream and wildlife crossings and to develop mitigation sites. Construction is expected to start in June. You're already seeing some of the preliminary work clearing trees and brush out there now.
They also have a project that includes signal coordination and variable message signs that will relay info for traffic congestion and flooding in the valley - to help route people around any traffic issues. This is a safety project that is in preliminary design.
I would guess the county would be doing some hearings, seeking public input - I think they have an advisory committee for Novelty Hill that helps with that.
Great topic!!
ReplyDeleteI drive the road a lot, too. I think the eastern end wears down the breaks and takes a toll on the transmission! But I cannot imagine the county being able to get around all the environmental concerns in order to solve those hairpin curves and switchbacks on such a steep incline. Though, Issaquah did get their SE bypass up to the Highlands...and look how much time and resources that took. Maybe there is a way to please everyone and build an overpass similar to what they've done with the new Tolt bridge in Carnation - sure would help with safety. Straighten the road out a bit, ease the incline and widen it so that you have some safe access for bicycles - there are so many blind curves and people really speed around them - despite the new signs telling people to slow down.
I have to agree with the eastern end of Novelty Hill Road being a real pain. The new blinking lights annoy me greatly, and serve no useful function as far as I can tell since people seem to ignore them about a third of the time.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be nice to see the elevation of 124th raised to keep it from flooding every time we get a little rain. I hear people say that this idea has several ecological impacts, but nobody has been able to tell me what those are, or how it outweighs the extra pollutants put out by increased congestion for getting around it.
In addition to the Novelty Hill and 124th concerns, I have a problem with parking in our downtown area. I'd love to see our businesses do better . . . maybe attract the kind of walking traffic that you see in Snohomish, but I can barely stop by the library or get ice cream without a hassle. I think that our "old town" needs more parking!
ReplyDeleteGood comment about parking! I agree 100%. I hear all the time how someone tried to get to a store and gave up because they would have had to park on a steep incline or on top of slippery gravel. In the process of staying safe they can't always do the "Shop Duvall" thing when they want. The more parking the better...and it does encourage a more pedestrian kind of town.
ReplyDeleteDo you think anyone at city hall is listening to the comments on here? Would be nice if they did.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that would be good is safer crosswalks. Maybe some safety flags or flashing lights like they have in Kirkland. Maybe some of those speed stripes that slow you down (or wake you up) on the way in and out of town - like what they have in Fall City. Or a sign that shows your speed coming into town ... I think that kind of thing would have been more efficient in town - not on Novelty Hill Rd.
I remember something about how the crosswalks in town are not "official crosswalks" according to the Dept of Transportation so there may be some issue with enhancing them.
ReplyDeleteI will try to find out more about this and get all the information for you.
I wonder what constitutes an 'offical crosswalk'?
ReplyDeleteBart,
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question I looked at the Washington State Department of Tranportation website and found the following information.
"Communities sometimes request specially textured crosswalks (such as colored pavement, bricks, or other materials). Consider that some textured materials may cause confusion for visually impaired pedestrians and can create discomfort for wheelchair users. These crosswalks do not always fall within the legal definition of
a marked crosswalk, and parallel white crosswalk lines are recommended to enhance
visibility and delineate the crosswalk."
So technically our crosswalks do not fit the legal definition as set out by the State. Hope this helps explain it. The link for the information is http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/manuals/fulltext/M22-01/1510.pdf Look under section 9. Hope this helps explain it.
Wow - a definition that actually makes a fair amount of sense... and from a government agency no less... I think I'm gonna have to go to bed now, the world has changed too much for one day :D
ReplyDeleteI think this just shows that there is hope for the future.
ReplyDeleteHope for the future...right.
ReplyDeleteSomeone is dreaming.
A great deal of things start with a dream. Try it once in a while.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous who has no hope for the future...
ReplyDeleteThere has to be hope for the future, or else the entirety of society would commit mass suicide. This hope for the future is why I get up in the morning and go to a job that I don't often enjoy so that I can provide food and clothes for my children. It's why I try to help my neighbors when they are in need. It's why I try to put honest and hard-working people in office when I vote.
Things may not be easy right now, but they are hardly worth giving up hope.
I think a weight and size limit on Novelty would be a good idea. But then how would they construct all the new houses, etc.? Guess we're talking about down the road (no pun) anyway!
ReplyDeleteWiden the road and straighten the curves out more and make the grade less steep. Put an official bike lane in and actually give them enough room to coexist safely with vehicles.
There's a start.
I'd like to take that step one further, and have Novelty Hill Road cross the valley all the way to big rock road, with a minimum of dip into the valley. It would at least stop the floods from washing out 124th / 203 and allow people into and out of town. I realize it's probably prohibitively expensive, but hey - I can dream :D
ReplyDeleteChange in topic. Rob - great article this week holding the city government accountable to the people that elected it. You gave us an excellent example of why we should all care about open and accountable government and why we need to elect people that don't just 'talk' and make empty promises but ones who will follow through. You guys are setting a track record now that will serve as notches - one day we will look back and see better decisions and checks and balances ...because people like you and the others in the news are holding them accountable. The worst stories are sometimes the best because it can be an opportunity to reevaluate, reorganize and emerge either as a council of new faces next year or as a council with a renewed understanding of simple government regulation. Integrity, however, will be a hard one to get back. One council member, Vicki Edwards, has her integrity strongly intact and is an example to our city council, staff and other cities. We need more people like her on the council.
ReplyDelete