Comments on: March meeting right here

By: jeffy

jeffy — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:52:52 +0000

Just a followup on Mary Lou's question about sidewalks on NW Dogwood. You're correct that that project is all designed and ready to build. The holdup is that there's no funding to replace the bridge so the whole project is on hold until they can do it all at once. Both the bridge and the sidewalks/curbs are on the current draft five-year TIP with the plan being to apply for Federal BRAC (Bridge Replacement Advisory Committee?) funds in 2010.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:27:42 +0000

I strongly support going after safe bike routes and bike safety for riding to school. With the budget cut backs coming more extra activity bus transportation will be cut and we need to attempt to reduce the number of single parent single child car trips to and from the schools and encourage student to ride the bus, walk or ride their bikes to school and or at the very least get parents to establish carpool trips to reduce the traffic and exhuast polution around the schools. Maybe if someone can attend PTA and or school board meetings in the future to start some dialogs with School admin and parent leaders.

With the construction starting at the Issaquah HS things are really going to be bad for as of next week the School buses and car will be using the same entrance into the IHS on second. The new traffic cam should slow traffic but now the lines to get into the school morning and late afternoon are really going to be bad.
Mary

By: jeffy

jeffy — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:08:55 +0000

Mary Lou, on your second point about parking on sidewalks on 1st Place (I think that’s where you’re talking about), this is exactly the kind of thing that Chief Ayers was encouraging us to report. Next time you see folks parked on the sidewalk, give the police a call. They may not be able to respond right away (one of the things we learned from the chief was that there aren’t all that many officers on any given shift. I think I remember him saying just six.

For sidewalks on Dogwood, I agree that would be very helpful. I’ll send a note to PWE and see what’s up with that.

Do you really have a hard time getting across Gilman east of Front? In my experience the traffic is pretty sparse over there except at the peak of rush hour. Not that I disagree with you that a crosswalk would be helpful. PWE has staunchly defended their position against additional crosswalks on Gilman Blvd. I think this is a case where the best bet is for folks to contact the city council and mayor with these concerns. Or maybe the Chamber of Commerce? PWE’s position is that drivers don’t pay enough attention to crosswalks so they give pedestrians a false sense of security on a wide street like Gilman.

By: jeffy

jeffy — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:59:04 +0000

Erik, the trash walks are, indeed always the last Saturday of the month. I actually mentioned the location for the next one in this post, but I realize there was a lot of text to plow through in there. Here’s the relevant bit:

The third is coming up on the 28th. This time we’re going to take a crack at the area around the boardwalk on the east side of SR-900 working our way south from Gilman Blvd. This will be another squishy one, so bring those waterproof boots. I’ll send a reminder next week.

By: Karen Behm

Karen Behm — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:21:27 +0000

Hi gang, I purchased expensive mapping software, so I can make maps now. The bike map is on the home stretch for the completion. I contacted Issaquah Press for a possible photo for the front. We meet next week. My plan is to self publish, so if anyone knows of someone willing to help fund the printing of this let me know. Just the map will be available soon via .pdf form.

On the back side of the map I’d like to put some verbal text of suggested rides. I’d like to put in the Cougar / Squak hillclimb, the Lake Sammamish loop and the ride to Preston. How about the “Bridges of Issquah” ride? How about a ride for kids? Help me out. What is your favorite ride locally?

Two other thoughts / comments:
Walk times – lets all contribute to Jeff (or I can complile – email – klbehm at comcast) walk times. for example from Mtn Park Blvd / Mountainside Dr to Library is 25 minutes. From Mtn Park Blvd / Mountainside Dr to Squak Mtn Trailhead – up trail to upper subdivision and back via road is 1 hour.

2nd – it is getting close to May and I told Rory we’d help with getting bike counts if he wants to get a baseline started.

Mary Lou – did you pass on your comments to the Mayor and Rory Cameron? I totally agree with your comments.

By: erik

erik — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:43:55 +0000

Hi Jeff,

Do we have a time and location for the next trash walk? Is it always the last Saturday of the month?

Thanks!

By: MaryLou Lewis

MaryLou Lewis — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:53:19 +0000

Thanks for asking.

1. A sidewalk is needed on NW Dogwood. As the number of walkers increase, so has the danger. Several years ago, we had meetings to discuss this project but nothing has been done and we haven’t heard anything. It would be helpful to have one of those speed cameras like those put on 2nd.

2. The sidewalk behind the Village Theatre is used for parking and I have never seen a car towed or ticketed. Why not? How about more signs and painting the sidewalk to indicate such.

3. Gilman, across from Virginia Mason, should relly have a painted crosswalk. As it is, there is no safe way to cross Gilman east of Gilman and Front.