NW Dogwood St
NW Dogwood St is one of only two through streets between Front St N and Newport Way. As such, it sees heavy vehicle usage with relatively high speeds as drivers use it to circumvent traffic delays on other local streets. It has a mix of residential densities from single-family dwellings to large apartment complexes. Map.
Length: 1942 feet.
Subarea: Spans Gilman and Old Town.
Intersects with: Front St N, Rainier Blvd N., 1st Pl NW, 1st Ave NW, 3rd Pl NW, 3rd Ct NW, Newport Way NW
Car lanes: 2
Speed limit: 25mph
Grade: Flat.
Signage: Pedestrian-triggered signal at Front St (stop sign for cars), Stop sign at Newport Way. Otherwise it’s a clear quarter-mile shot from Front St to Newport.
Sidewalks: 38% Both sides from Front St to 1st Ave, then a few semi-random stretches west of there.
Bike lanes: No.
Bus stops: No. Nearest: Front St: 200, 209, 214 (commute), 271 (after hours)
Attractions: Nothing really.
Bike/ped-only connections: There’s a pedestrian-only trail at the end of 3rd Pl NW which connects through to Holly St. Though it’s mostly blocked by a fallen tree at the moment. Pedestrian crossing signal at Front St that takes forever to change.
Green: About midway down there’s a bridge across Issaquah Creek with attendant greenery. Otherwise, street trees and landscaping.
Potential improvements: This street really deserves a full buildout with sidewalks and bike lanes. As it is, it’s a street with faster-than-speed-limit traffic and nowhere for pedestrians to walk. On the cheaper side, the pedestrian signal at Front Street should really be more responsive.
2 Comments
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In January 2002, the neighborhood got together with Gary Costa and discussed Dogwood Street. We developed a plan for a sidewalk on the south side due to the property lines on the north side. We were satisfied with one sidewalk which is much better than none. To date, nothing has been done. This busy street is a route for students who attend Issaquah Middle School, Issaquah High School, Clark (when necessary), and Tiger Mountain. There are several electric wheel chair users as well as numerous walkers who go to Front Street to catch the bus. Others go to work, use the library and senior center, the Community Center as well as the businesses which are in walking distance from their homes (condos, apartments and single family dwellings.)
As late as 2011, Mayor Frisinger admitted there was a problem but the City was waiting for federal funds before road improvements would be made because the bridge needs to be replaced at the same time as sidewalks are built.
Should anyone care to see the documentation about this problem, I have it.
I am responsible for the walkway on 3rd Pl NW being usable in dry weather (when it rains it floods and deep puddles occur which make walking on the road necessary), the removal of the tree at the corner so there is visability onto NW Dogwood, and the cutting of the grass next to the sidewalk.
Comment :: March 15, 2012 @ 14:25 pm
Dogwood is one of my favorite little streets. It’s typical of other older streets in Issaquah that weren’t controlled by Code. When it was built they didn’t have traffic problems, so they walked in the street. It was narrow, so you could wait for an on-coming car to pass before you went ahead. The feeling of houses close to the street, the tiny, sometimes weedy front yards, the bumps and disjointed passageways are what make old town charming and different from suburban layouts. It seems we need to be careful that when we make it safe and pedestrian friendly we don’t get stuck with the suburban scale and codes that make it mundane. I say this because I want to encourage non-motorized use but if we use funding will we be subjected to their standards? I hope we can work through the problem.
Comment :: March 16, 2012 @ 29:45 am