According to an announcement from the Washington State Department of Transportation Thursday, work to install a new signalized crosswalk on SR 104 next to Edmonds City Park began this week and drivers can expect some lane closures and delays through the work zone from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weeknights (check WSDOT’s Northwest Construction page for specifics, including work on Pine Street.Some work may also be necessary on weekends.
“Some of the work is going to be noisy (drilling, sawcutting, jack hammering) so if you’re a resident near there, you can request free ear plugs by calling 206-440-4699,” WSDOT said.
Work on the underground portion of the project will continue until Oct. 24, at which point the project will be suspended until Jan. 5-15, when the actual signal is installed, along with new lighting and a traffic island, the WSDOT announcement said.
The city’s decision to use $10,000 from the city’s traffic calming project to help the state build the $300,000 project has been the source of some controversy, drawing the ire of Councilmember Joan Bloom and some residents who said that money should have been used for other projects instead.
Edmonds residents tax money squandered on a useless project that probably less than 1% of our citizens will utilize.
Even with a crosswalk, you’d have to pay me to walk across Hwy 104, and I still wouldn’t take my life in my hands like that!
There is a bright spot! One of the most scenic public walkways in Edmonds is along the ridge by Pt Edwards. It is just up from the fish hatchery ( with a tiny little sign currently). With the new crosswalk, people can park at City Park, use that crosswalk and have a delightful walk, enjoying great panoramic views above the Marsh.
And more convenient access to the Willow Creek Habitat Demonstration Garden along the way.
It seems like not too many people are aware of the attractions on south Pine St. mentioned by Diane and Rich. The Garden that Rich and others have worked on is very near the corner of Pine and SR104; the plantings they placed there are maturing very nicely.
The developers of Point Edwards installed a couple of lookouts along the ridge described by Diane, along Pine St. The better view is from the second one which is just a short distance up the hill from the first one. That lookout also has a stand with binoculars.
You are so right – I live on 3rd and one of my favorite alternative walks is to go through the park and cross 104 so I can check out the fish hatchery and garden before heading up through the Edmonds Walkway. I then continue on to to Woodway and do the Dogwood lane loop. So peaceful, little traffic and so many interesting sights, from the weird mansion with all the large fiberglass jungle animals, to the pigmy goats, horses and chickens. These sights along with views of wonderful Puget Sound. I will be out of town until February and look forward to seeing the improvement. It has been very scary to dash across 104 from W to E fast enough to not worry about not being able to see the cars coming down the hill rounding the curve. Also, the crosswalk will easily connect Pt Edwards pedestrians with Edmonds (IGA, other businesses, bus stops on 5th) without having to walk down to Dayton to safely cross. Isn’t Pt Edwards a part of the Edmonds City limits? If so, I would imagine that Pt Edwards residents property taxes (which are probably quite large) provide enough revenue for Edmonds to justify this project. This crosswalk helps to unify the walkability of our city.
Yes, the condos at Point Edwards are in Edmonds and contribute about $350,000 in property taxes to our city each year.
Ahh..yet another magnificent walking and view amenity and safety improvement for our beautiful city, and for only a $10,000 contribution. Money well spent. Thanks, Mr. Williams and staff. You continue to make most of us proud.
Here is a link to my commentary on myedmondsnews.com related to this project:
https://myedmondsnews.com/2014/08/commentary-playing-calvinball-traffic-calming-dollars/
Hopefully this project will include better control of traffic illegally crossing Highway 104 going East-West on Pine Street. I’ve seen many folks drive across even though it’s marked for Pine Street drivers to turn. Someday there may be a serious accident unless that’s improved.
As far as the “1%” comment from J. Lewis above, the purpose of most such projects benefits far less than 1% of the city’s population. Crosswalks in general benefit nearly everyone, though each crosswalk benefits a VERY small number of folks. That’s the purpose and value of government services; we pool our monies for the good of all … one person at a time.
And those views are simply stunning. The public walk way has no cars anywhere near just those heron nests, soaring Eagles, and is an easy walk. That view rivals those on Sunset. Ron and Rich are right about the fish hatchery amd all the work done to make it a wonderous ( take you pr camera) space. The crosswalk will make it much more accessible to all since there is parking available there. Talk about a walk ability opportunity.
Perhaps Nathan Proudfoot will include the crosswalk and the views that Ms. Talmadge describes in the “Feet First” route list. I agree that the crosswalk will enhance the walkability of our beautiful city. A big shout-out to Phil Williams for leveraging our position so well in this project.
It should be well used and advertised. It really is the most scenic walk in Edmonds. The City needs to put up signs so that everyone knows it is there. Including it on organized walks would be great!
I’ve been driving on 104 and seen people make the dash across — it is so obviously unsafe that I can’t believe that anyone would be seriously opposed to the idea of a crosswalk there. I’m all for not squandering money, but let’s not wait until somebody gets killed.
When you consider – improved walkability, improved access to an important area of the city and improved safety, council member Bloom’s commentary feels like pretty small thinking. Phil Williams did this as it’s in part his duty to the citizens to capitalize on good opportunities as he did in this case. I’d be very disappointed if I found out he passed on a $10k buy-in on a $300k+ project.
I hope to see the Edmonds police and/or Washington State Troopers monitor and give citations to drivers who don’t cooperate with the crossing.
This project too is crap…like the 5-corner Loop da loop; downtown Main street; Sunset; proposed Westgate redev…whose pockets are getting lined? Kickbacks to brother/sister in laws?? Something is fishy here…
I think there may be some confusion about who did what related to the SR-104 crosswalk.
If anybody is to be credited with getting the State to do this project, it probably should be whoever was able to convince the State that this crosswalk was a good use of taxpayer dollars. I believe citizens, elected official(s?) and staff were involved in that effort. I have seen a Strom Peterson email dated September 20, 2010 in which he mentions discussing the issue of a simple crosswalk at Pine Street at State Route 104 with Representative Liias. In that email, Council Member Peterson asked Stephen Clifton if we needed to put this (crosswalk idea) on a legislative agenda like the Shell Valley project.
Eventually WSDOT responded to the effort by requesting a grant for $271,263 to do the project.
WSDOT’s grant application form stated that: “The crosswalk is requested by the City of Edmonds. The residents from the northwest side of Pine Street have been asking for a crosswalk at Pine Street.
It also clearly stated:
“The grant fund will provide 100% of the funding needed to complete the design and construction phases.”
I believe the efforts of those citizens, elected official(s?) and staff resulted in the State deciding to spend roughly $300k on this project.
I do not know what the State’s related public process was and I am not sure how a person opposed to spending roughly $300k on this project would have had their voice heard.
There was no talk of this bizarre concept of leveraging $10,000 to get $300,000 of State money. I’ve always believed that leveraging a position is a strategy planned for and employed up front – not something done late in a process. I believe the City didn’t employ leverage with its $10k – I think the City merely reacted to the State’s call by grabbing $10k from traffic calming.
The need for the $10,000 came in very late in the process. The related bids for the project came in higher than expected. The State called the City and asked if the City could pitch in $10k. Another option was to put the project back out to bid to see if a lower bid would come in. This strategy may have saved the City’s $10k for other purposes.
One reason I don’t appreciate the Public Works Director deciding to use the $10k in this fashion is because this money was truly needed for traffic calming projects that had already been prioritized through a public process. I am also disappointed that the money was not used for traffic calming earlier in 2014 and that the money was still “up for grabs” when the State called.
I don’t see how reacting to a call for cash leads to praise for “leveraging our position so well”. I think the credit should go to the citizens, staff and elected official(s) who convinced the State that this project was warranted and that the State should pay 100% of the related cost. It is too bad that 100% dropped to about 97% of the related cost.
It is unfortunate that all of the City’s 2014 traffic calming dollars were used up for the State’s project – hopefully that $10k will be found elsewhere and the money returned to traffic calming, where many needs remain.
Well, Ken, I for one will not quibble about how this transpired or who is responsible. Just happy it’s happening. Improved and safer access to visual and natural amenities for those on the east side of SR 104 and conversely safer pedestrian passage to downtown for the residents of Point Edwards is a good thing.
And, Mr. Williams…ever met a project in Edmonds that didn’t earn your “crap” designation? Just asking…
I think it would have been more appropriate to request the $10k from the City Council via a budget amendment than to take 100% from Traffic Calming. That same budget amendment request could have also asked for additional funding for traffic calming efforts in 2014. $10,000 seems inadequate as we reflect back on the pedestrian tragedies earlier this year.
There is no reason why City Council could not restore the $10,000, or more, to traffic calming by now making a budget amendment.
I agree Ron. I hope the Council considers such promptly.
I am thankful that we have deep thinking, attentive and diligent councilmembers committed to fighting for progress related to the Traffic Calming Program discussed in great detail in Appendix B of in our 2009 Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
Maybe its time to think out of the box and consider speed cameras in all school zones and dedicate the money to traffic calming. That way those who offend help pay for slowing them down. It works well in other cities.
Don it’s my understanding that in many instances speed cameras have trouble paying for themselves, much less generating revenue. Their usefulness for safety is also questionable.
I don’t know the situation with speed cameras, but red light cameras earn an enormous amount of revenue – check with Lynnwood; I suspect that speed cameras would do the same.
However, there are other problems with these cameras which is why Edmonds declined to use them after city council considered them a few years ago.
Not a bad idea Don.
Any suggestions for generating revenue. I believe Seattle has had good success with generating revenue and improving safety of school children
Probably city council should instruct staff to do an up-to-date review of these cameras and give them a recommendation.
I did suggest it to council president Bucknis In an email not too long ago. Hope it gets brought up in budget discussions
Steven, there are lots of projects that citizens might consider “good things”, such as emergency vehicle access to the waterfront and a traffic calming pedestrian crossing at 8th and Walnut. We do not have unlimited resources to satisfy all the needs and desires for “good things”.
As such, how things transpire and who is responsible are important. We have laws and procedures and much goes into deciding how the taxpayer’s money is spent. Many of these procedures involve public participation. Problems can occur when portions of the public are listened to while others are ignored. Sunset Avenue might be the best current example of this. This can lead to unrest and a lack of trust in government.
Bigger picture – the United States National Debt is rapidly approaching $17,700,000,000,000. This is equal to $151,787 debt per taxpayer.
The United States unfunded liabilities sit just under $118,000,000,000,000, or $1,012,209 liability per taxpayer. This amount is comprised of Medicare, Prescription Drug and Social Security unfunded liabilities.
Due to this staggering debt, I think paying down our national debt might be more important than doing projects that are not absolutely necessary. I wish things were different…it is a huge shame that our debt is so massive.
The following is one goal of the Tea Party – I post it because it refers to fiscally conservative policies at ALL levels of government.
Eliminate the National Debt – By implementing fiscally conservative policies at all levels of government, progress can be made toward eliminating the U.S. National Debt. Massive increases in the National Debt have created and continue to create a huge burden for the next generation of Americans, thus imperiling the country’s short-term and long-term economic health and prosperity.
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” –Abraham Lincoln
“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” –Thomas Paine, 1776
“As on the one hand, the necessity for borrowing in particular emergencies cannot be doubted, so on the other, it is equally evident that to be able to borrow upon good terms, it is essential that the credit of a nation should be well established.” –Alexander Hamilton, 1790
I also like this Tea Party goal:
Promote Civic Responsibility – Citizen involvement at the grassroots level allows the voice of the American people to be heard and directs the political behaviors of our representatives at both the local and national level so they, in turn, may be most effective in working to preserve the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of this country’s citizens.