Traffic 'improvements' have residents questioning city leaders

Residents in Kenmore are questioning the city's latest traffic revisions.

Neighbors asked KIRO 7 to come check out a series of planters added to Simonds Road and 84th Avenue NE, not too far from Inglemoor High School.

"It was extremely disappointing and became scary, several people I know have almost gotten into collisions here since they put these in, " said Bob Black who lives nearby.

The city put a series of planters and marked off part of the roadway on 84th Avenue NE with the hope it would slow down traffic and improve pedestrian safety.

"In order to hopefully slow down traffic and shorten the pedestrian passage. So it's a third, a pedestrian only has to walk a third of the way," said Nancy Ousley, Kenmore's assistant city manager.

Some neighbors say narrowing the road makes it more difficult to turn and makes it more dangerous. The turn became so sharp some drivers would cross the center line into oncoming traffic.

"All of a sudden one day we woke up and they were here and it makes it very dangerous to turn onto this road," said Tina Dailey who lives just up 84th Ave NE.

The city says each planter costs less than $400, and because they are not permanent they can be adjusted.

"We try and not spend a lot of money up front but try and make an improvement so we can see how it works without spending a lot of money or committing a lot of money up front but having the ability to modify something if it isn't working, " explained Ousley.

The city has had a lot of feedback from residents. The city recently removed several of those planters.

Residents say it is still unsafe and the planters need to go.  Neighbors say there had been plans years ago to add a traffic light at that intersection.

Last week residents on 75th Avenue expressed concerns about planters added there to create a one-lane road with the intent to slow traffic. They worry that revision, which happens on a hill, could cause a head-on collision.

The recent traffic adjustments have some residents questioning city leaders.

"That's where we've lost our faith. They tell us one thing, and give us this," said Black, who says the city originally planned to put in a traffic signal. "What you've got here is sort of a make-shift attempt to do something that's not working.

The City Council will discuss the recent traffic adjustments at a meeting on April 24.

Cox Media Group