Originally published Monday, March 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Bumper to Bumper
E-mails flag dangers in Bellevue
Q: Longtime East Bellevue resident Jim Cox has been exchanging e-mails with Bellevue officials for well over a year about a speeding problem...
![]() |
Seattle Times staff reporter
Dear Reader
Talk traffic to us
E-mail bumper@seattletimes.com or call Charles E. Brown at 206-464-2206. Please include both your name and city if you agree to publication.Q: Longtime East Bellevue resident Jim Cox has been exchanging e-mails with Bellevue officials for well over a year about a speeding problem through his neighborhood, specifically along tree-lined Main Street between 140th Avenue Northeast and 156th Avenue Northeast. Those exchanges have become a bit terse.
Cox says it's not unusual for vehicles to exceed the posted 25-mph speed limit, perhaps oblivious to marked crosswalks and pedestrians in their path. Bellevue's Sammamish High School also is in that vicinity.
He's suggested overhead signs above crosswalks, and signs in the Main Street median where crosswalks are located to get the attention of drivers.
"If any of you were to stand on the north side of Main Street and observe both pedestrian and vehicle traffic for any length of time, I am certain that you will observe several close calls," said one of his e-mails, directed to Bellevue's city manager, City Council members, police and others.
"I hope that someone who receives this e-mail will finally do something about this issue because I honestly believe this is an accident waiting to happen," another e-mail said. "Hopefully someone will finally take action and correct this very unsafe situation before my prediction of a fatality pedestrian accident occurs," said a third. There have been many more.
A: Speeding is a problem along that milelong stretch, city officials concede. In an e-mail response to Cox, a police spokesman noted that more than 400 speeding tickets were issued along that stretch within a 12-month period, and during another 12-month period more than 600 citations had been written.
A large fluorescent yellow-green crosswalk sign has been installed to draw attention to crosswalks closest to the school. Street lighting was checked, and the city concluded the lighting was adequate.
"Let me assure you we are in the process of making improvements, but that there are challenges faced by our engineering staff that have impacted the schedule for accomplishing the improvements," wrote Charlie Bush, an aide in the city manager's office.
"In short," he continued, "when the city does not have right-of-way to make certain improvements, or when utility companies, which are not controlled by the city, are involved, projects can take some time to come to fruition."
Bush said shrubs along Main Street have been trimmed back to improve traffic sight lines. But the city is hesitant to remove trees, knowing how area residents feel about tree removals.
"We systematically monitor and consider where resources need to be applied to improve safety throughout [our] street system," said Bush. "Pedestrian safety is a partnership between drivers being attentive to their surroundings, pedestrians using care while crossing the street, and the city of Bellevue providing reasonable treatments to facilitate pedestrian circulation."
Bush said the city is considering flashing beacons on poles in the street median at some crosswalks. And the city is open to other ideas.
The bottom line, Bush said, is that the city wants Cox to know he's not being ignored.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
NEW - 10:49 PM
Bumper to Bumper: Is Mercer Mess getting messier?

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Mariners to try Dustin Ackley at second base
- Mariners Blog | Dustin Ackley to move to second base; Mariners add six to 40-man roster
- Genetics anti-bias law takes effect
- Senate vote clears hurdle
194 - First key vote today on Senate health bill
166 - Mariners add six to 40-man roster
140 - Man shot in Capitol Hill
91 - Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
87 - Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
73 - Saturday links
50 - Bye week answers, volume four
49 - Prosecutor requests life in prison for Amanda Knox
43 - Historic health care bill nears key Senate vote
37
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- UW provost tapped for Nike's board
- 175 foster kids in Washington get 'forever families'
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- BofA moves to take control of Mastro building in Fremont
- Food-bank donations pour in after theft in Rainier Valley






