News Release

Release date: March 20, 2001

King County and West Hill Advisory Group Unveil Traffic Safety Recommendations

The King County Road Services Division and the West Hill Citizen Advisory Group will hold a workshop from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at Dimmitt Middle School to present recommendations aimed at delivering significant pedestrian and traffic safety improvements in the West Hill community. Recommendations call for a variety of improvements ranging from more pedestrian walkways and traffic signs to improved crosswalks.

The recommendations respond to the unique safety needs of the West Hill community -- one of King County's older urban communities with neighborhood streets and walkways that do not reflect today's standards. That's why King County created the Neighborhood Enhancement Program three years ago. Since the program began, significant investments have been made to improve the quality of life in many of the county's older communities, including West Hill.

During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the recommended improvements and share their comments. Those recommendations include:

• Bryn Mawr -- South 114th Street from 76th Avenue South to 84th Avenue South. Enclose drainage ditches to create or expand continuous pedestrian walkways.
• Campbell Hill -- Beacon Avenue South from 59th Avenue South to 64th Avenue South and South 124th Street from 64th Avenue South to 67th Avenue South. Consider signal light, trim bushes and trees, add stop signs and make shoulder improvements.
• Earlington -- 76th Avenue South from South 128th Street to South 132nd Street. Enclose drainage ditches to create or expand continuous pedestrian walkways (east side near school).
• Throughout West Hill -- Various locations throughout West Hill area. Enclose drainage ditches to create or expand continuous pedestrian walkways.
• Skyway -- Various locations along South 128th Street. Enclose drainage ditches to create or expand continuous pedestrian walkways.

Additional projects identified as funding becomes available:

• Bryn Mawr -- 84th Avenue South by Bryn Mawr Elementary School. Enclose drainage ditches to create or expand continuous pedestrian walkways.
• Campbell Hill -- South 120th Street at 64th Avenue South and 68th Avenue South. Enclose drainage ditches to create or expand continuous pedestrian walkways.
• Lakeridge -- Cornell Avenue South from Lakeridge to South 112th Street. Enclose drainage ditches to create or expand continuous pedestrian walkways (west side).
• Skyway -- near Food Bank at South 112th Street and Renton Avenue South. Establish crosswalk and move bus stop, monitor compliance and pedestrian safety.

In addition to these projects, recommendations include evaluation or study of other traffic and safety concerns in the West Hill community. Longer-term recommendations call for an assessment of safety needs along Rainier Avenue South, Martin Luther King Way and Renton Avenue South -- West Hill's three busiest arterial corridors.

Following the meeting, the county and the West Hill Community Advisory Group will work to finalize recommendations. The county has $500,000 available to begin making the recommended improvements this year. Additional projects will be designed and constructed as funding becomes available.

The meeting will be held in the cafeteria at Dimmitt Middle School, 12320 80th Avenue South, Seattle. For more information about the meeting, contact Betty Gulledge-Bennett at (206) 263-3436 or e-mail her at betty.gulledge-bennett@metrokc.gov.

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