This City of Lynnwood neighborhood issue was on the nightly news this week. It is something to ponder. Could you imagine this happening in Redmond?"Lynnwood Neighborhood Upset Over Bike Lanes"
--Susan West & Q13 Fox News March 18, 2009
Craig Parsons and his neighbors used to be able to park in front of their homes on 208th Street SW in Lynnwood, but not anymore since the city of Lynnwood put up no parking signs.
Parsons says, "We're very frustrated. We've been blind-sided by this project."
It's part of a bigger plan to put in bike lanes on either side of the road and a middle turn lane for cars. But Parsons say bicyclists rarely use 208th and they have the nearby Interurban Trail to bike on. We were even in the area for over four hours and couldn't find any bicyclists.
Meanwhile, neighbors are now having to park on their lawns. Parsons says they've also got another problem on their hands. He spoke to a real estate agent, who told him the value of their homes has dropped because of the lack of parking.
City of Lynnwood Public Works Director Bill Franz says it wasn't an easy decision, but their city growth plan calls for more bike lanes. They also received a 150-thousand dollar federal grant and heard strong support from the bicycle community.
Franz says, "It's about safety. That's what qualified us for the grant. But it's also for the long term, implementing that vision of Lynnwood of having bicycle facilities throughout the city so that people can get around without having to start the car up."
Parsons says they've contacted U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell's office in hopes of getting heard, but Franz says once the weather improves those bike lanes are scheduled to go in.
Franz says this project has been in the works since 2007 and the city held public meetings. Parsons got citizens to sign petitions opposing the plan but the city council approved the project.
cc: Redmond city officials
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What do you think about this? Could it happen in Redmond? Should grant money be the driver of city projects? Will safety ever be an issue on this Lynnwood Street? Where was the city planning here? Did citizens receive adequate public notice and awareness of this 'safety issue'?
Email you comments redmondblog@gmail.com for posting on this page or make a comment below.
Occaisionally, a Redmond City planner has made their name by acquiring grant money to pay for 12 foot wide asphalt service roads they call "trails".
ReplyDeleteSometimes blacktopping and width of the "trail" doesn't work with the lay of the land and the intent or aesthetics for a particular city open space. Sometimes blacktop is installed for one sole user - the road bicyclist. When bicyclists use these service roads for commuting, they become practical. However, bicycle volume is not always the case and more constructive forethought and discipline is recommended in trail planning. Trail construction decisions should not be driven exclusivley by grant availability.
PUBLIC PROCESS and transparency should not be diminished by the limiting factor of grant awards.
When needs of aesthetics and purpose for Open Space suggest service road alternatives, earthen crushed rock trails are available. Strollers, in-line skaters, ADA users and even road cyclists can all be accomodated. When required, perhaps ADA and other federal grantors could provide resources to alter staff's "black-top service road" paradym.
Thorough and open discussion at Community Meetings for the rural Eastern Park Corridor Program could have provided insight to the Commission and electeds on trail design models. Unfortunately, not to be. As is, we must now rely on the promise of a city consultant for a soft surface trail adjacent the service road. The Public was left out of this "promise" and so implimentation could be problematic.