New traffic intersections called "roundabouts" are planned for Redmond

Short video on how a modern "roundabout" works and why it's safe. (1+min.) click

The City is in early planning stages for "roundabouts" on:

• 36th Street
• West Lake Sammamish Blvd near 43th Street
• NE 116th Street (two roundabouts)
• Novelty Hill & Union Hill (2-lanes)

Last night, Council studied the utility of modern roundabouts (RAB) for possible replacement of several future intersections. The 36th Street roundabout has already been approved. They specifically studied the impact of a roundabout in the View Point Neighborhood on West Lake Sammamish Blvd and 43rd Street. It's unfunded at this time.

Richard Cole was concerned about cars driving down the streets (7) from the west onto W. Lake Sammamish. His questions about their ability to turn left were answered by David Carson. Mr. Carson lives on one of these streets and felt by using the roundabout he could make a safer and faster "left hand turn". (W. Lake Samm. Blvd. is planned for 4-lanes without a turn lane).

From my teenager days of driving "Hawthorn Circle" on the Saw Mill River Parkway in New York, I thought today's modern "roundabouts" might be dangerous. (Wrong.) When driving the Circle, I'd always get tense and stressed trying to merge into it. The cars moved so fast on the circle. I even remember my grandfather almost having a collision (and he didn't even know it!). In actuality, driving modern roundabouts is not a new skill and it's easier and much safer than driving through intersections.

The above video clip tells most of the story on how a roundabout works. According to Pat McGrady, the RAB consultant presenting to Council, modern roundabouts of today are safer than circles and intersections for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, as follows:

• 140 roundabouts exist in Washington State, yet not one collision with a pedestrian or cyclist has been reported.
• In a comparison study of 55 sites vs. intersections, roundabouts had 35% fewer crashes and 76% of the collisions were less severe.
• Clips of a visually impaired pedestrians w/aid dog where shown crossing the street. In a RAB, vehicles approach pedestrians only from the left, yet by training, the dog looked both ways!
• Cyclists can travel faster than vehicles through a RAB since traffic flow in all one-way.
• Pedestrians don't have that silver button to hit again and again to cross.

For more information, the City has a traffic calming web page on roundabouts.

Video clip: http://www.iihs.org/video.aspx/info/roundabout

Contact: Dave Cairns, City Traffic Manager, dcairns@redmond.gov

Matching grants can drive counter to Community needs - Something to ponder

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.

UPDATED: A Tale of Two Trails

North shore of Idylwood Park with tables (redeveloped). The gravel trail goes to the north shore and it's not ADA approved. (This post has six comments).

OPINION: I posted this story October 11 but delisted it for the "right moment". Last night during a budget session with Council, the Parks and Trails Director Craig Larsen requested a few thousand dollars to re-invest in the Idylwood Park "beach renovation". Several years ago the department cleared *riparian vegetation from the northern boat launch beach area and creek mouth to make room for new picnic tables. I'm not sure if this redevelopment project went through meaningful public review. Now Mr. Larsen wants to improve access to the area.

When queried by Council if the Parks Commissioners had a say in this land use redevelopment project Mr. Larsen agreed the commissioners and voted unanimously to re-invest and improve beach access. (I'm still looking for this review and decision in the Parks Commission minutes.)

I'm glad Parks wants to improve access to the northern beach. The trail should be upgraded to meet city and federal standards. Right now a loose-gravel trail runs down to the northern beach. This trail doesn't meet city standards for strollers and bicycles. It isn't likely the trail meets federal ADA standards since the beach was redeveloped over a year ago. City Parks harps on the importance of black-topped ADA & bicycle approved trails because of funding and convenience. In fact, 12 foot black-top trails are standard for most any Redmond trails connected to arterioles. They are actually "service roads" and incongruous with most park settings.

I've been trying hard to encourage Parks to build less invasive, more aesthetic, more pervious ADA approved crushed gravel trails. But Parks comprehesive plan is 4.5 years old so the commissioners have no alternatives. 12-foot black-top service roads would not be "better" at Idylwood. They'd be incompatible. Look a the gravel trail going down to Idylwood park and try to envision black-top there. For comparison, look at this photo (left) of the "trail" next to Bear Creek behind Safeway. What do you think?

Previous, compact crushed gravel trails (right picture) are eco-

friendly, easy to maintain, less invasive and can be designed to handle ADA wheelchairs, road bikes and stroller traffic. Environseal website describes one of many companies in the business.

If you like the concept of soft surface trails send your comments to: Council Parks Chair Hank Myers or Hank Margeson at council@redmond.gov. The following parties would also be interested in your comments: ParksAndTrailsCommission@redmond.gov - composed of citizen volunteers appointed by the mayor.- meet 1st Thursday of the month. PED-BIKE Citizen's Advisory Committee a small group of citizens who like to bicycle. Tell them how your feel about our trails.

* riparian vegetation is important for salmon habitat but there are no salmon in the creek. Word has it Fish & Wildlife tried to bring them back by planted eggs in the creek beds and restoring the riparian creek corridor. The salmon never survived.

CC: Parks Director Larsen, Parks & Trails Commission, Mayor, Council

Invasive black-topped service roads form the backbone for our city park trail system. Is there an alternative?

The city plans to install a back-topped asphalt trail through the Leary heron rookery forest

12 foot black-topped road is planned for this new trail by the Leary Avenue heron rookery. Less invasive soft surface trails, as in the small picture on the right, would be more aesthetic and more forgiving of the trees -- especially trees remaining on the trail to control bicycle speeds. Water will be blocked off by impervious black-top, threatening these trees. The three small pictures are of ADA approved trails where narrow bicycle and wheelchair tires can be used. ADA crushed rock trails are pervious to rain, more eco-friendly and less envasive.

Less invasive, eco-friendly, ADA approved trails could be installed by this forest remnant but the city rejects this idea thinking: 1) bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs need black-top surfaces and 2) grant money is not available. In the two Park's Commission meetings I've attended the Park's department never seriously evaluated the viability of eco-friendly crushed rock trails. Pervious, crushed rock trails will support wheels as narrow as a wheelchair. Several companies specialize in eco-friendly trails - a description of Enviroseal, Inc. trails is found on their Environseal website.

The Parks Dept. has an opportunity to install an ADA eco-friendly trail at Idlewood Park and this rookery, as beta sites. If we don't evaluate these trails soon all of our park trails under development and future park trails requiring a "backbone" will be paved over with asphalt. Is this what we want as Redmond pushes to Go Green?

Lisa Singer, city planner describes the trail route as:

"The trail through the woods will be a connection from the 520 bike trail and the Sammamish River trail northward to the transit center on NE 83rd St. The Northward extension of the bike lane will occur under the next phase of the project, which will build the 161st Ave NE connection. At the south end of 161st and the north end of this woods trail, we are constructing a plaza." Lisa Singer, Project Manager, Bear Creek Pkwy Extention

This trail is an excellent connector for circulating bicycle and pedestrian traffic away from busy downtown; though it is unfortunate 25 trees had to be removed. As you can see from the photo, Parks Dept. scattered a few trees on the trail to slow bicycle speeds and improve aesthetics. Nice touch.

(1) The heron rookery has been inactive with no colonies present for over 3 years. The heron you see in Redmond migrate from Issaquah rookeries to forage for food fish and small mammals. I hope the city will cooperate with Issaquah to protect our source of herons!

Send your comments to any of these city contacts:
Council@redmond.gov (city council)
ParksAndTrailsCommission@redmond.gov
PED-BIKE Citizen's Advisory Committee
Celarsen@redmond.gov (Craig Larsen, Parks & Arts Director)


cc: city council & parks & trails commission.