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TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR |
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Email this page to a friend Related StoriesTransportation committee report |
Grant sought for Guard Street improvementsposted 04/16/04
The topic came up again during discussion of Tucker Street sidewalks. Town Administrator King Fitch said he had received letters from CenturyTel and OPALCO asking for the construction of those sidewalks to be put off until 2005. The companies needed to budget for the needed utility work. Councilmember Debbie Emery asked if the utility companies wouldn't also need advanced notice regarding Guard Street sidewalks. The council had discussed building sidewalks along one side of the street until they could do the entire street project. Fitch said the road really needed the "full meal deal." He said, applications are more likely to be approved, if the design work is already done. He said he didn't know where the council would get the $40-50,000 needed to design the project. He suggested the town wait. Noting the difficulty of road projects, he joked "If you put it off for 10 years I will be happy." Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld suggested the town go ahead and apply now. "If we don’t get it this year. We can reapply next year," he said. "It would be a wonderful thing if we could get it and do it right away." Sidewalk construction deferredposted 04/06/04
The council had authorized the design and construction of sidewalks along Tucker Avenue last year. The design work has been finished. Town Administrator King Fitch told the council a number of utilities would need to be relocated. "We found on Tucker, we run smack into a bunch of utilities. I just got a letter from Adelphia asking us to defer for at least one more year so they can budget," Fitch said. "I expect similar letters from OPALCO and Century Tel." The need for sidewalks along Guard Street up to the library has long been recognized by the town. Librarian Lauren Stara emphasized the safety considerations last year and asked the council to construct the sidewalk. Mayor Gary Boothman said a blind resident recently told him of her difficulty walking on Guard due to the lack of a curb or sidewalk. The town has been saving up money for a match for a hoped for grant to reconstruct Guard Street and put in sidewalks. Citing the competitiveness of the current grant climate, Town Administrator King Fitch said the town has not applied for the grant. Boothman suggested the sidewalks could be designed and constructed on one side of Guard street in the meantime. The town’s Transportation Advisory Committee recommended the town construct the sidewalks on Caines, Tucker and Guard Streets as soon as possible. A source of funding - $412,703.38 currently held in the First REET (real estate excise tax) fund and $265,132.91 in the second REET fund - was identified by the committee. At the April 1, 2004 council meeting, Councilmember Debbie Emery asked if the REET funds could be used for the sidewalks. Fitch said the funds can be used for anyting on the capital facilities list. He said the funds were not allocated for anything at this point. Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld noted the council had allocated funds for Tucker Street sidewalks. Fitch said he would like to see those funds diverted to help with the Caines Street sidewalks. Boothman asked what it would take to get the process going to design Guard Street sidewalks. Fitch said it could be considered in the 2005 budget. Boothman wondered if it couldn't be done as an amendment to the 2004 budget. Fitch said he preferred to see the Caines project completed before starting on anything else. He suggested the council wait and see how much REET funds come in this year. Tucker Street sidewalk project put on holdposted 11/22/03
At the Nov. 6, 2003 meeting, Councilmember Wally Gillette suggested the drawings be postponed until after the town's transportation committee submitted its report. Mayor Gary Boothman and Town Administrator King Fitch cancelled the work on the project after the meeting. Denice Brown of the committee presented the report Nov. 20, 2003. The Tucker Street sidewalks, the Caines Street intersection and Guard Street sidewalks were the top priorities according to the committee. The councilmembers thanked the citizen committee for their hard work and suggested the report be turned over to the Town Planning Commission. They did not direct staff to resume work on Tucker Street sidewalks. Sidewalks along Guard Street from Tucker to the public library have been on the town's six year road plan for years. Fitch said the town plans to apply for federal transportation funds at some point in the future to rebuild the road and construct sidewalks. The town has set aside $271,660 for its matching fund portion of the hoped-for federal grant. Councilmember Bill LaPorte noted the Guard Street sidewalks have been discussed for the ten years he has been in office. The transportation committee emphasized the need for the sidewalks along Guard street and suggested they could be constructed before the street improvements. In an interview after the Nov. 20, 2003 council meeting, Fitch and Boothman acknowledged the town has $682,259 ($427,005 in future projects fund and $255,587 in real estate excise tax) available for projects which are part of the town's capital facilities plan. The Guard Street sidewalks qualify. Only $100,000 of that money has been earmarked for a specific project, leaving $582,259. (These funds are separate from the matching grant money mentioned earlier). Fitch would like to use some of the funds to build a public works yard. He noted it was up to the council to decide how the funds would be used. Asked if it didn't make sense to do the sidewalks sooner rather than later due to safety concerns. Fitch said in areas where the town does not have sidewalks it does not have any liability. The full text of the transportation committee's report is available here. Sidewalk report submitted to Town Councilposted 11/17/03
Caines street sidewalk construction approved
posted 10/07/03
In May 2003, a group of senior citizens addressed the council regarding pedestrian safety. The Mullis Community/Senior Center is located at the corner of Nash and Caines Street. Seniors were particularly concerned about pedestrians trying to cross the street at the curve. Town Administrator King Fitch objected to the installation of crosswalks because the amount of traffic did not justify them. He suggested sidewalks be installed. Pedestrians could then cross at Argyle or Spring Street and traverse sidewalks. He estimated the cost would be $30,000. At the council’s request, Fitch hired an engineering firm to study the crosswalks. The estimate for squaring off the intersection and installing crosswalks was more than $100,000. The cost of the engineering report was $7,000. The council appointed a transportation committee which considered four options.
Town Councilmember Wally Gillette favored lowering the speed limit to 10 mph. He was informed this was against state law. Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld, a member of the transportation committee, told the council the committee favored the traffic circle. Their second choice was installation of sidewalks. Rosenfeld said he was concerned about the cost of the traffic circle and the cost of engineering to find out the cost.. Councilmember David Jones said, "What is the real problem we are trying to solve? The real problem is the high rate of speed." He favored the traffic circle because it would slow the speed of the traffic and solve the problem of pedestrians feeling intimidated. Steve Kenady, who along with Bill Weissinger owns and works in the building at the corner of Nash and Caines Streets, suggested the problem was a pedestrian problem and sidewalks made the most sense. " King said it: roads are for cars, sidewalks are for people. We need sidewalks." Bill Weissinger said, "The council might want to ask its attorney about a possible litigation hazard posed by pole. It invites someone to get hurt. You have to step out onto the street." Gillette said, "Sidewalks are going to be put in someday, the only question is when. The traffic circle doesn’t ever have to be done. I’d rather get the sidewalks." Rosenfeld agreed to go ahead with sidewalks. Jones said, "Then we would have sidewalks, but people would still be intimidated by traffic zooming around corner. They could lose control and end up on the sidewalk." He wanted the traffic circle and painted crosswalks. Rosenfeld made a motion to direct staff to research the cost and feasibility of traffic circles. The motion passed three to one. Gillette opposed the motion. Councilmember Carrie Brooks was absent from the meeting. Rosenfeld then made a motion for installation of sidewalks. The motion passed unanimously. The $30,000 cost is already in the 2003 budget. Traffic calming device consideredposted 10/01/03
Council considers Caines St safety problem
posted 05/19/03
Steve Kennedy's office building is next to the center. He said there was a problem with the way the corner was designed. "The whole influx of traffic is dangerous," he said. "There is a traffic flow problem and a sidewalk problem...The sidewalk I put in in front of my building ends with a pole. Nash Street's poor design feeds traffic into a corner with very restricted two lanes." | ||
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Georgia Baciu presented the petition (the text of the petition appears in full below this article) to the Council. She said, "We are asking for a cross walk with stop signs. Many seniors live within walking distance." She noted a right turn only sign had been installed at the center's exit the previous day. "I don’t know who’s bright idea it was," she said. "It puts more traffic on the curve and single lane on Nash Street where the street is not complete." When non-residential property is developed in the Town of Friday Harbor, the owner must pay for the installation of curb, gutter, sidewalks and pavement. When Market and Nash Streets were constructed, the senior center was responsible for the sidewalk and street bordering its property. Market Place grocery store had to pay for the street improvements on its side of the road. The town paid for the part that borders the residential properties along Nash Street. A decision was made not to complete the road along the vacant commercial lot which borders Market Street. The town is waiting until that lot is developed and then the developer will be required to foot the bill for the street improvements. | ||
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Tom Bullock was disappointed with the right hand only sign. "You have to drive nearly a mile to get back where you started," he said. Town Administrator King Fitch provided a written report from Ron Cameron, an engineer with Gray and Osborne, Inc. Based on traffic volume numbers from two weeks ( August 15-22, 2001 and Feb. 6-13, 2003), Cameron recommended against a crosswalk. His report did not include any mention of stop signs. Fitch recommended the council deny the seniors' requests. In his report to the council he wrote: "I know everyone shares the Seniors' concerns that safe convenient pedestrian routes be constructed throughout the town. The correct solution to this particular request is the installation of a five-foot sidewalk with proper curb and gutter along the south side of Caines Street from Spring to Argyle Avenue. The estimated cost of construction is $30,000." He recommended the council attempt to include the sidewalk construction in the 2004 budget. Louise Dustrude applauded Fitch's idea of constructing the sidewalk. She suggested the council should allocate $75,000 per year to construct sidewalks which are needed in several areas of town. Fitch said, "The town has budgeted over $55,000 for sidewalks in 2003." During the 2003 budget process, $40,000 was added to extend the sidewalk along Tucker Avenue to the Town and County Trailer Park. The decision has upset some citizens who live on Guard Street, according to Fitch. They have been waiting for years for sidewalks to be installed there. Fitch said there are very few funds set aside for the street utility. The town receives Capron funds (which come from the gas tax) from the state. The only other dedicated source of money for the streets comes from a utility tax which is added to the refuse, water and sewer bills. The rest of the revenue comes from transfers from the general fund. Mayor Gary Boothman noted the seniors had worked hard to raise the money for the sidewalks and street improvements required for the Mullis Center. "I know how hard the seniors worked," he said. "Perhaps you'd like to help the town get the money together for this. You were very effective in getting the public to contribute money." The center's opening was delayed until the seniors could raise the funds for the street improvements the town required them to install. After listening to the petitioners, councilmembers discussed the safety concerns. "I know we cannot afford the sidewalk right now," Councilmember Carrie Brooks said. "I know it is dangerous. I think we ought to try three stop signs and see what happens." Fitch said in order to put in stop signs the corner would have to be turned into a T intersection rather than an S curve. He noted every time councilmembers put on record that something is dangerous they put the town in a position where "the next time something happens, you open up the purse strings." Editor's note: A sheriff deputy's report on a February 8, 2003 accident at the Nash and Market intersection cited road design as a possible contributing factor. A 47-year-old Friday Harbor woman's car was struck by a 55-year-old Friday Harbor man's vehicle. The woman said she had been avoiding potholes and looking for pedestrians when the accident occurred. Councilmember Wally Gillette suggested slowing the traffic down to 10 mph at the curve and adding a crosswalk. Fitch said the speed limit can not be lower than 20 mph on a public street unless it is justified by a traffic study.
Councilmember Bill LaPorte said, "I think we would be much better spending money to complete the road at the other end (Nash and Market). I have no problems discussing sidewalks for next year or the next. I am not in favor of putting up stop signs and making crosswalks as proposed." He recommended the council rely on the experts. "We don’t design by what the audience thinks," Fitch said. Traffic flow is the driving principle for the design. "Pedestrians are secondary," he said. "I hate to say it but it is true." Councilmember David Jones favored installing a three-way stop sign. "It is a way to respond to citizens. I would also change the speed limit to 20 mph," he said. "I have almost been hit a few times. I think we should commission a traffic study. Sidewalks seem to be a non-starter because we don't have the money to do that." The discussion was cut short by the mayor due to time constraints. He told the council they could continue the discussion at another meeting. Petition
THEREFORE We refuse to stand by silently while this nightmare of harm to life and limb is everpresent. |
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