City of Spokane
Traffic Dept.
W.1116 Broadway PWK-2
Spokane, WA 99260
Dear Bob Brueggeman,
The South Hill of Spokane has a public safety issue with the Maple/Walnut corridor, especially in the area of 9th 10th and 11th Ave. Because of excessive speed and a blind corner pedestrians crossing these streets or in cars take there life in there hands when they cross the street. The corner of 10th and Maple is especially dangerous. There are school children in the area.
The problem will be exacerbated with the closing of the Monroe Street Bridge.
Enclosed are pictures of the cross walks in question. The cross walks need repainting, florescent cross walk signs should installed ( the light post that has the no parking sign on it would be visible from 8th Ave. would be a wise position) and the fence removed from the corner of Maple and 10th so as to provide visual access to oncoming southbound traffic. We will contact the owner/s to see if we can remove part if not all of the fence.
Please note the last picture with the no parking sign. This is where
we feel a florescent sign would be appropriate.
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 |
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 |
If funding is an issue, our committee will submit a proposal to the neighborhood council to secure an amount equal to your costs.
Please respond to us a.s.a.p. about what will be done. A florescent crosswalk sign, and the repainting of the crosswalks are our initial requests.
After reviewing, these issues you may want to install a flashing warning light.
Sincerely,
Sue Marion
Secretary of Cannon's Addition Steering Committee
Subject:
RE: Proposed letter to Traffic
Department
Date:
Thu, 5 Sep 2002 14:11:53
-0700
From:
"Brownlee, Kevin" <KBrownlee@SpokaneCity.org>
To:
'Steve Spickard' <steves@iea.com>,
"'LaurM@aol.com'" <LaurM@aol.com>
Steve,
To clarify a couple of things from the CD perspective, HUD funds can't
be
used to supplement a municipal government's budget, i.e. pay for ongoing
maintenance of what would otherwise be supported by the city.
Painting
crosswalks falls into this category, in HUD's opinion. Repairing
or
replacing a crosswalk sign would also fall into this category.
However,
installing a new sign or signs should be possible. The difference,
in HUD's
opinion, is that these new signs provide a level of service beyond
what
would be possible through the City's budget.
As always, this info might clarify or cloud your question. Feel
free to
call (625-6816) or email with further questions.
Kevin
Subject:
Re: Proposed letter to Traffic Department Steve, Mention possibly in the
letter about the necessity of maintaining pedestrian
corridors.
Date:
Sat, 07 Sep 2002 09:33:46 -0700
From:
tom hemken <htom@qwest.net>
To:
Steve Spickard <steves@iea.com>
Re: Proposed letter to Traffic Department
Date:
Thu, 5 Sep 2002 19:39:58
EDT
From:
JOHNDOWNES@aol.com
To:
steves@iea.com
(Suggested changes in letter from John Downes
Proposed letter to Traffic Dept.
Historic Cannon's Addition Steering Committee
A Community Development Neighborhood
S. 918 Cedar
Spokane, WA 99204
Bob Brueggeman
City of Spokane
Traffic Dept.
W.1116 Broadway PWK-2
Spokane, WA 99260
Dear Mr. Brueggeman;
The lower South Hill of Spokane has a public safety issue with the Maple/Walnut corridor, especially in the area of 9th 10th and 11th Avenues.
For the past 90 days our Steering Committee has had
a sub-comittee compiling information and recommendations for this letter,
and it was
unanimously approved at our meeting held on September 3, 2002.
Because of excessive speeding, a blind corner, and
increased traffic that is expected to become even worse due to the imminent
closure of the Monroe
Street bridge (as motorists seek new routes up the South Hill), we
believe great peril confronts pedestrians, school children, and vehicles
attempting
to cross any of the above-mentioned streets, and in fact, take their
lives in their hands when they do.
The intersection at 10th and Maple is particularly
dangerous. Your own and the Police Department's records will show
it to be one of the worst
collision intersections in the city.
This letter not only calls attention to a neglected,
high traffic arterial, but offers several low-cost suggestions from area
residents that we
would like to believe will get your immediate attention and cause your
immediate action.
Enclosed are pictures of the cross walks in question.
(Insert photos)
LOCAL RESIDENTS RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE:
* The cross walks need repainting;
* High visibility florescent cross
walk signs should be installed;
* The light post with the No Parking
sign that is visible from 8th Avenue would be a good position for a flourescent
traffic sign. (See the fourth picture)
* A flashing caution light at 10th and
Maple.
* The private fence should be removed
from the corner of Maple and 10th so as to provide visual access to oncoming
southbound traffic. (We realize that private fences are beyond your jurisdiction,
so we ourselves plan to contact the property owner about this specific
item).
Please respond to us as soon as possible about what
action will be taken. We are very concerned about this and are hopeful
that work can be
completed before the Monroe Street bridge is closed.
Sincerely,
Steve Spickard, Chairman
Mailing address so that you can get (and expect to receive) a written
response.
Historic Cannon's Addition Community Development Steering Committee
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
(Additional notes from John Downes:
1. Letter must be signed by the Chairman, not the secretary
2. Each picture should be oriented -- i.e. Eastbound -- Looking
South Looking Eastbound across Maple Street from the West side of 10th
-- etc.
3. Crosswalks could be painted on 6th, 7th, 8th on Maple and Walnut
Streets; and 12th, 13th, and 14th on Cedar Street as well.
4. Speed Limit strictly enforced sign at 5th and Maple (Southbound)
and 15th and Cedar (Northbound).
5. Consider sending letter to City Councilman Dennis Hession and other
political leaders including the mayor. The Traffic Department has
little clout in decision-making.
Sorry that Susan and I missed the September meeting. We were returning from a 9 day vacation from the Coast and arrived home Tuesday evening.
/s/ John Downes
Subject:
Re: Proposed letter to Traffic
Department
Date:
Tue, 10 Sep 2002 19:24:25
EDT
From:
Simanton@aol.com
To:
steves@iea.com
Attached is my proposal for the letter.
Thanks!
John Simanton
Letter to City Traffic Dept.Proposed letter to Traffic Dept.
Historic Cannon's Addition Steering Committee
A Community Development Neighborhood
S. 918 Cedar
Spokane, WA 99204
John P. Simanton
1909 W. 9th Avenue
Spokane, WA 99204
509 939-5178
simanton@aol.com
September 15, 2002
Mr. Bob Brueggeman
City of Spokane
Traffic Dept.
W.1116 Broadway PWK-2
Spokane, WA 99260
Dear Mr. Brueggeman,
My name is John Simanton, I am a member of the Historic Cannon's
Addition
Steering Committee, and I have volunteered to act as liaison/point
of contact
for the Committee to work with the City of Spokane Traffic Department
so that
we can work with the City most effectively in support of our
mutual goal of
traffic and pedestrian safety. My address, telephone and
email information
are posted above, and I will be happy to discuss these matters
with you or
with any designated representative of the Traffic Department
at any mutually
convenient time.
The Steering Committee is especially concerned over the Maple/Walnut
corridor, especially in the area of 9th 10th and 11th Ave.
The convergence
from Maple to Walnut in this vicinity appears to create a blind
corner
especially hazardous not only for vehicles crossing on 9th,
10th and 11th
avenues but particularly for pedestrians. The corner of
10th and Maple seems
especially dangerous. With the start of the school year,
we are concerned for
the safety of the children of the area, especially as the problem
will be
exacerbated with the closing of the Monroe Street Bridge.
We note that several crosswalks in the vicinity appear to need
repainting
(photographs attached). Additionally, we have observed
the City's initiative
in posting high-visibility crosswalk signs in many locations
and would
appreciate any information you can furnish us regarding the
criteria for
posting such signs, as we believe that there are suitable locations
along the
Maple/Walnut corridor. For example, one of the attached
photos shows a light
post with a no parking sign on it which would be a suitable
location for a
crosswalk sign that would be visible from 8th Ave. Additonally,
it appears that
a fence on the corner of Maple and 10th impedes visual access
to oncoming
southbound traffic. We will be happy to contact the owner/s
to see if part or
all of the fence could be removed.
If funding is an issue, our committee will
submit a proposal to the
neighborhood council to secure an amount equal to your costs.
I will be happy
to work with you on this aspect as well. We are eager
to assist you in
promoting traffic and pedestrian safety in Cannon's Addition.
Sincerely,
John P. Simanton
Revised Letter as per your suggestions:
Historic Cannon's Addition Steering Committee
A Community Development Neighborhood
S. 918 Cedar
Spokane, WA 99204
Bob Brueggeman
City of Spokane
Traffic Dept.
W.1116 Broadway PWK-2
Spokane, WA 99260Dear Mr. Brueggeman;
The lower South Hill of Spokane has a public safety issue with the Maple/Walnut corridor, especially in the area of 9th 10th and 11th Avenues.
For the past 90 days our Steering Committee has had a sub-comittee compiling information and recommendations for this letter, and it was
unanimously approved at our meeting held on September 3, 2002.Because of excessive speeding, a blind corner, and increased traffic that is expected to become even worse due to the imminent closure of the Monroe Street bridge (as motorists seek new routes up the South Hill), we believe great peril confronts pedestrians, school children, and vehicles attempting to cross any of the above-mentioned streets, and in fact, take their lives in their hands when they do.
The intersection at 10th and Maple is particularly dangerous. Your own and the Police Department's records will show it to be one of the worst collision intersections in the city.
This letter not only calls attention to a neglected, high traffic arterial, but offers several low-cost suggestions from area residents that we
would like to believe will get your immediate attention and cause your immediate action.Enclosed are pictures of the cross walks in question.
LOCAL RESIDENTS RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE:
* The cross walks need repainting;
* High visibility florescent cross walk signs should be installed;
* The light post with the No Parking sign that is visible from 8th Avenue would be a good position for a flourescent traffic sign. (See the
fourth picture)
* A flashing caution light at 10th and Maple.
* The private fence should be removed from the corner of Maple and 10th so as to provide visual access to oncoming southbound traffic. (We realize that private fences are beyond your jurisdiction, so we ourselves plan to contact the property owner about this specific item).Please respond to us as soon as possible about what action will betaken. We are very concerned about this and are hopeful that work can be completed before the Monroe Street bridge is closed.
Sincerely,
Steve Spickard, Chairman
Historic Cannon's Addition Community Development Steering Committee