2018-09-24 Transportation and Infrastructure Minutes

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City of Tukwila City Council Transportation & Infrastructure Committee TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes September 24, 2018 5:30 p.m. Hazelnut Conference Room, City Hall Councilmembers: Thomas McLeod, Chair, Quinn, Zak Idan Staff: David Cline, Henry Hash, Hari Ponnekanti, Jack Pace, Pat Brodin, Ryan Larson, Cyndy Knighton, Peter Lau, Vicky Carlson, Moira Bradshaw, Gail Labanara, Kraig Boyd, and Derek Speck Guests: Abdirisak Ahmed, Abu Bakr Islamic Center and Sharon Mann CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair McLeod called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS II.BUSINESS AGENDA Chair McLeod announced that items would be taken up in a different order than that listed on the agenda. A. S 140th St Intersection Improvements As requested by the Committee Chair, staff updated the Committee on the status of the grant application for a pedestrian crossing with a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) on Tukwila International Boulevard near the Abu Bakr Islamic Center. The grant application was submitted in late August and the results should be released in November 2019. To review, a full traffic signal would cost approximately $750,000 while a RRFB crosswalk is estimated to cost $190,000. No action has been taken while waiting for the November grant results. There is also new development at the Knights Inn and a new school which may change the pedestrian flows in the area. Committee questioned what the options would be if we were unsuccessful in obtaining the grant and staff replied that a standard crosswalk could be completed with the option of using pedestrian crossing flags. This would be a temporary measure as a full study is needed for the best location for a pedestrian crossing. Commander Boyd stated that the Police department has assisted with traffic control for events at the Abu Bakr Islamic Center as parking is insufficient. Commander Boyd also believes that this is the busiest pedestrian crossing area in the city. Mr. Ahmed voiced his concern that this has been on the agenda for six years and distributed photos of people crossing on TIB with adjacent vehicles in close proximity. He urged the City to prioritize this crosswalk project to save lives. Public Works Director Hash reiterated that the project is a priority and that hopefully we will get the grant and will revisit options after the results. If the grant is not awarded in November, staff will submit grants at different granting agencies. Committee stressed that the focus should be on pedestrian safety and speeds on TIB.