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Home My WebLink AboutTrans 2011-08-01 Item 2 - Discussion - Pedestrian Walkways Citizen Response LetterCity of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Haggerton Transportation Committee FROM: Bob Giberson, Public Works Director DATE: July 29, 2011 SUBJECT: Citizen Response Letter Pedestrian Walkways ISSUE At a November 2010 City Council meeting, a citizen voiced concerns regarding pedestrian walkway safety, and followed up by email in July 2011, requesting a response. BACKGROUND See attached minutes from the November 8, 2010 Council meeting with citizen comments regarding pedestrian walkway safety. Additionally, see attached email sent by the citizen requesting a response and action. DISCUSSION The walkways on 53 Ave S and Macadam Rd S are in poor condition and need to be repaired. The 8" wide walkway stripes are currently thermoplastic and not traffic paint. The thermoplastic striping has lasted more than their ten -year design life and we last used traffic paint to patch them in 2009. Traffic paint rarely lasts more than one year. The cost to replace the 7,000 lineal feet of thermoplastic striping is more than our annual citywide pavement marking maintenance budget of $40,000. RECOMMENDATION For discussion only. Attachments: November 8, 2010 Council minutes June 28, 2011 email to Joan Hernandez July 21, 2011 letter to citizen c:\documents and settings \susan \local settingsltemporary internet files \content.ouflook \4shzt2ak \info memo citizen response letter ped walkways.doc Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting City Hall Council Chambers November 8, 2010 7:00 P.M. MINUTES EXECUTIVE SESSION Start: 6.33 p m Council President Robertson announced the purpose of the Executive Session is to discuss a Personnel Matter -Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(g). It will last no more than 30 minutes, and no decisions will be made during the Executive Session. Attendees: Jim Haggerton, Mayor; Steve Lancaster, City Administrator; Shawn Hunstock, Finance Director; Stephanie Brown, Human Resources Director; Cabot Dow, Labor Consultant; Tukwila City Councilmembers Joe Duff ie, Joan Hernandez, Dennis Robertson, Allan Ekberg, Verna Seal, De'Sean Quinn. 6 p m Councilmember Hougardy entered the Council Chambers End. 7 p.m COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Robertson called the Tukwila City Council meeting to order at 7 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. OFFICIALS Present were Dennis Robertson, Council President; Councilmembers Joe Duffie, Joan Hernandez, Allan Ekberg, Verna Seal, Kathy Hougardy, De'Sean Quinn. CITY OFFICIALS Jim Haggerton, Mayor; Steve Lancaster, City Administrator; Shawn Hunstock, Finance Director; Peggy McCarthy, Deputy Finance Director; Bob Giberson, Public Works Director; Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst; Stephanie Brown, Human Resources Director; Rick Still, Parks and Recreation Director; Shannon Fisher, Special Events Coordinator; Nick Olivas, Fire Chief; Chris Flores, Assistant Fire Chief; Dennis McOmber, Police Commander; Mary Miotke, Information Technology Director; Kimberly Matej, Council Analyst; Melissa Hart, Deputy City Clerk. CITIZEN COMMENTS Sheila Malbrain, 14255 53 Id Avenue South, indicated that she walks to work and is concerned with the safety of the pedestrians that use the walkway along Macadam Road. She explained that the walkway is not clearly defined, and she would like to see clear markings to better identify it as a walkway. Councilmember Seal explained the Transportation Committee could review this item SPECIAL ISSUES a. Authorize the Mayor to Accept Grant Funding from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Secure Our Schools Project in the amount of $76,437.00. (No City match required.) Councilmember Quinn indicated this item was discussed at the Finance and Safety Committee meeting on November 2, 2010. The committee members were unanimous in recommending approval The Tukwila Police Department is seeking acceptance of a U.S Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services Secure Our Schools grant in the amount of $76,437. The Tukwila School District will provide a 50% match of grant funds, and the Tukwila Police Department will handle fiscal management and reporting to the U S. Department of Justice The goal of the grant application is Bob Giberson From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Joan Hernandez Saturday, July 02, 20119:43 PM Bob Giberson Robin Tischmak FW: Pedestrian "walkways" Looks like this may have fallen through the cracks from 2010 and should have been scheduled on one of our Transportation agendas. Can you please see that it gets placed on our next Transportation agenda? Thanks, Joan From: sheila malbrain [malbrain53 @yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 9:51 AM To: Joan Hernandez Cc: malbrain@comcast.net Subject: Pedestrian "walkways" I attended the COW meeting of the City Council on November 11, 2010 to voice my concern about the condition of the painted pedestrian walkways along several streets in Tukwila. The issue was referred to the Transportation Committee by the Council President but I can find no indication in the Transportation Committee minutes that it has ever been discussed. It is now 7 months later and the paint striping is even even worse condition than before. Most vehicle drivers have no idea that they are driving on the "sidewalk This is a public safety issue that needs to bee addressed. The worst locations are Macadam both north and south of 144th and 53rd Ave S north of 144th to Foster Playfield. These three locations are used by children on their way to and from school and to the Community Center. The City of Seatac has painted pedestrian stencils on its walkways much like the bicycle stencils on East Marginal Way near Group Health. The walkways along South 136th are a good example. Perhaps Seatac would loan its stencils to Tukwila. I would also like to see some improved signage much like the bicycle signage on East Marginal. I know that Tukwila's residents cannot afford sidewalks but certainly we can afford some paint! I look forward to hearing from you. Sheila Malbrain 14255 53RD Ave S Tukwila City o f Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor Department of Public Works Bob Giberson, P.E., Director July 21, 2011 Ms. Sheila Malbrain 14255 53 Ave S Tukwila, WA 98188 SUBJECT: Pedestrian Walkways This letter is in response to your concerns voiced at the November 11, 2010 City Council Meeting and your follow -up email to Councilmember Joan Hernandez. My understanding is that you are concerned about the deteriorated state of the pedestrian walkway striping on 53 Ave S and Macadam Rd S. First, let me apologize for our belated response to your concerns. Second, I'll provide some background on the pedestrian walkways and the status of our pavement marking and paint striping maintenance budget and work plan. We agree that the pedestrian walkways are in dire need of repairs. These 8 -inch wide stripes are thermoplastic (plastic), not standard traffic paint. Plastic striping typically lasts five to ten years, while paint usually lasts one year or less. We have a budget for replacing our paint striping equipment; however the price of equipment has gone up. We used to patch the plastic striping with paint and we have not for over a year. We are now working on a proposal to increase our budget by an amount sufficient enough to purchase a thermoplastic machine, or enough to contract out a modest amount of annual plastic striping repairs, such that our repairs last a longer period of time. Thank you for voicing your concerns, and again, I apologize for the delayed response. If you have any questions, please contact me at (206) 431 -2457 or at baibersonOci.tukwila.wa.us Sincerely, Bob Giberson, P.E. Public Works Director 6300 Southcenter Boulevard, Suite #100 Tukwila, Washington 98188 Phone: 206 433 -0179 Fax: 206- 431 -3665