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Home My WebLink AboutTrans 2011-10-17 Item 4A - Discussion - Citizen Comment Update on Dangerous Intersection (SR 518 at 51st Avenue South)City of Tukwila INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Haggerton Transportation Committee FROM: Bob Giberson, Public Works Director, j DATE: October 14, 2011 SUBJECT: Citizen Comment Update Dangerous Intersection SR 518 at 51 Ave S ISSUE Ms. Jacque Carrol, 16241 49 Ave S, spoke at the August 22, 2011 Committee of the Whole meeting under citizen comments. Ms. Carrol felt that the intersection of Klickitat Drive and the State Route 518 exit ramp is very dangerous and asked the Council to research this area. BACKGROUND The intersection in question is actually 51 Ave S and the SR 518 Eastbound off -ramp. This intersection is within the control of WSDOT as part of the limited access area for SR 518. Staff requested that the WSDOT Northwest Region Traffic Engineer evaluate the recent accident history and our citizen's complaint and respond to the City with their evaluation. WSDOT responded a few weeks later that they agree there have been a significant number of recent angle collisions at this location. The intersection does not meet traffic signal warrants based on volumes, but does meet the collision warrant. While a traffic signal may be warranted at this location, only about 20 out of hundreds of eligible intersections are prioritized high enough each biennium to receive funding for a new traffic signal. WSDOT does feel that something should be done at this intersection, and have committed to signing and marking this as an all -way stop intersection as soon as this year. The exact schedule will be shared with the community and Council when WSDOT informs the City. DISCUSSION A traffic signal is the preferred intersection safety improvement at this location. A new signal would help to reduce the amount of traffic accidents and near- misses; however an all -way stop configuration is a reasonable alternative for the SR 518 off -ramp intersection that has relatively poor sight distances. RECOMMENDATION For information only. Attachments: Google Map August 22, 2011 COW Minutes (page 2 of 5) September 19, 2011 WSDOT email W:\PW Eng \OTHER \Bob Giberson \Correspondence \INFORMATIONAL MEMO 10.14.11 Citizen Comment Update.doc 33 Tukwila WA Google Maps Address Tukwila, WA k.�Jok"-)gle Page 1 of 1 Get Google Maps on your phone Textthe word "GMAPS"to466453 4 http /maps.google.com/maps ?f =q& source= s_q &hl= en &geocode &q= Tukwila +WA &aq... 10/11/2011 34 's't��YaaSt�'. v; u9 ,44th S! L+ U i 6 1:-3th St 'tt €SE rri S1 @'fNk'S1 L? St 3 1 'S2nd St v i 7. FytTt4'r 83vd r ,:e r; S 153rd St �s'.itt5 v 1., 18 m s'° q Pkv l t,3 •a. CL CM •y. tSB;'x�';4�.`c i.e: 't k« v Sat'E {t :'zt,� it X 2. :9 1�1wC „9t ?.9ir Fw€ ,.,1 tV4+ ;'if Jd €p CJ tr,+ Ifi 163 €6 P' rn C' C''Rttj St C'J B'Ya ,erg O f n S, r, t6rth Ln St s S 14th St M L r, 5 170h :ap S 1 r ;�L^ St 17C�}� ;;t p c c j Q011 Google Map data 02011 Googl http /maps.google.com/maps ?f =q& source= s_q &hl= en &geocode &q= Tukwila +WA &aq... 10/11/2011 34 Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Minutes August 22, 2011 CITIZEN COMMENTS Page 2 of 5 David Puki, 3748 South 152 Street, acknowledged and thanked the "Save the Tukwila Pool" members in the audience. He explained the group of citizens came together for a good cause, and 62% of the residents voted in favor of the Metropolitan Park District (MPD). He feels the Tukwila Pool can thrive since the successful election, and the facility can move forward with repairs and upgrades and be enjoyed by the community and region. He asked the Council to create a citizen advisory group that will assist the MPD Board with successful operations now and in the future. Vanessa Zaputil, 15171 52 Avenue South, #5, stated last year a group of citizens asked the Council to form a MPD for the Tukwila Pool. Voters have approved the MPD, and she urged the Council to establish a citizen pool advisory group as soon as possible. She feels an advisory group would be beneficial to the Council, acting as the Board of Commissioners, to ensure fiscal responsibility of the MPD and aid in the success of the facility. Ms. Zaputil expressed her concern at the elimination of the preschool program at the Tukwila Community Center. She feels the Council should have known about the decision to eliminate such an important program, and she disagrees with cancellation of the program, especially with such a short notice. Preschool programs are extremely important for the children of the community, and she urged the Council to correct this situation. r s Jacque Carroll, 16241 49` Avenue South, feels the intersection of Klickitat Drive abd the exit ramp from State Route 518 is very dangerous, and she asked the Council to research this area. She feels the City has control over this particular area, and she asked the Council to review all options available to make the intersection safer for the community. Council President Ekberg asked that the Transportation Committee review the accident history and other issues related to this particular intersection. Georgina Kerr, 3836 South 116"' Street, thanked the Council for their support of the pool initiative. SPECIAL ISSUES Councilmember Seal asked the Council to consider moving Special Issues Item 4d regarding gambling activities to the September 12, 2011 Committee of the Whole meeting. It was her intention to have the new ordinance relating to gambling tax triggers be separate from a repeal of Section 2 of Ordinance No. 2323. The City Attorney has indicated she would need additional time to draft two separate ordinances. With the two separate ordinances, the Council can discuss the taxing structure now, and after the citizen advisory vote, the Council could address Ordinance No. 2323. COUNCIL CONSENSUS EXISTED TO REMOVE SPECIAL ISSUES ITEM 4D FROM THE AGENDA AND FORWARD THE DISCUSSION TO THE SEPTEMBER 12, 2011 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING. (Reference Item 4d below) a. An ordinance regarding livestock, small animals and fowl. Councilmember Seal indicated this item was discussed at the Community Affairs and Parks Committee meeting on August 8, 2011. The committee members were unanimous in recommending approval. Nora Gierloff, Deputy Community Development Director, explained Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 7.08, which regulates the keeping of small animals and livestock, has not been updated since its adoption in 1956. Citizens interested in urban agriculture and local food production have asked the Council to lower the minimum lot size for keeping chickens below the current standard of 10,000 square feet. Staff is suggesting 6,500 square feet as that is the minimum lot size in the City's single family zone. 35 From: Leth, Mark <LethM @wsdot.wa.gov> Sent: Monday, September 19, 20113:07 PM To: Bob Giberson Subject: FW: EB SR -518 off -ramp and 51st Avenue South Attachments: SimTraffic (Results by Mvmt).pdf, SR 518 EB RAMP AT 51st LT path.pdf Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Sorry for the delayed response on this. My staff forwarded the info to me a while back, but I got sidetracked on a few other issues. There has been a number of angle collisions at this location more recently. The intersection does not meet signal warrants based on entering volumes, but currently meets the collision warrant. Unfortunately the location does not prioritize at this time for that significant of an investment. We evaluate all state highway intersections each biennium and program improvements on a prioritized basis. Frankly only a handful (say around 20 or so) of major intersection improvements are being funded each biennium. We have evaluated the intersection for an all -way stop installation and consider it a very good candidate for that treatment. The revised traffic control will effectively minimize the current traffic conflicts. Our plan is to move forward with the installation in the near term. I don't have an installation date yet, but ex�e�t w -e wi haze it place this fall. Attached is a layout of where the stop lines will be located. I've also attached our traffic analysis for with and without multi -way stop control. Let me know if you have questions or comments. Again, sorry for the late response. Sincerely, Mark Leth, P.E. WSDOT NW Region Traffic Engineer 206.440.4487 Iethm(@wsdot.wa.eov 1 NR