Newsletter
Welcome supporters new and old, and thank you for your hard work on making Island Crest Way safer. We had another accident on the corridor this week (and two last week!)--a constant reminder of the need for this city improvement. There seems to be a remarkable amount of mis-information in our community. Please continue to spread the word by passing our web address to friends and family so they can make an informed decision and encourage their council members to do the same.
This week's first article looks at the day-to-day advantages of the the 3-Lane Reconfiguration for everydays users of the corridor. Our second article introduces you to the challenges the corridor, in it's current state, creates for one typical Mercer Island family.
ICW If....ThenSometimes it’s not easy to determine exactly the impact a project will have on you personally, so here’s the facts viewed from some different perspectives.
If you commute from the South:
Offers safer commute with virtually no impact on commute times. Dedicated center turn lane that reduces rear end collisions and swipe accidents due to weaving and cross street traffic. Turn-outs to remove traffic impediments in thru traffic lanes caused by bus loading and unloading. Better pedestrian visibility due to center islands. Right hand buffer zones that allow cars to enter or exit ICW without impacting through traffic, and removes bikers from the commute lane. Less than 10 seconds delay in North/South commute times even during peak hours.
If you live on or near the ICW corridor between 42nd and 53rd:
Provides streamlined and safer ICW access by car or on foot. Dedicated turn lanes prevent rear-end collisions and side-swipes due to weaving and allow side street traffic to enter ICW while crossing only one lane of traffic. A road side buffer zone separate houses and pedestrians from the road, provide a safer means for entering and exiting driveways, and allow traffic to turn on and off ICW with less impact on thru-traffic. Islands offer safer crossing throughout the corridor opening up new East/West pedestrian and bike routes to the library, high school and theater, pool and PEAK and provide a means for corridor beautification. Bus turn-outs provide safer and more pleasant bus stop access, waiting and loading zones and allowing loading without impeding traffic. Re-striping approach assures a low construction impact on the corridor.
If you drive to the high school, the library, St. Monica’s or Emmanuel Church:
Provides faster and safer entry and exit between Island Crest Way and the High School Neighborhood. Coming from the high school neighborhood, the dedicated center turn lane requires crossing only one lane of traffic when turning left on to ICW from 86th or 47th. Going to the high school from the south, wide buffer zones enable cars turning right to slow and turn without effecting traffic behind. From the North, a dedicated center turn lane allows left turns across a single lane of traffic, without impeding traffic flow. Helps alleviate 40th Street back up by providing more safe access points to ICW.
If you ride the bus:
Offers safer and more pleasant bus stop access, waiting and loading zones. Buffer zones on the sides of the road separate bus stops and sidewalks from road traffic; islands offer safer east/west crossing; road noise reduction along the corridor. Bus pull outs allow loading without impeding traffic.
If you believe in Healthy Ways to School:
Offers better, safer healthy Ways to School. Road side buffers provide safer walking and biking routes along and across Island Crest Way to Island Park Elementary, West Mercer Elementary, and Mercer Island High School and reduces school district hazard zone areas.
If you simply like to run, walk or bike:
Separates sidewalks from road traffic with buffer zones creating a safer, more pleasant corridor for walkers and bikers. Islands offer safer crossing throughout the corridor opening up new East/West routes, including those to schools, PEAK and other services.
Wayne and Carol Gullstad moved to the island in 1999. They are raising their four active kids in the neighborhood off of 47th West of Island Crest Way. “We love this neighborhood, it’s just full of kids, which is important when you have four of them yourself!” remarked Carol.
The Gullstads fully support the 3-Lane Island Crest Way reconfiguration for safety reasons. Their family, like most on Mercer Island, are coming and going on their own schedules. Like the other 111 households in their immediate neighborhood, every trip from their home by car, foot or bike requires a crossing of Island Crest Way at 47th—an intersection with the same high accident rate as the much discussed Merrimont and Island Crest Way intersection. Carol explains the hazards her family faces every day:
“As a parent of a sixteen year old driver, I think about my daughter Hailey making that left turn onto ICW for high school daily, or walking to a friend's house or riding her bike. Parents who saw her walking across ICW and 47th during her Freshman year at MIHS told me that she looked like a ‘darting deer’ trying to cross the four lanes.
"My fourteen year old son, Connor, crosses to walk to MIHS or see his best friend who lives on the other side of ICW. When he arrives he actually texts me and says "made it across alive again". This may be the macabre humor of a 14-year old boy but if you look at the data you will see that there is some scary truth to this.
"Trevor, my 12-year old, regularly rides his bike across ICW to go to the Library or Ellis Pond. I would like to support his independence but cringe when I hear tires squeal up the street wondering if those tires are screeching to a halt for him. I would love also to let my nine year old, Leif, walk to his school, West Mercer Elementary or to his soccer practice at Island Park, but cannot imagine letting him go without adult supervision along the sidewalk that has no buffer between him and the cars.
"Finally, I walk our dog Rugby, daily across ICW. At least once a week, a driver will stop for me to cross in the near lane, but another car will weave around them to pass in the other lane. It’s extremely nerve wracking for both me and the drivers.”
The Gullstads and their neighbors love the 3-Lane ICW Reconfiguration because it solves the traffic and pedestrian safety issues for the entire corridor—not just the Merrimont intersection.
“This corridor has close-calls daily, and I recently witnessed a typical one at 47th", Wayne reflects. "The driver on the inside lane stopped for an adult pedestrian, stacking up some cars behind him. It was the classic situation—a car coming up in the outside lane, the pedestrian unaware, and timing that would put him right on that guy's bumper. The driver that had stopped must have seen the other car coming because he became frantic, waving his arms around and hollering. He leaned over straining against his seat belt trying to pop open his passenger side door. Finally he got the pedestrian's attention, stopping just before the other car shot through the crosswalk. This situation happens everyday--we really need to do something about it.“
“I think it’s very shortsighted to solve the Merrimont intersection issues independently of the other safety issues on the corridor. For less than 10% more than cleaning up what’s currently there at ICW and Merrimont, we can solve the issues for the entire corridor,” said Carol. “We hope our city council members will step up and do something strategic and important to the safety of our community.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"My number one priority for the Island Crest Way corridor is safety. Safety for our Island's children, for our family and friends, and for everyone using this corridor. The 3 Lane Configuration is the only solution that satisfies my concerns."
Elliot Newman
Former Mayor
IN THIS ISSUE
- ICW If...Then
- Meet the Gullstads
- What's New
- How to Help
- Coming Events
- City Council Contact Information
Read a letter in this weeks Mercer Island Reporter that introduced Citizens for ABC to the MI community.
Welcome to the new citizens that have stepped up just this week in support of the of the 3-Lane ICW Reonfiguration--we now number close to 200! Join our support list today if you haven't already.
Check out the latest happenings on our brand new NEWS page. Submit additions to info@mercerislandabc.org or on Twitter. Also, become a fan of our Facebook Page.
If you missed last weeks newsletter, you can find it here.
Add Your Name to Our Supporters List. Our list is growing fast and you can now add a quote to your name. Send your name or quote to info@mercerislandabc.org.
Email friends. Get the word out and include a link to our web site www.mercerislandabc.org or pass this newletter along.
Write or call your city council reps. Contact information can be found here.
Attend a City Council Meeting. You can speak for 3 minutes at the beginning of the meeting at Appearances. Speak for yourself, or as a representative of a group of like-minded citizens.
Write a letter to the MI Reporter. You can submit it online here.
Arrange a group presentation. You arrange the meeting and we'll get someone there to present the facts. A good presentation about this option can be found here.
Nov 2, 7pm | City Hall
City Council Meeting
Appearances
Nov 9, 10:30 am | TBD
PTA Advocacy Team Meeting
Citizens for ABC Presentation
Oct 19, 7pm | City Hall
City Council Meeting
Appearances
Oct 19, 7pm | City Hall
City Council Meeting
Public Forum--ICW Options
CITY COUNCIL CONTACT INFORMATION
The City Council will make this decision for us as our elected respresentatives. The topic is on the agenda for the December 7th City Council meeting. None have publicly supported any of the options. Candidate Ira Appleman has publicly stated that he supports the costly light option. The City Council need to hear your opinions on this matter. Call or email them today: