James and Texas

[Laurie]

hi neighbors,
Is anyone else concerned about the busy (getting busier) intersection at James and Texas (Trader Joe's and other shops on one corner, Deals Only on the other). Trying to get across from Trader Joe's or from homes on King or Lincoln, by turning left onto James from Texas or to get to trader joes by turning left from james onto Texas, can be perilous with the cars speeding from the James/Alabama intersection and the lights being on opposite timers from the other street lights. Trying to cross James safely on foot with or without groceries is also a gamble. I guess the alternative to having some sort of crosswalk or another safe way to make it to the other side, would be to walk from Texas to Alabama, cross James at the light and then walk back on James to Texas; or to walk to the produce market/avenue bread corner (Carolina?) cross james at the crosswalk and walk back to Deals only or home on Texas. Just wondering if anyone else has had or seen a problem with this free for all busy intersection. i can't be at the meeting. is there some way i can get a response to this question/concern?

thanks!
~ laurie
king/texas (with a lovely view of trader joe's loading dock ... never dull!)

[David Henken]

If I remember Driver's Ed correctly, there is a crosswalk at every intersection whether it is marked or not--meaning pedestrians have right of way.  Of course a lot of drivers don't see it that way, and need some extra encouragement.  If Texas is your exact path I can see it is a pain to use James or Carolina as you mentioned, but those are both pretty good alternatives, only a block away.  I use the Carolina crossing frequently and I find drivers really respect the flashing lights. Since there are two good alternatives a block away I am not sure what more could or should be done with Texas.  I wonder, does a painted crosswalk slow anyone down as opposed to an unmarked crosswalk?

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[Ken Mann]

Laurie - I have noticed it.  Also, the high volume of traffic heading south on James (from I-5) with BC plates to make a left at Alabama and a quick right into the parking lot causes a lot of confusion for other motorists.  I think David's response is accurate - with two viable alternatives a block away, you are not likely to persuade COB to move that up the priority chart...  I prefer the Carolina crossing.  Alabama feels like a racetrack with nothing between me and one idiot texting or eating....

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Ken Mann
360.483.6020

Council: km...@co.whatcom.wa.us
Politics: k...@votekenmann.com
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[richard conoboy]

For what is it worth, I avoid that area like the plague and only occasionally visit Trader Joe's whose parking lot has turned into a circus (Didn't anyone in Planning forsee or "PLAN" for the level of traffic there or did they not give a rat's patootie?)  Navigating or exiting the TJ lot in any direction is like playing Frogger.  Since King St. southbound has effectively been blocked to traffic from TJs, every car is more or less forced onto James or Alabama (near the garden shop) where there are no lights at King/ Alabama or Texas/James to help either pedestrians or autos engage the traffic on the arterials.  So when there is a break in the traffic, TJ customers in their cars dart onto James (mostly) where they may or may not encounter the hapless pedestrian trying to take advantage of the same gap in traffic using the magical "unmarked crosswalk".  If anyone wants to depend on these mythical entities, be my guest but you will be dead right -  I mean dead and right.

Dick Conoboy

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Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:11:14 -0800
Subject: Re: James and Texas
From: david....@gmail.com
To: sunn...@googlegroups.com

[Aldo Schipper]

I agree.. this is a very busy intersection to cross... I'm really not sure why a crosswalk hasn't been painted there. 

Aldo

On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 3:51 PM, Laurie <laurie...@gmail.com> wrote:

[David Henken]

While it is impossible to make everyone happy, I think the changes on King were great urban planning.  Yep, traffic is encouraged onto arterials--that's the idea, right?  I'm very happy to have a good grocery store within walking/biking distance and am willing to put up with the traffic.  Once there was a Red Apple at that location and traffic was not so heavy--and of course, they went under.  I really prefer to see the shopping center do well.

While I'm at it I will also say God bless the Canadians.  They put a lot of food on tables in this county.

I wish we could have a strong economy without distracted drivers in enormous suvs but nobody seems to have figure out that one yet (at least not in this country).

[Laurie]

richard,

well said. 

~ laurie

[Laurie]

hi david,

i too love that king street is no longer being used as a freeway offramp or as the major route and waiting area for all the delivery trucks that pull into the loading dock from 4am until at least 10pm, 7 days a week. i live in the second house toward downtown from texas and king so i am thankful every day and every night that bellingham rerouted the king st. traffic. i am also thrilled to have trader joe's as my corner grocery store (even if it is not politically correct to shop there). 

the problem i was complaining about is the lack of traffic guidance or safety precautions for pedestrians and  the influx of cars speeding on, crossing or turning onto at james and texas. james is busier than ever, and while there is the option for pedestrians to walk to carolina (walking toward alabama and james also has its drawbacks with the parking lot driveways) many shoppers choose not to add what is essentially two extra blocks to their walk home or to the trader joe's location.

thanks, neighbors.

~ laurie

[Kris Buettner]

Hello Everyone,

 

I agree that something has to be done at the intersection there at James and Texas.  At the very least there should be a crosswalk.  Folks don't tend to stop for them though and some do, then others don't.  Since there is four lanes, I have often been in the crossfire while crossing.   I've seen some close calls, including myself.  The crosswalk at James and Alabama is awful, as cars don't stop to get up to the light for free right turn. 

 

I frequent the James/Texas  intersection on a bike and by foot.  There is usually someone else besides myself trying to cross there.   What is the harm in trying for another flashing light?  If that isn't possible, a crosswalk would be good.  It would slow traffic and there is going to more of it as it is increasing quickly.   More businesses are going in (new pub) which will increase foot and bike traffic.  

 

Thanks all for the discussion.

 

Kris 

[Theresa Tripp]

The city could paint it in but no guarantees for safety...in either case.  I too have been almost run down using the now lighted crosswalks. - drivers just don't get it.  The law is that as a driver you need to stop for all pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.  Personally I think that crosswalks should exist in the middle of streets rather than at intersections where drivers are distracted and trying to pay attention to a light, the cars surrounding them, the pedestrian in the crosswalk etc.  Another solution that seems to work is when a pedestrian pushes the walk button the entire intersection for cars comes to an all stop and the pedestrian has the right of way to walk whichever way they need to in order to get across the intersection...the only one I have ever seen is in West Seattle and it seems to work well in a very busy intersection.  It's a dilemma but worth looking at as many options as possible and encouraging your fellow drivers to pay attention and stop when they see a pedestrian.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/walk/laws.htm

 

Have a great Day!  Theresa

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From: Ken Mann <ken.ma...@gmail.com>
To: sunn...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 10:16 PM

Subject: Re: James and Texas

[David Henken]

I think what Theresa described is also in use in Urbana, Illinois near the U of I campus.  When traffic is stopped, pedestrians are even free to walk diagonally.  There, it is just part of the signal cycle and doesn't require a button push. If a pedestrian has just missed their chance, they have to wait a couple of minutes because it is only once per cycle. "Cross all ways" lasts about 25 seconds as I recall. In three years I never saw a driver violate it.  I agree it works very well, but I have only seen it implemented at intersections with a LOT more foot traffic than Alabama and James.