Fwd: FW: Electric Avenue - improvements needed
Iain (WFNA) Davidson
From: Susan Kane-Ronning, PhD <ocea...@comcast.net>
Date: Sun, Sep 7, 2014 at 1:13 PM
Subject: FW: Electric Avenue speed limit
Iain,
Thank you for taking time from your Sunday to talk with me. I have forwarded the Public Works assistant director's response to our letter. Our letter is below Eric Johnston's. I look forward to working with your neighborhood association to change some of the problematic issues on Electric Avenue.
Susan
Susan Kane-Ronning
3015 Silvern Lane
Bellingham, WA 98226
676-7436
From: Johnston, Eric C. [mailto:ecjoh...@cob.org]
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 5:16 PM
To: ocea...@comcast.net
Cc: Carlson, Ted A.
Subject: RE: Electric Avenue speed limit
Following up on our conversation last week please find attached some information and data related to traffic volumes and speed on Electric and Northshore. I have included both a summary table and the basic data summary sheets. You will note that the count on Northshore is dated this year with the counts on Electric being from 2009. We will be getting an updated count on Electric within the next month or so.
The 35 mph posted speed limit on Electric is appropriate for the geometry, number of intersections, driveways, sight distance and other factors used to determine speed limits. The attached data shows, on Electric, that the speeds are within 5mph of the of the posted speed limit and that the volumes are within the expected range. Based on this data the speed limit on Electric is appropriately set for the conditions. We will take a look at the next set of counts for Electric in the coming weeks to see if there has been a change in traffic patterns. I will be sure to send you that data as well.
The 25 mph speed limit on Northshore is set based on the geometry, limited sight and stopping distances and number of driveways and intersection. It does appear the average speeds are much higher than would be expected. I will be coordinating with the Bellingham Police Dept. traffic division regarding possible enforcement in this area.
Regarding wildlife crossing signs. The City of Bellingham does not install wildlife crossing (aka Non-Vehicular Warning Signs) in the city limits. Our experience suggests there is little to no correlation between the installation of wildlife warning signs and a reduction in the number of vehicle vs. wildlife collisions. In part, this is likely due in part to the tendency of driver to ignore signs when conditions motivating the sign are not regularly present and the random nature of wildlife crossings. We generally avoid installation of ineffective signs as it tends to lower the overall effectiveness in the system. Lowering the speed limit would limit the severity of potential collisions. However, it is unlikely that drivers would comply with a speed limit set outside of the range of where the majority of rivers choose to drive (wether legal or not) and would not likely provide a reduction to wildlife vs vehicle collisions.
Establishing and understanding speed limits can often be a difficult. This is particularly true when two streets of apparently similar conditions have two different speed limits. In this case, Electric does appear to be set at the appropriate limit. Recognizing this is not the result you are looking for I hope that this is helpful in understanding both how we approach signage and speed limits. I would be very happy to discuss further or answer any other questions you might have. Thanks again for taking the time to ask the question.
Regards,
______________________________
Eric Johnston, P.E.
Assistant Public Works Director- Operations
Traffic Engineer
2221 Pacific St. Bellingham, WA 98229
360.778.7710 (direct)
360.201.3713 (mobile/text)
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From: Susan Kane-Ronning, PhD [mailto:ocea...@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 9:01 PM
To: PW - as...@cob.org
Cc: MY - mayors...@cob.org; Vargas, Pinky T.
Subject: Electric Avenue speed limit
Ted Carlson, Director
Public Works, City of Bellingham
August 26, 2014
Dear Mr. Carlson,
We want to express our concerns regarding the current posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour on Electric Avenue between Lakeway Drive and Alabama Street. The speed limit posted for this section of road exceeds public safety. This section of road is used heavily by pedestrians including school children, bicyclists, individuals at bus stops, and pedestrian traffic entering Whatcom Falls Park and Bloedel Donovan Park. This area is also a dense wildlife corridor with deer regularly crossing Electric Avenue to find shelter and water in the park. We drive this section of road daily and have personally seen several near misses including swerving beyond the white fog line into the shoulder of the road and actual impacts involving deer and automobiles.
We recently witnessed a serious vehicle collision with a deer at the intersection of Ohio and Electric AVenue on Saturday, August 23, 2014. A homeowner stated five deer had been struck and killed or injured in the last year. Other residents stated the speed limit was a serious concern that resulted in several vehicle/deer collisions. This is a significant issue not only for the wildlife but also for the safety of the motorists involved, and pedestrians in the right-of-way. The young woman involved in the accident on August 23rd was traumatized and her vehicle was severely damaged. The doe had a badly broken leg that dangled from the left haunch, and she is now attempting to forage and survive with a severe injury. Had the woman swerved to avoid the doe, our car would have been hit head-on.
There is ample justification for reducing the speed from 35 to 25 miles per hour on Electric Avenue. Northshore Drive is a direct extension of Electric Avenue beyond Alabama Street and the speed is 25 miles per hour. Whatcom Falls Park and Bloedel Donovan Park entrances are both located on Electric Avenue, along with two busy crosswalks. In addition, this section of road has several school bus stops, with children walking on a narrow shoulder. Other busy roads within the city limits have fewer mitigating factors and are posted at 25 mph, including Squalicum Parkway to Birchwood Avenue, between the hospital and Cornwall Park, and Northshore to the city limits.
Lastly, we have read several research articles on the effectiveness of different deer warning systems for motor vehicles. We would like the city to investigate these systems for dense high kill/high injury deer/vehicle collisions, including but not limited to Electric Avenue and Barkley Boulevard. The literature also suggests public education to educate motorists regarding deer behavior and appropriate driving safety meaures.
The deer population in Whatcom County has increased and needs to be addressed in a proactive, problem-solving manner that deters the potential for pedestrian/motor vehicle fatalities and injuries, and further injuries and suffering to the deer population. As we encroach on their habitat, we need to find solutions to protect both humans and wildlife.
We look forward to your reply, and working with you on this issue.
Sincerely,
John Kane-Ronning, M.S.
Susan Kane-Ronning, PhD
3015 Silvern Lane, Bellingham/360-676-7436
Cc: Mayor Kelli Linville; Councilwoman Pinky Vargas