Presentation by City of Kent Traffic Calming Representatives
A city engineer and the manager of the traffic calming program presented the following:
- Traffic was studied on Jason Ave N and Clark Ave N for a period of time. On Jason Ave N, traffic/speed meters were placed in three places between James St and Smith St.
- The average speed on Jason Ave N was noted as 31 mi/hr. The city of Kent considers average speeds over 5 miles over the speed limit to be worthy of intervention.
- Volumes of traffic were studied, but I don't remember that data!
- It was noted that traffic studies and actions to calm traffic such as traffic bumps or circles generally take place over a 2 year period. However, I did remind them that I had actually applied for the study two years prior and that a study had been done, but then our request was "lost" until VP Heather Thomas resubmitted our application earlier this year.
- Next step: To have neighbors volunteer to learn how to use radar guns and spend some time getting speeding data and recording license plate information that would be submitted to the City of Kent Police. Warning letters would be sent to the registered owners of speeding vehicles. Hopefully, we would also get some information on where the speeders live (ie. are they mostly residents of our own neighborhood or are they coming from other areas). After this step, the City of Kent will conduct another study to see if the average speed of vehicles travelling on our streets has been affected by these measures and will report back to us. Possible future actions were discussed.
- It was noted that there is no current city ordinance that prohibits large trucks from traveling down our roads. The signs posted on either side of Jason Ave N that say "No Trucks except Delivery" are merely placed there to deter them. However, we do have a city ordinance that prohibits them from parking on our streets. If you see trucks parking on our streets, you can call Kent Police to report them.
Sign-up for Neighborhood Council Teams
President Amy Peri passed around sign-up sheets for different action teams. Neighbors signed up depending on their areas of interest. Action teams are listed below. If YOU are interested in participating in any of these action teams, please let me know and I will put you in touch with the Team Chairs. - Welcome Action Team: Assemble a welcome package for new neighbors that might include items such as an important call list, information on the Neighborhood Blockwatch and Council, newsletters (if available), interesting history or information about our neighborhood, etc. Love to meet new people? This team is for you!
- Traffic Issues: Want to do something about the traffic, the speeding, the parking or anything traffic related? This is the Team for you!
- Special Projects: I'm the only one who signed up for this team! So, contact me if you're interested in being on my team! Potential projects based on neighborhood interest are: cleaning/maintaining the creek and foot bridge area (partnering possibly with the Mill Creek Middle School for help), better neighborhood lighting, lining the streets with trees, providing trash receptacles to reduce rubbish thrown on our streets and into our yards, special plaques for homes indicating when they were built (ie. a little plaque that says "Built in 1908") and history projects to celebrate our historical neighborhood, neighborhood newsletter, and so much more!
New Business Next Meeting : Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 20, at 7pm. A decision was made to move our next meeting to the Kent Historical Museum for a more cozy and more favorably acoustic location that was actually within our neighborhood boundaries (no offense Kent Senior Center). Potential drawback: less room. It was also decided that we would have a holiday Potluck in addition to sharing some neighborhood news! So, come meet and mingle with your neighbors for a little holiday fun and food. Bring a dish to pass!
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