47th Avenue NE Speeding Monitored By SPD

The Laurelhurst Blog recently posted about excessive speeding on 47th Avenue NE that runs on the back side of Laurelhurst Elementary School.

Neighbors report that drivers often reach speeds of 40 to 50 mph.  The existing traffic circle near the school and Sun Park has not been effective in slowing drivers. 

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) recently published in its monthly newsletter that neighbors from the 4700 block of 47th Avenue NE met with District 4 Councilmember Pedersen in mid February about the very  consistent high rates of speed on 47th Avenue NE between Sand Point Way and NE 45th Street.  

Neighbors added that Councilmember Pedersen was very responsive and contacted SDOT to address these concerns. 

On Monday of last week a speed radar machine suddenly appeared on the corner of 47th Avenue NE and NE 50th Street. Then by Friday morning it was gone.

The Laurelhurst Blog contacted Councilmember Pedersen regarding the radar machine.

He said: 

I asked our Seattle Police Department to place that speed trailer there and they had motorcycle patrol there as well, as a follow up to requests from 47th Avenue NE constituents. It is common for some speed trailers to be placed temporarily unless they are on a major city arterial such as 15^th Ave NE or Highway 99.  It’s likely SPD had to use the trailer elsewhere for a hot spot during Memorial Day weekend. 

I also asked SDOT for several other, more sustainable solutions to calming traffic on 47^th Avenue NE between Laurelhurst Elementary and Sand Point Way. 

Here’s where I left it with SDOT very recently: 1) SDOT will remark the crosswalks at 47^th and 47^th this spring 2) SDOT will re-stripe the diagonal lines on 47th Ave at 47th Street, just north of the elementary school 3) SDOT will also replace the crosswalk sign on the west side of the crosswalk for southbound traffic as it appears to be missing 4) SDOT is scheduled to begin work on speed limit changes [down from 30 MPH in that area in the Fall of 2020. Ideally the speed limit signs are posted BEFORE Sept 1, before the elementary school is back in session.

Neighbors also reported an unmarked police car on 47th Avenue NE with a hand held speed radar stationed for several days at different hours recently.

LCC told the Laurelhust Blog:

We have worked on that stretch for years.  We even submitted a street fund grant for improvements a few years ago.  We were not part of the meeting with Peterson or behind the speed sign.

One neighbor told the Laurelhurst Blog that he "was thrilled to see the radar guns out and thanked the officer stationed near my driveway."

Also Councilmember Pedersen said he submitted a request to have the sign on 47^th Avenue NE at NE 50^th Street repaired that he noticed on a recent drive-through in the neighborhood.

Alex can be reached at alex.pedersen@seattle.gov.

(photos courtesy of Streetsmart.com and Alex Pedersen)