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)

Accident This Morning Near Children's Hospital

Neighbors reported to the Laurelhurst Blog, an early morning accident called in to 911 at 7:32am at the intersection of NE 45th and 42nd Avenue NE. The road was blocked for a few hours.

It was reported that a silver Audi was going 45-50mph westbound on NE 45th and hit a Subaru at the intersection. The driver of the Subaru was reportedly transported to the Hospital.

Neighbors said:

It was a horrible, loud accident that could have been prevented by following the speed limit and not being distracted. 

The Subaru was all mangled up and it looked as if it was quite challenging to extricate the drive. We hope this is a warning to those that use NE 45th Street and often go very fast. 

In September of last year, two speed radar signs were permanently installed on NE 45th Street, in both directions, towards the bottom of the hill.

A new pedestrian crossing, at NE 45th Street and 40th Avenue NE, was also been installed.

Children's Hospital initiated the request, to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), to improve traffic safety after a pedestrian was struck at the above intersection in March 2016.

The criteria for installation of speed cushions on 45th Street was met for both travel directions requiring that "85th-percentile speed of the roadway would need to be greater than 5 mph above the posted speed limit of 30mph."

Todd Johnson, Children's Hospital Vice President, Facilities and Supply Chain, told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff at the time:

There have been ongoing safety concerns related to the area around NE 45th Street and 40^th Avenue NE.  People tell us, and we’ve witnessed drivers exceeding the speed limit as they travel down the hill toward Sand Point Way.  At least one injury accident occurred there in 2015 or 2016 when a vehicle struck pedestrian.  We reached out to Seattle Department of Transportation for help making the area safer.   

SDOT selected the methods to calm traffic – a speed monitor and a new crosswalk – and SDOT directed their implementation.   

This work was not part of the Livable Streets Initiative,  mitigation plan and collaborative study completed in 2009-2010 involving Children's Hospital, Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) and other NE Seattle neighborhoods, nor was it required of the hospital.  It is in our interest to keep pedestrians safe around our campus, whether those people are patients or families, Children’s staff, or neighbors. 

Speeding Drivers Reported Throughout The Neighborhood

one of two new speed radar signs

on NE 45th Street

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information from a neighbor:

As I was approaching the intersection of NE Surber Drive and 42nd Avenue NE on November 16th, my car was almost struck by a white Subaru rounding the corner going about 35 miles per hour as I was turning turning onto 42nd Avenue NE.  

Several years ago a resident on NE Surber Drive contacted the Laurelhurst Blog Staff wondering how effective the speed cushions are because he has seen cars, especially larger vehicles, such as SUVS, avoiding the speed cushions, thus still being able to maintain a high rate of speed. 

The speed cushions, which are three inches high, were installed in  December of 2011 between NE 41st Street and 41st Avenue NE, due to numerous neighbors raising concerns about speeding cars over the last several years. 

One neighbor at the time commented:

At the yield sign at Surber Drive and 42nd Avenue NE there used to be round bumps (I'm sure there is another name for them) and painted stripes to the right of the yield sign. Drivers going right onto 42nd Avenue NE cut to the right of the sign and sometimes even pass cars that are turning right from the correct side of the sign. Twice I have even witnessed drivers coming from Webster Point area and turning left onto Surber left of the sign on the left side of the road. Very scary!

The City installed the speed cushions after more than 60 percent of affected neighbors signed a petition submitted in July of the same year.  The well-travelled corridor had been on SDOT’s priority funding list and SDOT told the Laurelhurst Community Club  at the time that funds were finally available to "address the relatively high speeds." 

Another frequent area of speeding is NE 41st Street commonly known as "Suicide Hill,"  the very steep hill on NE 41st Street between 42nd Avenue NE and 43rd Avenue NE.  Neighbors report speeders driving in excess of 50mph down the hill. 

The Laurelhurst Blog posted many comments received by neighbors and others who frequently use that street. 

In 2013 a neighbor commented:

We came across a car wreck at the cross streets of NE 41st Street and 43rd Avenue NE. Ever since we moved in almost two years ago, I frequently cross NE 41 Street from 43rd Avenue NE. Every time I cross that street I'm thankful I made it safely. I often thought it might take an accident for the City to put stop signs on the 45th Street  sides, both east and west. Perhaps the unfortunate accident will make this happen. 

Several years ago the Laurelhurst Blog reported about a dog that was struck and killed by a speeding driver on NE 41st Street and in  December the Blog reported about two car accidents, one in which one person was taken away in an ambulance and the other the speeding driver lost control and hit the median sending one tired into the fence at Talaris and knocking part of it down.

Robin, who works on road safety with the Laurelhurst Community Club, has  over many years witnessed accidents and near misses around Suicide Hill.  He has been working to improve the safety in that area over the last few years.

Speeding around Laurelhurst Elementary School has also been seen.  In February a  parent that lives near  Laurelhurst Elementary School reported  that he often see teens speeding and/or texting while driving through the School zone. 

NE 45th Street is also another frequent speeding corridor.  In September, Children's Hospital worked with SDOT to permanently install speed radar signs on NE 45th Street in both directions, towards the bottom of the hill. Children's Hospital initiated the request, to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to improve traffic safety, after a pedestrian was struck at the intersection of NE 45th Street and 40th Avenue NE, in March of last year.

In Seattle, the speed limit on all residential (non-arterial) streets is 20mph.  The speed limit on arterial streets is 25mph, unless otherwise posted. 

Neighbor Reports Speeding Teenagage Driver In a Blue Mustang-type Car

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

On Saturday, October 4, around 4:15pm, I was crossing 48^th Avenue NE on the east side of the  Laurelhurst playfield.  I had to flag down an obviously speeding car, a  blue mustang-type car.  

To my surprise I found a very young person driving the car, around age 18 would be my guess, with a much younger child in the passenger seat.

You may want to remind your readers about the consequences of giving the keys to power vehicles to young drivers. To any parents allowing their teenagers to drive their power cars / sports car: this is completely irresponsible and you should think again – especially if you are entrusting your older child to drive around your younger child.

Young Driver Seen Speeding And Texting Near Laurelhurst Elementary School

The Laurelhurst Blog Staff received this email from a parent that lives near Laurelhurst Elementary and often see teens speeding and/or texting while driving through the School zone.

The parent would like to remind other parents to talk to their young drivers about safe driving. 

The parent wrote: 

On Saturday, February 20, at 9:45am, a male teenager driving a maroon Honda CRV (license plate AJA4168) was speeding and texting while driving through the intersection of 47^th Avenue NE and NE 47^th Street and past the School and gym.  

I stopped him and reminded him that he was in a School zone and the speed limit is 20 MPH when children are present - even on week-ends when there’s a lot of gym and playground use.   

I also scolded him for texting while driving in hopes that he’ll be more careful when he’s driving through the neighborhood in the future.

 

Residents On NE Surber Drive Concerned That Speed Bumps Are Not Slowing Larger Vehicles Down, SDOT To Conduct Study



A resident on NE Surber Drive sent us email wondering how effective the speed cushions are, because he has seen cars, especially larger vehicles, such as SUVS, avoiding the speed cushions, thus still maintaining a high rate of speed.

The speed cushions, which are three inches high, were installed in  December of 2011 between NE 41st Street and 41st Avenue NE, due to numerous neighbors raising concerns about speeding cars over the last several years.

The City put in the speed cushions after more than 60 percent of affected neighbors signed a petition submitted in July of the same year.  The well-travelled corridor had been on SDOT’s priority funding list and SDOT wrote to the Laurelhurst Community Club last June that funds were finally available to "address the relatively high speeds." the Laurelhurst Community Club said. 

A resident wrote:

I have lived on Surber Drive for about four years.  I am shocked by the speed of many cars in this residential neighborhood. I helped gather signatures for installing the speed bumps thinking it would reduce speeds. Sadly, the change has been insignificant.

The width of the bumps allows cars with a wide wheel base (SUVs) to avoid contact.  Cars are still barreling around the corner into the construction zone and making it hazardous to back out of driveways.  The bumps have a shallow design and are not that intimidating to speeders.  Cars that do slow for the bumps have a long stretch to pick up speed after they clear them. 

I am sure the city engineers have reasons for this minimum design.  But for those seeking a solution to other speed problem areas in the neighborhood, realize that speed bumps, such as those installed on Surber, may not be a complete solution.

And another neighbor commented:

At the yield sign at Surber Drive and 42nd Avenue NE there used to be round bumps (I'm sure there is another name for them) and painted stripes to the right of the yield sign. Drivers going right onto 42nd Avenue NE cut to the right of the sign and sometimes even pass cars that are turning right from the correct side of the sign. Twice I have even witnessed drivers coming from Webster Point area and turning left onto Surber left of the sign on the left side of the road. Very scary!

 

Another resident commented:

I drove along Surber recently and had to pull to one side as a large, dark blue, SUV came ripping along the other way doing at least 30mph. The speed cushions had no effect on him at all. 

I think the SPD are the only ones to stop these folks. With all the construction vans and trucks either side of the road I was amazed the driver would even attempt 20 mph let alone 30mph.

The Laurelhurst Community Club told us that speeding along Surber continues to be a problem despite the speed cushions that were installed in 2011.   

LCC recently contacted the City after hearing from residents that certain vehicles are able to avoid any impact with the cushions due to a wide wheel base. Neighbors were also concerned about cars speeing around the curve in the road about at Belvoir when other cars are coming in the opposite direction. 

John Marek, SDOT Neighborhood Traffic Operations Supervisory wrote in response:

The speed cushions that were installed on Surber Drive NE were designed in accordance with federal guidelines outlined by the Institute for Traffic Engineers and the National Association of City Transportation Officials. 

These guidelines provide jurisdictions the ability to modify the design in accordance with street design and city policies, as we have done in Seattle. SDOT uses a design intended to maximize the traffic calming effects while minimizing the risk of property damage to vehicles and the impact to emergency service access to the neighborhood.  

While the installation of any traffic calming device on a roadway is intended to encourage slower traffic speeds, they are not able to make all motorists responsible drivers.   

SDOT will be conducting traffic studies on Surber Drive NE to help determine the effectiveness of the existing devices.  

Thank you also for sharing the information regarding Belvoir Place.  It is important to SDOT that we receive this type of information to continually provide our residents with excellent service.  

We ask that the neighborhood for this area participate in Seattle’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program to address these concerns on 42nd Avenue NE.  

Also, if neighbors are aware of vehicles that are travelling well above the posted speed limit, please contact SPD’s traffic unit at (206) 684-8757.  For questions or concerns, please contact our office directly at neighborhood.traffic@seattle.gov or (206) 684-0353.

Reader Urges Drivers To Slow Down In School Zone

We received this email:

A note to neighbors to please remember to drive slowly in the Laurelhurst Elementary school zone areas. Recently, I saw a car speeding at roughly 3:15pm in front of the school heading northbound on 46^th Avenue NE and then exiting the school zone area at a higher than normal speed. 

There are children exiting the building early to do patrol crossing duty as well as families and other children walking around the perimeter of the school and crossing the streets there. Adding rain and crowded parking conditions just makes this type of driving even more dangerous.

Please slow down.

Another Car Accident At 42nd Avenue NE And NE 41st Street And Updare On Accident That Knocked Down Talaris Fence

We received this email about yet another car accident near at the intersection of NE 41st Street and 42nd Avenue NE:
:

Last Thursday, December 5th, there was a bad car crash yesterday about 5:15pm at the bottom of the hill at the corner of 42nd Avenue NE and NE 41st Street.

I heard the crash, but did not see it happen.  From the damage, direction/location of the vehicles, it looked like a car

was turning left onto NE 41st and was hit by a SUV going up the hill.

There was one person taken away in an ambulance, though I don't know the extent of their injuries. There was also a fire truck and two police cars who came to help.

I spoke briefly to the people from the SUV to let them know 911 was coming.  They had already gotten out of their vehicle on their own. Their SUV did have to be towed away.

The SUV ended up almost perpendicular again my curb on the hill side of 42nd Avenue NE. The other vehicle ended up around the corner in front of my neighbor's house just before you go up NE 41st Street.

It looked to be hit on the driver's side. That neighbor said both vehicles crossed the corner of their property and came very close to their fence. From the extensive glass, the crash itself happened right in the middle of the intersection.

We're not sure if someone running a stop sign on 42nd, or speeding on 41st (or both) caused the accident. As you are all too aware, hese are things we've all been concerned about already.

We reported last week about another accident in this same location that happened Sunday about 2am, November 24th,  when a car hit the median on NE 41st Street and a wheel came off knocking down a large part of the fence at Talaris.

Additional information is available now about this accident. According to the police report, the driver was headed eastbound at a ‘high rate of speed’, spun around 180 degrees, took out the fence and the tires were ripped off the rims. Approximately 200 feet of skid marks were observed.

The driver, barely 21 years old, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Breathalyzer results show that the driver was likely nearly three times over the legal limit of .08 BAC. There were three other passengers in the vehicle at the time of the crash. No serious injuries occurred.

And in October we posted about a dog that was struck and killed by a speeding driver on NE 41st Street, another dangerous hill just one block east. We also posted comments from neighbors who live and drive through that area who are concerned about the safety of that area.

Last month, Jim Curtin, with SDOT provided analysis of the area, and concluded that SDOT needed to move forward with safety modifications, which are now in the works, depending on weather and other factors.

These include replacing faded regulatory signs at the intersection and replace the stop bars. Additionally, a new advisory sign indicating an advisory speed of 15 mph going downhill will be installed west of the Laurelhurst Park entrance and a new 30 mph speed limit sign will be posted at a location east of 48^th Avenue NE or 50^th Avenue NE for the westbound direction.

 

SDOT will also cut back vegetation in the right-of-way to improve sight lines for all who travel along the corridor. This work will occur on NE 41^st Street between 42^nd Avenue NE and 43^rd Avenue NE.

 

Seattle Police (SDP)  has started patrolling the speed limit on the NE 41^st St corridor during the afternoon.
A family that lives near the intersection said that they keep a first aid kit in the front closet to treat those injured in accidents at that intersection.

"We hope that with all these recent accidents that drivers will really slow down going up and down the hills and heed the posted street signs.  It is heartbreaking for us to hear the car screeching and sound of impact of the car accidents and then learn that more people and pets have been injured.  It just doesn't have to happen at all," a nearby neighbor told us.
 

Reader Comments On Speeding Drivers On NE 41st Street Hill And SDOT Contact For Concerns

Bottom of dangerous hill looking east on  NE 41st Street

 



We have received many comments after our post Tuesday about a dog being hit and killed on NE 41st Street, near the very steep hill.

One neighbor, submitted his concerns and comments to Jim Curtin, SDOT Traffic Safety Coordinator, over a month ago, and Jim has just told the neighbor and the Blog Staff that the evaluation of the site will finally be available on Monday. 

Jim added: 

Please let me know if you know of any recent collisions at this location since crash information is one factor we take into account during our evaluation. There is a rather significant lag time between the incident and the collision report being sent to SDOT so any additional information you can provide would be helpful. To date, we show one collision at this intersection in 2013 that occurred on June 24th.

.

Jim Curtin can be reached by email at Jim.Curtin@seattle.gov or by phone 206-684-8874.

In addition, the Laurelhurst Community Club, (LCC), has been working on this major safety hazard for many years. SDOT installed a reduced speed sign and a yellow blinking light in the past to calm speeds.

 

"More obviously needs to be done to address the problem,"Jeannie Hale, LCC President told us. 

She said that the two worst accidents she is aware of were at the top of the hill - due to lack of visibility. In one accident, one car was totaled and another accident was at the bottom due due to excessive speeds, in which a car was proceeding along 42^nd Avenue NE and was hit by a speeding car proceeding on NE 41st Street.

A neighbor who lives two blocks from the dangerous intersection said that he has heard numerous accidents from his house. He told us that about five years ago an SUV with five Chinese students in was  heading south on 43rd Avene NE and was hit broadside by a full sized sedan heading east fast up NE 41st Street.  There was a lot of damage to the SUV and he believes a broken arm to one of the students.

Another accident he remembers is one aout ten years ago that involved a plumbers truck heading west down NE 41st Street and hit a car crossing the intersection at 43rd Avenue NE, which ended up being totalled. And the impact was so great that pipes on top of the plumbers truck flew down the hill at least 300 feet.

The neighbor also recalls at least five dogs and one cat that have been killed on this stretch over the years.  One kid was crossing the intersection with his dog on a leash. A car coming fast up the hill missed the kid but hit and killed the little dog.

We received these comments from those who travel in that area:

I have lived on NE 41st St. for over 40 years and have tried many times to get the city to install speed bumps or traffic calming always with the same response...NO Their reason is because this street is a main arterial and emergency vehicles need access. I do believe every road leading to Villa Academy has speed bumps so what would happen if there was ever an urgent need response required there?

This past June, we came across a car wreck at the cross streets of NE 41st Street and 43rd Avenue NE. Ever since we moved in almost two years ago, I frequently cross NE 41 Street from 43rd Avenu NE. Every time I cross that street I'm thankful I made it safely. I often thought it might take an accident for the City to put stop signs on the 45th Steet  sides, both east and west. Perhaps the unfortunateaccident will make this happen. 

A concern I have for that intersection is during the School year. The public middle school kids catch their bus at the NE between 7-7:20. I have often seen many students wait until speeding cars, coming from the east, heading west, are traveling too fast to slow down. They come flying down that hill. And many cars come flying up the steep hill, coming from the west, heading east. The speed limit coming up the hill is 15MPH (I believe) and I know many are going much faster than that. During most of the school year the morning is dark, making it really hard to see the kids cross the street.

SDOT now has a new kind of speedbump called a Speed Table that targets inattentive or impaired drivers while leaving the rest of us without "speedbump bruises" They can also be installed on arterials or transit streets prevously off limits for speedbumps. 

So sorry to hear about the dog who was hit. My husband commented Tuesday about 2 police cars, with sirens going, driving very fast on 42nd Avenue NE between NE 45th Street and NE 41st Street. There is no way someone coming down 41st Avenue NE at the usual rate of speed could have stopped in time after hearing the sirens (probably blocked to some extent by the hill) or seeing the car(s).     

We again have problems turning into the alley behind that block of 42nd Ave NE and Talaris.  The lowest branches of the trees in the center median of 41st Avenue NE block the view up the hill necessary for a safe left turn. These trees were pruned slightly last year, but branches grow longer and are weighted down by leaves this time of year. It's a steep hill, and some folks drive so fast that their cars hit bottom on the flat part.  I think the speed limit should be clocked on that hill. 

I was so sad to read about Jacopo getting hit by a car on NE 41st. We live on that street too, and speeders have always been a problem -- from awful to outrageous. I contacted the City about six-eight weeks ago about conducting a traffic study after talking with a neighbor on the northside of 41st, west of us.  The usual blah-blah from the city in response (arterial, etc), but the City did promise to study us within the next year. This is long overdue.

 

This past June, one of my labs escaped from my back yard and was hit by a young lady speeding east up NE 41st Street. The dog wasn't killed but I spent the whole night looking for her, together with several neighbors, finally finding her in the park. She had to have 7 stitches in her head and 4 on her front leg. She was only 2 years old and was never the same again. Very sad. 

I really believe the very safest solution for the NE 41st. Street and 43 Avenue NEcrossing is to install one large Convex Traffic Mirror (About 24" diameter) on the NW corner and another one on the SW corner. This would enable drivers heading south or north on 43rd Avenue NE to check the mirrors and see what is coming up the hill. I also think we should install stop signs on ALL FOUR corners. This will help slow down all the speeding drivers traveling up and down NE 41st Street. The police would have a field day giving out tickets on NE 41st Street. If the SDOT say NO then I really would like to hear what they suggest. Their explanation concerning "no speed bumps" is ridiculous. If there ever a fire at Villa Academyevery road leading to that facility has speed bumps so the reasoning of emergency vehicles needing clear access goes right out the window.  

I have lived on NE 41st Street for 40 years so I do feel i"m somewhat of an expert when it comes to traffic flow in this part of Laurelhurst. The speed limit on this stretch of NE 41st is 15 mph and there are several signs warning drivers of hidden driveways as they head west down the hill from the park. Only about 10% ever obey the speed limit. It is a wonder no children have been run over though a collie dog was killed about 20 years ago by a stop-and-run driver heading west. 

The couple we bought our house from on NE 41st Street in 1968, kept a first aid kit in the front closet to treat those injured in accidents at that intersection. I myself was deposed in a court case in which a young woman riding on the back of a motorbike was hit by a car going north across 43rd Avenue NE. She had stopped but the motorcycle was going so fast she couldn’t see them coming. If there had been a mother pushing a stroller across, they all would have been dead. I refused to testify on behalf of the motorcycle kid as he was speeding. I also remember a driver who drove down 41st (westbound) so fast he lost control, and took out all the trees on our parking strip.  I could go on. This hill has been a problem now and since before we moved in. 

 

Here are two of many past Blog posts published about this area of the neighborhood:

Drivers Rolling Through Stop Signs (2/12)

Three Car Accident (June 2013)
 

 

Recently Installed Speed Cushions Help To Calm Traffic On NE Surber Drive

In case you haven't noticed, speed cushions have been installed on NE Surber Drive between NE 41st Street and 41st Avenue NE, due to numerous neighbors raising concerns about speeding cars, over the last several years.

This corridor has been on SDOT’s priority funding list and SDOT wrote to the Laurelhurst Community Club in June of this year, that funds were finally available to "address the relatively high speeds three inch high asphalt speed cushions," after more than 60 percent of affected neighbors signed a petition submitted in July.

Recently, these speed cushions were installed to calm traffic on the long stretch, along with "Speed Bump Ahead" signs. 
The three inch high asphalt speed cushions do not affect on street parking, SDOT says. 

Surber Drive is a very well travelled road used by pedestrians going to various locations, including walking to the park, Husky games, University VIllage, Yesler Swamp, or the Talaris site.

"Slowing traffic for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists is a LCC priority, and the Surber Drive project is a welcome move,"  the Laurelhurst Community Club told us.