I have lived on the corner of Elm and Alder in Everett for 12 years. Even before I had my children, who are now 5 and 7, I was concerned about the traffic problems in that area. On any given school day, there are at least 30 kids that walk past my house to View Ridge School. Vehicles are speeding north and southbound, sometimes not even stopping at the four-way stop. Drivers do a “rolling stop” at 45 mph.
Granted, my children are not allowed to play in the street, but it has gotten to the point it is no longer safe for us to go on a bike ride in our own neighborhood. I’ve gotten support from the Everett police, but they can’t be everywhere, all the time. I was referred to the Department of Traffic Engineering for the city. I was given the same run-around I was given years ago. The official tried to justify the city’s reasons on why speed bumps cannot be put in, why center islands cannot be put in. He had an excuse for everything, and a solution for nothing. I offered my assistance to help in any way.
Every suggestion I made was shot down for one reason or the other – even something so simple and inexpensive as white lines painted across the intersection to raise awareness of the four-way stop.
Typically it takes someone’s tragic loss to give importance to an issue like this, and I refuse to let one of my children or one of their friends become a statistic because the city wouldn’t do anything about this. I understand that there are traffic problems all over the county; however, when people such as my husband and myself are willing to help in any way we can, you would think we could come up with a method to effect an important change such as this. If there are any other View Ridge residents who are concerned, please call the city, or the city council, because they just don’t seem to be listening to me.
Everett
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