By After an MBNA meeting with city officials and police about issues of common interest, the representatives of the Whalers Cove and The Vue condominiums (between 99th and 100th avenues on Lake Washington Blvd.) sent a letter to Bellevue City Manager Brad Miyake with the following concerns:
- Current plans for the new Meydenbauer Bay Beach Park include only simple crosswalks on Lake Washington Blvd (LWB) at 99th Ave.
- The new park will draw many new visitors seeking to cross LWB, many after dark under the current plan to allow park visitors up to 11 pm.
- Even without the park, crossing LWB anywhere but at the 100th traffic light or the 94th crosswalk is hazardous given the curve and the speeding traffic on LWB.
- We also noted the new flashing lights in two places along 100th Ave. for pedestrians using the new Downtown Park; we believe LWB should get at least equal, if not better, pedestrian protection.
- The City’s current posture seems to be to wait a year after the Park is opened to see if there is sufficient demand for more pedestrian protection.
In a response to our letter, the City’s Traffic Engineering Manager, Chris Long, said this project will be added to the current prioritized list for funding consideration in the fall. Since he recognized that the crossing will benefit from infrastructure put in place by the Parks department, the cost of any future installation will be reduced.
A facility being built under current traffic conditions should have the necessary safety measure put in place coincident with park construction. We intend to continue our efforts to ensure greater pedestrian safety, mitigating the possibility of a tragic accident at this increasingly busy pedestrian crossing.
We need your help–support MBNA’s efforts by communicating with City Hall & City Council on this issue. City Council members should welcome the opportunity to stand up for public safety. Emails to the City Manager can be sent to Brad Miyake at [email protected].
As you know, the MBNA runs on donations. We are a 501c3 corporation, and your donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:
MBNA
227 Bellevue Way NE, PMB 278
Bellevue WA 98004
