The
project for a safer Alabama Street corridor has finally been given the green
light to start reconstruction by the Bellingham City Council. The residents of
Sunnyland and neighboring communities have been fighting for an amended roadway
since 2010.
The
Alabama Street Corridor Project has the goal of a safer roadway and hopes to
reduce the unnecessarily high collision rate of 93 accidents involving bicycles
and pedestrians since 2003. It is ranked 7th by the Bellingham City
Council in terms of importance and has only risen since the death of a
60-year-old pedestrian in September earlier this year. The Bellingham native
was struck by a speeding car while trying to use his walker to get to the
nearest bus-stop.
Alabama
Street is a heavily trafficked arterial that bisects 5 different residential
neighborhoods and carries over 19,000 vehicles daily. Residents of Sunnyland
have commonly described the road as not only plugged with traffic, but
dangerous and overall a negative influence. The previously mentioned abnormally
high accident rate is the second highest vehicle collision rate in all of
Whatcom County, a total of 262 accidents involving cars, cyclists and
pedestrians.
The
previously proposed plans for the roadway have leaned towards creating a “road
diet” for the congested roadway. This would include the narrowing of lanes to
create a wider sidewalk and buffer as well as an official bike lane.
This
renovation has multiple layers in the 1.75 mile corridor including the
narrowing of lanes between Cornwall and James including a new flashing
crosswalk between Alabama and Ellis and enhancements added to the crosswalk on
Alabama and Grant and the crosswalk near Trader Joes.
Secondly,
there would be a median installed as well as pedestrian activated crosswalks
between Iron Street and Superior Avenue. This would also lead to the corridor
widening to extend the left turn lane from Alabama Street to Wolburn Street. Heading
east, there would be a rechanneling from Superior to St. Clair Street which
would include the reducing of travel lanes, the addition of a center turn late
and a new pedestrian activated red-light crossing signal.
Lastly,
and probably the favorite improvement of many Sunnyland cyclists, there will be
the addition of bicycle boulevards. This would create lower speed and lower
stress streets parallel and perpendicular to Alabama for easy access to the
main streets.
The
team that has been working on developing this issue include staff members from
Bellingham Public Works, the Bellingham Police and Fire Departments, the WTA
and Whatcom Council Governments in addition to passionate members of the
influenced communities. Those involved in proposing the reconstruction plans
have derived ideas from similar and successful projects all over Washington
State including Nickerson Street in downtown Seattle and 185th St.
in Shoreline.
The
community has spent the last year gathering input and suggestions, as well as
shared proposed safety improvement alternatives at various neighborhood
meetings and open houses hosted by the WTA, City Council and business owners
along the corridor.
Public
comments from May 2018 to June 2014 alone have filled a 68 page document posted
by the City of Bellingham, many ranging from anger, frustration to concern.
While many comments expressed the desire for less accidents, many also argued
against the need of a bicycle lane. Ray Colliver, a resident of Sunnyland,
wrote, “Road Diet‐ what
an interesting term! Adopting a road diet between Cornwall and James seems to
be a waste of effort.” Many agree with this statement, arguing that drivers are
not to be demonized and that alternative modes of transportation ought to use
less populated side streets.
Liz
Wade, another Sunnyland resident, was worried about the integrity and
relationships of the community, as well as neighboring communities. “Please
listen to the neighborhoods and do not put in the C‐curb down Alabama. Our city is
built on the strength of our neighborhoods, and the city needs to do all they
can to preserve their safety and integrity,” she said. “Relocating traffic
problems off of Alabama and dumping them into the neighborhoods surrounding
Alabama is not a thoughtful solution.”
Arguably,
Charlie Kienbaum, a worker at Trader Joes, as seen the congested and lack of
safety first hand. As someone who bikes to work every day, he argues that the
proposed use of side streets is an even more dangerous option. “People get too
comfortable and end up speeding or rolling through stop signs. Plus why should
I be denied access to a main street just because I bike? I know I would use
bike specific lanes or boulevards, especially for a city like Bellingham its
long overdue.” As an observer as well, he has seen many drivers get frustrated
and unfocused trying to fight for a left handed turn when there is no specific
traffic signal to allow it. “I’ve seen cars wait for 2 light cycles just trying
to make one turn. They normally get aggressive or impatient.”
Charlie’s
co-worker Christine Hanley on the other hand is worried about her commute to
and from work. She is a student at Whatcom Community College and already
balances a full course load with her part time job at Trader Joe’s. “One of the
main reasons this job is feasible is it’s easy to drive from campus to work.
During and post construction, I’m worried the traffic will affect my commute.”
Doug
Shoonover organizes a local bike group in coordination with the Mount Baker
Cycling club. He and a group of Sunnyland residents ranging from 10-30 riders
weekly have scheduled cycling trips every weekend. He has been one of the most
passionate supporters of a biker’s boulevard being added to the neighborhood.
At the Sunnyland neighborhood meeting he reiterated the importance of a safe,
separate space to ride outside of traffic and even suggested teaching children
to use the boulevard. “If I don’t feel safe riding down Alabama during
rush-hour, I know I don’t want my son to use it. A boulevard could be a great way
to reach children how to ride safely and allow them to practice before
endangering them.”
Regardless
of arguments for or against the road diet or a cycling specific boulevard, the
surveying and design work for the Alabama corridor went underway in August 2014
and construction has begun on the popular roadway. With the debate of a reduced
speed limit in addition to the approved road adjustments, the City of
Bellingham is trying to find the best way to spend the $1.4 million federal
grant awarded to improve the safety of the Alabama corridor and for the largest
benefit for the most of the surrounding community members.
