At the intersection, Catharine Blaine School children cross heavily traveled 32nd Avenue West each day on their way to school.
The issue, which has been addressed three times in the News, appears to be no closer to resolution than when it was brought before the Seattle Traffic Safety Advisory committee in January.
A flashing red light was installed at another problematic crossing to the school - at 34th Avenue West and West Barrett Street - after a visit from then-Mayor Paul Schell. But volunteer crossing guard Deborah Willard fears it will take the death of a child to do the same on 32nd Avenue West.
The problem stems from drivers, often the parents of Blaine students, who appeared to this reporter to be driving far above the speed limit of 20 mph when children are present, and is further compounded by the presence of morning delivery trucks to Albertson's that block the view of oncoming traffic.
Willard positions her flag two feet in front of her body as she tries to peer around the delivery trucks to see if motorists are coming. Even packed school buses making a left turn on to 32nd Avenue West from West Raye Street can't see behind the trucks, and the bus drivers wait for Willard to give the all clear before turning the corner.
Longstanding problem
Bob Thelen knows the problems of this intersection well. The parent of a Blaine student, Thelen once served as a crossing guard for Blaine School and has long advocated installing a traffic-control device at the intersection. The Seattle Department of Transportation determined that the flow of traffic, which fluctuates during the day and year depending on the school schedule, does not warrant a traffic-control device.
If protecting children does not warrant a traffic-control signal, crossing guard Willard asks what does? David Townsend is well informed about the criteria described in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD, for determining whether a traffic-control signal is warranted. Townsend is the father of 11-year-old Tia Townsend, who was slain while walking in a crosswalk in Shoreline last March.
The MUTCD, which was written by the Federal Highway Administration to set national standards for traffic-control devices, details nine criteria that control whether a traffic signal will be installed. The criteria include traffic volume, peak traffic volume, pedestrian volume, school crossing and crash experience.
To meet the crash-experience criterion, there must be five or more reported crashes in a 12-month period that could have been prevented by a traffic-control signal. The crashes must also involve personal injury or property damage that meets the requirements of a reportable crash.
Townsend objects to the fact that a number of crashes must occur before action is taken. The MUTCD also points out that meeting one or more traffic signal criteria does not ensure the installation of a traffic-control signal.
Sergeant Paul Gracy is in charge of the seven police officers assigned to a whopping 114 problematic crossings in the Seattle area. He says that one reason why 32nd Avenue West may not have met the criteria for a traffic signal is that cars appear to be going faster than they actually are.
Gracy, who assigned officers to 34th Avenue West and 32nd Avenue West during the last week of October, found more speed violators on 34th than 32nd.
No funds for
crossing guards
Without a traffic-control device, parents rely completely on the crossing guard to control traffic and keep their children safe. Though crossing guards at this street used to be paid, Deborah Willard is doing the job voluntarily, although on a limited basis as she has an illness that keeps her from guarding the street on afternoons as well as on some days.
Willard receives a lot of flack from drivers annoyed by her brash manner. She's not afraid to yell out after a car that has driven by too quickly or to suggest to parents that they help her get the children across the street rather than be part of the problem.
Currently, the Seattle Police Department assigns crossing guards for Seattle schools, but the department is prevented from hiring at the moment because of a citywide hiring freeze. According to Gracy, there is talk that the responsibility of hiring crossing guards will be transferred from the police to the schools.
Gracy says the Seattle Public Schools currently have the ability to assign their own crossing guards. Whether the school district is aware of this fact is unknown as they had not responded to this reporter by the News press deadline. In the interim, Gracy suggests that parents volunteer as crossing guards to fill in the void.
This topic is scheduled to be discussed at Catharine Blaine School's next PTA meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.
David Townsend advises parents to be persistent and truly believe in the cause they are supporting in order to find solutions to the problem.
He says if they hit a brick wall, they must find a way over it, under it or around it.
Townsend says that he has had a few small victories in his neighborhood, such as getting point-down arrows and other signs installed in problematic areas to alert drivers to the presence of children and other pedestrians.
Every Saturday, Townsend holds a one-hour peaceful demonstration at the intersection where Tia was killed. Townsend also suggests community members become involved in pedestrian groups like Feet First, a Puget Sound pedestrian advocacy group.
According to Townsend, the most important thing parents and the community can do is unite to create awareness of the problem.
As David Townsend says: "Don't let the five minutes you save driving somewhere be the last five minutes of someone else's life."
Freelance writer Daranee Oakley is a Queen Anne resident.
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