The second open house meeting
regarding the Alabama Corridor Project is tentatively scheduled for June, after
Bellingham’s Public Works Department has concluded its technical analysis on
the corridor.
This
meeting is open to the public and residents are invited to attend in order to
have their questions and concerns addressed.
“Resident concerns
are absolutely critical in this process and they are exactly why we are going
through the technical analysis,” Chris Comeau, transportation planner at
Bellingham’s Public Works Department, said. Comeau added that the purpose of
the analysis is to find out the cause and effect of accidents on the corridor using
various measures. The analysis will help the city to better understand what’s
at the core of this issue and once concluded will enable the city to come up
with the best possible solution that will reduce collisions for all users on
Alabama Corridor.
A number of
projected alternatives for the Alabama Corridor have been brought forward, but
what the city will ultimately choose to do is undecided. The uncertainty is
beginning to cause surrounding residents to wonder how this construction will
affect them.
“People in Barkley
neighborhood are worried that drivers will avoid the Alabama Corridor and cause
more traffic congestion along many of Barkely’s through streets leading to the
freeway,” Bob Putich, president of the Barkley Neighborhood Association, said.
After a completed
technical analysis is presented to the public the city still must meet a number
of requirements before any construction can begin.
“The goal of the
project is to reduce vehicle collisions while increasing safety for all other
traffic, including pedestrians, bikers and transit. Whatever we decide is the
best solution, it must meet this goal,” Comeau said. Adding that in order for
the city to move forward with a solution and use the grant money they were
awarded they must demonstrate to the state and federal government how and why
it makes sense.
Though
this project has been an ongoing process for almost two years many people in
the community are unaware of the cities intentions.
“I
don’t think the average citizen feels they have a voice in this process, but
the city is becoming more forward thinking and trying to get neighborhoods
involved,” President of the Barkley Neighborhood Association, Bob Putich said.
The
first open house that covered the topic of the Alabama Corridor Project was
held Tuesday Feb. 12.
“The
city has done all they can do in terms of getting information out, is it
perfect? No, but can it be? No. It’s up to the people to come out and their
voices heard,” Jim Brennan, Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission rep. for
the Barkley Neighborhood Association said.
Brennan
has lived in Barkley neighborhood for 12 years and has always taken his civic
duty seriously; he trusts in the process and understands that the city has
rigorous procedures to follow.
After
a projected solution has been brought to the public, it must then be accepted
by the transportation commission, then the City Council and they direct the
Public Works Department on how to move forward, Comeau said.
Back in May 2012
the city of Bellingham received $1.4 million from the Washington State
Department of Transportation (WSDOT) “Target Zero Highway Safety Program”
grant. The purpose of awarding this
grant is to mitigate safety issues on the Alabama Street Corridor.
The WSDOT selected
Bellingham as one of 50 cities to apply for this grant because of the high amount
of vehicle collisions on the Alabama Corridor over the past 9 years. Since 2004
there have been 94 injury-related collisions. This amount exceeds the state and
federal government’s threshold of acceptable and makes the corridor eligible
for these funds, Comeau said.
Check the City of
Bellingham website in the coming months in order to keep updated on the status
of this project and to find out when the second open house will be.
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