Energize Eastside, traffic calming, dominate town hall

Speed bumps and power lines were the hot topics of conversation at the city of Newcastle’s annual town hall meeting June 16.

By Christina Corrales-Toy
Deputy Mayor John Drescher (right) answers an audience question, as City Councilman Rich Crispo listens beside him.

During the meeting’s second hour, the Newcastle City Council fielded audience questions, with a sizable group of neighbors from in and around Southeast 75th Street using the time to express concerns about speeding on the street.

“People are more using it more than ever before, because they realize that every other street now has speed humps,” one resident said.

Neighbors from the street came to last year’s town hall meeting and at least one Newcastle City Council meeting in 2014 to ask the city for traffic-calming measures on the street.

In the past, residents said they have trepidations about letting their children play in yards, and are concerned about the effect the speeds have on a nearby bus stop as students wait for and exit the vehicle.

Residents on the street want to see speed bumps installed.

It’s not that simple, though, Newcastle City Manager Rob Wyman responded. A traffic analysis done on the street hasn’t triggered what the city normally would require to install speed humps. That traffic analysis isn’t the only consideration, though, he added.

“At the end of the day, this is what then becomes a policy decision by myself and my City Council,” Wyman said.

The issue with speed bumps is placement, Wyman said. Residents often complain when they are put directly in front of their houses, he said.

To that, a chorus of Southeast 75th Street residents yelled “Put it in front of my house.”

Mayor Steve Buri assured residents that the City Council would take a closer look at traffic-calming measures for the street at an upcoming council meeting.

Before they do, though, one resident asked that any council member who uses the street as a thoroughfare to reach downtown Newcastle abstain from voting on anything dealing with traffic calming on Southeast 75th Street.

Councilwoman Carol Simpson, an Olympus resident, admitted she uses the road to avoid speed humps in her neighborhood and get to places such as the Newcastle Library.

“I’m getting tired of driving over speed humps. I’m getting tired of paying for bills for my car repair,” Simpson said, eliciting jeers from the crowd.

“That’s not an excuse,” a resident responded, noting that if you drive slowly, speed bumps shouldn’t affect your car. Simpson responded that some of the city’s speed bumps aren’t constructed to code.

Simpson added that she doesn’t believe speed humps are the solution to traffic issues. Renton, for example, puts an emphasis on ticketing speeding drivers, instead, she said.

One of the other hot topics was Puget Sound Energy’s Energize Eastside project. Residents asked for council support in fighting the proposal to build about 18 miles of high-capacity electric transmission lines from Renton to Redmond.

“I am going to be — and the best word I can use is — a victim, of PSE’s Energize Eastside,” one resident said.

The mayor and other council members were firm in voicing their opposition for the project.

“I don’t mind saying for me personally, I don’t see the benefits to Newcastle,” Buri said.

“I’m not convinced that it’s needed,” Deputy Mayor John Drescher added. “I’m very convinced that it will detract from the neighborhood.”

About 100 residents filled The Golf Club at Newcastle’s St. Andrews Ballroom for the two-hour event.

In the first hour, city departments staffed booths and visual displays offering information and education about community resources. The open-house-style approach allowed residents to speak directly with both staff and council members in a more informal arena.