Residents press Lake Forest Park for traffic-calming on 40th Avenue NE ahead of roundabout project

Residents of Lake Forest Park told the City Council on Feb. 12 that 40th Avenue Northeast is unsafe for pedestrians and children and urged the city to advance traffic‑calming measures before a nearby roundabout project increases cut‑through traffic.

Sally Yamasaki described 17 years of neighborhood requests and urged the council to “work with our street community this time to get something done.” Emily Hallowell said her street lacks sidewalks, has multiple blind corners and several round intersections that make it easy for drivers to maintain speed; she noted three families with children with special needs live on the blind corner in front of her house. Lehi Hawkins, Dana Campbell and others echoed the call for a marked crosswalk where 40th meets 178th and for near‑term calming steps.

Residents suggested a menu of possible tactics used elsewhere — narrowing lanes, chicanes, speed bumps near crosswalks, squaring corners and temporary street closures for community events — and asked the city to engage the neighborhood in designing solutions. Several speakers warned that when the upcoming roundabout reduces lane capacity and creates flagging delays, drivers will use 40th Ave NE as an alternate route unless mitigation is put in place.

Council members acknowledged the history of requests, promised to examine a resident handout provided at the dais, and said staff will review earlier traffic studies and opportunities for low‑cost interventions. Parks and public works staff and the newly confirmed public works director (anticipated start Feb. 23) were cited as partners to evaluate short‑term tactical measures and longer‑term infrastructure (sidewalks) either through phased planning or by pursuing grant funding.

No formal motion or funding commitment on 40th Avenue NE was made at the meeting; residents were encouraged to continue working with staff to identify practical, fundable steps.