Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Echo Glen Homeowners Association President Patrick McGlennon hopes proposed speed control systems will slow traffic in their neighborhood.

Signing up to slow down

Neighbors ask Lacey for measures aimed at speeders

LIONA TANNESEN, THE OLYMPIAN

LACEY -- Speeders won't have a straight stretch along Rumac Street anymore.

"I was surprised," said Echo Glen Homeowners Association President Patrick McGlennon, who collected signatures. "People really are concerned."

Sixty percent of Echo Glen and Sterling Pointe neighbors needed to agree to pay part of the cost for devices to slow down speeders.

"All it needs is a youngster to step out in the street," McGlennon said. "I would hate to think some kid would end up dead or sucking out of a straw because he is a quadriplegic."

Lacey has offered to put in two devices that slide traffic over one direction on a road and then back the other direction, Lacey Public Works Director Dennis Ritter said.

The city's policy is that the neighborhood must pay up to 50 percent of the cost. The city estimates each homeowner would pay between $200 and $400.

McGlennon got the final two signatures Monday.

The city will put in the temporary devices, and after a year, homeowners must vote again to decide whether to install -- and pay for -- permanent devices.

When Echo Glen was built nearly 10 years ago, Rumac Street did not go through, McGlennon said.

The neighborhood was advertised as quiet and secluded, McGlennon said.

Now, cars speed by McGlennon and his wife's home, especially during the morning commute. McGlennon said he has been trying to figure out a solution for 18 months.

"Our contention is it was poor design on the part of the city, and they have the responsibility to take action," McGlennon said.

McGlennon said the city's decision to ask voters to pass a parks bond to pay for park development troubles him when the city doesn't fix speeding.

Echo Glen is not the first neighborhood to come to the city about speeding, Ritter said.

Two neighborhoods installed temporary traffic slowing devices, but neither wanted to keep them, Ritter said.

"Part of it was cost, and they didn't like them once they got them in there," Ritter said.

Neighborhoods are often concerned about speeders taking a short cut, but speeders often come from within the neighborhood, Ritter said.

City studies -- done by matching license plates with addresses -- back that up, Ritter said. But those studies were not done in Echo Glen and Sterling Pointe.

Connected streets allow emergency access and allow neighbors more ways in and out, Ritter said.

"There's an expectation that a dead-end street will always dead end," Ritter said.

But the city has a connected street policy to encourage neighborhoods to get to know each other, Ritter said.

Ask the city about its plans for a street when you are buying a home, Ritter said.

"You should look at whether the road will be connected when you buy a house," Ritter said.

Liona Tannesen covers Lacey and courts for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5427.

Does your neighborhood have a story for Our Neighborhoods? If you have a special event, are tackling a tough issue or planning a project, let us know. Call or e-mail Communities Editor Jerre Redecker at 360-754-5422 or jredecker@theolympian.com. Our Neighborhoods runs Thursdays in Communities. Next week: The Firland subdivision in Tumwater wants a park.

For related stories go to the Communities section.

Echo Glen

- Boundaries: From Rumac Street at Patterson Drive to 57th Avenue and then along 57th Avenue to just before Stockton Street.

- Profile: 37 homes. "It's a mix of retirees and younger people with children," Patrick McGlennon said. A few military families also live in Echo Glen.

- Built: In 1992 and 1993.

- Nearest schools: Timberline High School and Lakes Elementary School.

- Nearest police department: Lacey Police Department on College Street.

- Nearest fire station: Lacey Fire District 3 Station 36 at Ruddell Road south of Yelm Highway.

- Main issues: Speeding and the volume of traffic.

- Echo Glen Homeowners Association: President Patrick McGlennon can be reached at 360-923-0233 or via e-mail at pmcglennon@msn.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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