By Ramiro Valderrama

With the council elections behind us it is a good time for all the citizens to review the pressing issues Sammamish faces today, especially in light of reduced resources and services.

I would like to take a moment and focus on the issue of transportation solutions in our city.

Transportation has been repeatedly cited as one of the most troubling issues.

I was glad to see the City Council has reversed itself and wants to consider ending their proposed East Lake Sammamish Parkway project.

So what can the city do with the money that was to be spent on the project, to provide real relief to the city citizens in terms of transportation?

Remembering that the city also has plans to add some 5,000 new residences and 7,000 new vehicles in the next five to ten years, my recommendations are for fixes that can provide short term relief, including complete the opening of the access road via 244th — to Issaquah-Beaver Lake Road or Issaquah-Pine Lake Road to give Windsor Green area more options and provide relief to 228th. This had been the original priority for the city before the council was distracted with beautification on ELSP.

On 228th traffic is backing up to the high schools. Why not rip out some of the medians and expand the turn lanes into the school to a full block southbound on 228th at EHS, SE 8th, and SE 24th so that traffic turning left does not block left through lane? Then we can again have two lanes on 228th in the mornings.

In Dec. 2006, the city was presented an alternate plan for ELSP that would have put in a few left turn lanes and crossings to the lake.

This could be done quickly and inexpensively. It will increase traffic flow and safety during rush hour.

For the longer term, to handle increased traffic from growth we need to look at expanding Sahalee, as Washington State Department of Transportation and King County recommended.

WSDOT has already built the entrance to SR 202 to handle the increased traffic, and King County has put the expansion of their piece of Sahalee on their transportation plans.

We could lengthen left turn lanes on 228th at Sammamish Highlands, and establish eastern pedestrian and vehicular entrance to Eastlake High School via 233rd Ave NE to unload the 228th/NE 8th and 228th/NE 4th intersections.

It is important to listen to new ideas. Newly elected councilmember Tom Odell has already raised good suggestions for consideration, such as additional crosswalks at Sammamish Highlands shopping centers, establishing a couple of left turn pockets on 228th and Sahalee Way where they are lacking, and adding stoplights at NE 28th Place and Sahalee East Gate entrance.

We could also double lane Issaquah-Pine Lake road between SE 32nd Way and SE Issaquah-Pine Lake Road, if King County will pick up Klahanie’s share or we annex Klahanie and King County provides the funding for the road.

Other good ideas should be considered and listened to. Sammamish has real growth and transportation issues and no one believes that revenue and property prices will rise in the short term.

Ramiro Valderrama is a member of Citizens for Sammamish.