For too lengthy, the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Means South and South Alaska Road, subsequent to the Columbia Metropolis gentle rail station, has been a killer in our group. The hit-and-run on April 18, which left one pedestrian lifeless and one other significantly injured, was not a fluke. It has occurred prior to now and it’s only a matter of time earlier than one other particular person is killed. Now’s the time for elected officers to step up and set up visitors cameras and schedule patrols in periods of biggest danger.
Since transferring to Columbia Metropolis in 2018, I’ve witnessed the toll of this lethal intersection. I’ve seen two mangled, lifeless our bodies from my doorstep. On close by poles, you’ll be able to anticipate to see flyers calling out for witnesses to hit-and-run incidents. My aged neighbor grew to become a sufferer of such a tragedy in 2024.
The issues
Systemic lawlessness: MLK is infamous amongst joyriders as a straight, two-lane, fast-moving arterial that has no dashing enforcement. You can’t stand at this intersection for greater than quarter-hour with out seeing somebody drive by means of a crimson gentle or going 20-plus mph over the pace restrict.
Flip lane wait instances: At this intersection, drivers within the flip lanes can face delays exceeding 10 minutes. When a lightweight rail practice is passing, the visitors sign will skip the pending inexperienced. Since trains arrive each 5-10 minutes, these lengthy waits are a frequent prevalence. Consequently, annoyed drivers usually run crimson lights into oncoming visitors and trains.
Mild rail crossing: Security discussions about this intersection are incomplete with out mentioning the evident danger posed by a lightweight rail monitor that cuts throughout a busy metropolis avenue and pedestrian crosswalk. This design selection is a textbook instance of the worst degree of mistake-proofing. Whereas I received’t press for a reconfiguration due to the fee, it’s vital to notice that the engineers who authorised this format had been undoubtedly conscious that the practice would finally hit folks.
Options
Lengthy-term answer: The Seattle Metropolis Council is within the strategy of figuring out the place to put in 25 new visitors cameras all through our metropolis. Given the lethal, documented document of tragedies at MLK and South Alaska, this intersection have to be on the high of the listing. We have to break the systemic disregard of visitors legal guidelines on MLK between Rainier Avenue South and Interstate 5. The intersection of MLK and South Alaska isn’t the one place the place legal guidelines are ignored — it’s simply probably the most harmful spot, so that is the place probably the most deaths happen. To actually remedy this, we’d like cameras all alongside this hall of MLK.
Quick-term answer: There’s a dramatic spike in harmful driving on MLK within the two hours main as much as sunset in spring and summer season. This street is well-known for having no enforcement and an attractive view of Mount Rainier, so joyriders come from far and huge. The newest hit-and-run occurred throughout this two-hour window. We want police to patrol on this time-frame.
Three days earlier than the most recent deadly hit-and-run, I emailed my District 2 consultant, Mark Solomon, and citywide representatives Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Council President Sara Nelson, about these points. I want I had reached out years in the past. I now implore you to contact our elected officers and demand the prioritization of visitors cameras and focused police patrols at this intersection and alongside MLK. Let’s make sure that this newest dying could be the final dying at MLK and South Alaska.
