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Mike Ellis has learned to watch his step along Fowler Road.
The narrow suburban street, just a few blocks from Millwood City Hall, has become a shortcut for many motorists navigating their way to nearby arterials like Trent Avenue and Argonne Road. For Ellis and other residents, the situation has developed into a daily safety hazard.
“When I’m out mowing my lawn and get near the street, I have to really watch out for traffic,” Ellis said. “It’s very dangerous.”
Last October, Ellis presented a list of concerns – from speeding vehicles to a general disregard for traffic signs – to the Millwood City Council. The appeal formed the groundwork for a three-day traffic study on Fowler and nearby Empire Way in November that tracked relevant statistics like vehicle counts and average speed.
Last week, the Millwood City Council – joined by a panel that included representatives from law enforcement, the Washington Department of Transportation and Spokane County – met to discuss the findings and mull over potential solutions. A standing-room-only crowd, including Ellis, showed up to provide input.
“We want to make this a safer area and reduce speeds overall,” said Millwood Mayor Dan Mork.
Traffic counts were highest along Fowler and Empire Way between 4 and 5:30 p.m., followed by the morning commute from 7:30 to 9 a.m, according to the study. During one 24-hour period, a total of 1,036 vehicles traveled down Empire Way. On the same day, 773 vehicles were counted on Fowler.
While speeds averaged just under 23 mph on Fowler and nearly 27 mph on Empire Way during the study, two cars were spotted going over 45 mph with one tracked at close to 78 mph. The speed limit on both roads is 25 mph.
Russ Schoen, who represented the Spokane County Sheriffs Office at the Feb. 18 meeting, said 26 traffic tickets were handed out on Empire Way during a two-day emphasis patrol last September. Several residents supported the idea of the city hiring an officer to monitor the area on a regular basis.
Other ideas – such as speed bumps, four-way stops at each intersection, double lines and traffic roundabouts – were brought up as potential safety improvements. Harold White with WSDOT said a traffic circle, similar in design to a roundabout, has proven to reduce vehicle speeds.
“It’s like an island in the middle of an intersection,” White said. “You really have to slow down to go around it.”
Schoen referred to a roundabout on State Route 206 and Bruce Road that has drastically reduced the number of accidents in that area. A similar roundabout has been installed on Montgomery Road at Mansfield and Wilbur in Spokane Valley.
Mork favored the idea of a camera that would monitor speeds and result in traffic tickets for offending motorists. Similar cameras have been installed at a number of intersections in the city of Spokane to catch drivers who run stop lights.
“It’s going to take a change in driver behavior,” said White.
In addition to reckless motorists, Ellis has called attention to the lack of sidewalks and streetlights along Fowler as well as the narrowness of the 21-foot wide road. Ellis said he would be in favor of blocking off the road – at least temporarily – to through traffic.
Millwood City Council Member Kevin Freeman acknowledged the concern of city residents, but said the problem of unsafe side streets “extends beyond Fowler and Empire Way.” Freeman proposed hiring a traffic engineer to conduct a citywide study that would include traffic calming solutions throughout Millwood.
“If we are going to address this issue, we need to have the most complete evaluation possible,” he said.
Ellis, for one, wasn’t overly enthused about further research.
“All this talk, and we’re back to square one,” he said. “We don’t need another impact study. We could be spending money on actual improvements.”
The City Council made no official decision on the matter but did agree to include the topic at its next official meeting on March 2.
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By
Craig Howard
