The White Center Community Advisory Group has completed work on a series of recommendations aimed at improving traffic and pedestrian safety in the area. The recommended improvements now go to the King County Council for review.

"This citizen advisory group and the larger White Center community should be commended for the contributions they've made in helping identify important traffic and pedestrian safety improvements in their area," King County Executive Ron Sims said. "Their involvement has been instrumental in helping the county fulfill its commitment of meeting the unique needs of older communities such as White Center."

The 15-member advisory group has been meeting with King County since last winter to identify and prioritize projects that will make community streets and roads safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. That work included two community meetings to gather ideas and comments from local residents. Selected key recommendations include:

• Shoulder improvements along 8th Ave. SW between SW 102nd and SW 108th Street
• Shoulder improvements on the west side of 10th Ave. SW from SW 108th to SW 116th Street
• Improving pedestrian safety crossing at 8th Ave. SW and SW 108th Street
• Expanding the north shoulder of SW 120th St. between Ambaum Blvd. SW and 4th Ave. SW to increase clearance for pedestrians
• Enclosing a ditch and adding edgelines on SW 104th St. between 16th Ave. SW and 17th Ave. SW

The county currently has $500,000 set aside to make these and other improvements. Most of these recommended projects would be constructed later this year or in 2000. (See the full report.) The community also identified short-term improvements that are already underway including the addition of a lit crosswalk at 16th Avenue SW and SW 104th Street, the installation of fluorescent yellow-green school pedestrian signs and signs warning motorists of road curves. The Department of Transportation is additionally working with the King County Sheriff's Office to provide additional traffic enforcement to enhance safety in the White Center community.

The community advisory group has also identified other White Center locations and recommended improvements to be made, as additional funding becomes available. For more information about the recommendations, contact Mary Coltrane by telephone at (206) 263-3424 or by e-mail at mary.coltrane@metrokc.gov.