SDOT Director Grace Crunican addresses the crowd.
A chicken crossing the road... expected.
A chicken crossing the road with a bumble bee and an accordionist... unexpected.
Yet this is exactly what took place on 80th St. N this morning at approximately 8:45 a.m. as a crowd of area teachers, students, parents, business owners, and government officials joined this unlikely trio to cross Aurora Avenue and make their way to Bagley Elementary School for the launch of the Aurora Traffic Safety Project.
The eclectic crowd carrying yellow signs and (unneeded!) umbrellas was an unexpected sight for the typical morning commuter, and a fitting way to kick off the project, which has Expect the Unexpected as its tag line.
Citing the over 1500 collisions on the corridor in the past few years as a significant impetus for this safety initiative, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Director Grace Crunican told Aurora|Seattle in an exclusive interview,
"We want drivers to expect pedestrians because Aurora is also a place for pedestrians. We also want to remind drivers and pedestrians to stop assuming that all other cars follow the rules. Expecting the unexpected on Aurora will lead to a safer street for all."
Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis added, "We want a safer Aurora for drivers and pedestrians, but we also recognize that a safe street is good for local businesses."
Crunican, Bagley students, and the new project sign.
With the help of a member of the Seattle Police Department and a group of Bagley students, Crunican unveiled a sign for the Traffic Safety Project, which will soon be visible on Aurora. But even before the signs are up drivers can start to expect increased enforcement - the launch closed with a group of SPD officers sent off to Aurora on their motorcycles.
Pedestrians will soon see multiple pedestrian "countdown" crosswalks while drivers will eventually notice radar speed signs - most notably northbound as drivers come around the lake and enter a more active stretch of Aurora. Meanwhile, new stop bars have already been painted at a few Aurora intersections, according to project manager Jim Curtin.
In addition to mentioning specific pieces of the action plan, Crunican highlighted the collaborative nature of the Aurora Traffic Safety Project. In particular, she mentioned, "The community has been marvelous."
Ceis affirmed these sentiments in his brief speech, "Thank you to the neighborhoods and the community members for their initiative."
