Bellingham advocates push for quick-fix street safety projects. What to know

A Bellingham advocacy group is urging the city to fast-track 16 safety projects using paint, posts and low-cost hardware instead of concrete construction. The push comes as traffic deaths and injuries have tripled across the city over the past five years.

FULL STORY: Bellingham group seeks quick-fix effort for safer street crossings, bike lanes

Here are key takeaways:

• Walk and Roll Bellingham submitted a 16-page white paper proposing new bike lanes, crosswalks and other safety measures already included in the city’s six-year Transportation Improvement Program.
• Jamin Agosti of Walk and Roll Bellingham said the quick-build approach — using paint, flexible posts and curb extensions rather than permanent concrete work — would cost 80% to 90% less than traditional construction.
• “This is about making the streets safer for all of us. We think it will change how the city delivers on infrastructure,” Agosti said, adding that immediate action is needed “because people are dying and being injured on city streets.”
• Public Works Director Joel Pfundt said the city is reviewing the proposal, noting many corridors are already priorities in Bellingham’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans, but cautioned it’s not “as simple as installing paint and posts on every corridor.”
• The Bellingham City Council voted June 1 to reduce speed limits citywide, setting a default of 20 mph unless otherwise posted.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.