Issaquah-Hobart Road to be studied

Possible remedies of congestion and safety concerns on Issaquah-Hobart Road will be the subject of a King County-funded study, according to County Councilman Reagan Dunn.

The county road runs from State Route 18 to the Issaquah city limit and averages more than 37,000 vehicle trips per day. The traffic load makes it “increasingly unsafe for pedestrians and vehicles,” Dunn said. “In addition, congestion lasts most of the day, and it’s time for someone to look into what can be done to make it better.”

He said funding for a study of the road will come from the county’s Department of Transportation.

The study would identify ways to improve safety and congestion that the county could then prioritize for eventual projects, according to Dunn.

“Residents of the area have problems safely exiting their driveways. There are no bus pullouts, so buses have to stop in the road and kids have nowhere to safely wait,” he said.

Dunn represents District 9, which includes Black Diamond, Covington and Maple Valley.

King County Posse needs a princess

The King County Posse is accepting applications from young women to be its princess on the 2009 Ellensburg Rodeo Royal Court.

The position is open to any horsewoman from King County or the south Snohomish County area who will be a senior in high school or be starting her freshman year of college this fall. The position includes a $500 academic scholarship.

All travel and clothing expenses are covered by the Ellensburg Rodeo Board.

Members of the court travel to rodeos, parades and other events throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Canada, partlyy to promote the Ellensburg Rodeo, which is ranked among the top 20 rodeos in the nationd.

Applications, which are due by June 30, and more information are available at kingcountyprincess.com.

Designer hired for city’s park project

The Covington City Council has selected MacLeod Reckord, a Seattle-based design firm, to develop a master plan for the city’s proposed 180th/240th Park project.

MacLeod Reckord, a landscape architect and urban designer, specializes in public park and recreation design and has completed several hundred projects in Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

The property for the Covington park project, located at the corner of 180th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 240th Street, is adjacent to Covington’s city limits. The city plans to annext it. Tahoma High School, Covington Aquatic Center and Tahoma National Cemetery are nearby.

The land – almost 30 acres – contains open fields, a forested area, wetlands and a creek.

King County grants totaling $70,000 has beenobtained for work on the master plan.

A finished plan would require approval by the City Council.