For those of us who live south of Merrimount Avenue, the City Council’s plan of narrowing Island Crest Way is not a welcome idea. The majority of City Councilmembers, including the incumbent, Dan Grausz, feel that a two-lane Island Crest Way, with bicycle lanes on each side, is in the best interest of Mercer Island residents.

Not only would the narrowed road not decrease vehicle traffic on our main north-south arterial, as the Council hopes, but getting stuck behind garbage trucks, utility trucks, and dealing with speeding emergency vehicles would add frustration, danger and loss of time to Islanders’ lives. This ‘road diet’ would cost the city at least $500,000 without resolving the danger of the Merrimount intersection or allowing east-west traffic flow from Merrimount to 44th Street.

Unfortunately, the Council has delayed its decision on this important issue several times, from May to September, and now again until Dec. 7, after the election. The Council cannot assume that it knows what is best for Islanders. The residents’ opinion needs to be sought and taken into account.

Julie Sun