I wish to take this opportunity to respond to Ralph Nichols' comment in the May 24 Times/News regarding the lane striping of First Avenue South.

First Avenue South is the city of Burien's principal transportation arterial, with an average daily traffic volume of over 20,000 vehicles. This corridor also has the highest number of accidents, with 81 accidents and 38 injuries occurring during the past three years.

You are correct that the reconstruction of First Avenue South will take an estimated 18 months to complete. However, the project will progress in stages beginning at Southwest 162nd Place and progressing to the north. Construction on this busy transportation corridor will not be easy. As such, it is imperative that the travel lanes are clearly visible to ensure that the work zone is safe for motorists and construction workers.

In addition, the businesses on First Avenue South need the support of the Burien community during construction. Having clearly defined travel lanes will help shoppers to access their favorite businesses. As such, we believe that the expenditure of less than $700 to restripe First Avenue South is a small price to pay to ensure public safety and assist businesses and shoppers.

The city of Burien Public Works Department has achieved a proven record of managing complicated projects and delivering exceptional service with a limited budget. Our ability to provide the community with quality projects, on time and within budget, was recognized in 2004 by the Washington State Chapter of the American Public Works Association when the Southwest152nd Street project was awarded Best Project of the Year.

This year, the Maplewild Avenue Southwest Earthquake Repair project was awarded Best Project of the Year at both the state and national level by the American Public Works Association.

While there may be some examples of transportation departments not effectively managing projects, such is not the case in Burien. Our staff of ten professionals is dedicated to serving the Burien Community.

Stephen Clark

Director of Public Works

City of Burien