FACT CHECK: Rachel Best-Campbell’s Postcard Claims on Sidewalk Safety Are False
Last week, Rachel Best-Campbell sent out a postcard claiming:
“Before joining Council, I organized the community to advocate for citywide student pedestrian safety. The 124th Avenue sidewalks and 195th Street speedbumps were the result. On Council, I continue to push for school walk safety improvements.”
(screenshot below for reference)
But here’s the truth: Rachel Best-Campbell tried to defund the 124th Ave NE sidewalk project, a critical safety improvement for students walking to school.
What Really Happened:
On November 15, 2022, Rachel Best-Campbell Rachel made a motion to strip funding from the 124th Ave NE sidewalk project (project ID ST21-010) and reallocate it to other projects, including:
A feasibility study instead of construction for 124th Ave sidewalks
Street lights along NE 181st Pl (ST23-002)
A HAWK signal on 140th Ave NE (ST23-005)
You can watch/listen to the video yourself in the Council meeting recording here at 1:47:35. Rachel said:
“…experience has shown us that building a sidewalk does take a lot more time and effort than we think, particularly with storm water detention, right of ways, construction, cost of concrete, [sic] I would suggest that we do a similar program where we have a feasibility study for the West Ridge sidewalk…”
Then at 1:49:17, she continues:
“…The cost of a sidewalk... is $2.3ish million... If we change that to $100,000 for a feasibility study, add the HAWK signal and lighting, we save $1.7 million we can roll over into the next biennium.”
These projects are outlined clearly in the Council agenda packet (screenshots below):
124th Ave NE Sidewalk – page 457
NE 181st Streetlights – page 460
HAWK Signal at 140th Ave – page 463
Why this matters
Stripping this funding through Best-Campbell’s motion would have killed the project’s momentum, eliminating the budget needed to apply for and secure outside funding.
Thanks to the Council keeping the full sidewalk project funded, Woodinville was awarded $1,190,850 in 2024 Safe Routes to School funding from WSDOT, which means we are now moving forward with construction in 2025.
If we had followed Rachel Best-Campbell’s motion, we would not be building that sidewalk.
Bottom line
Rachel Best-Campbell is now taking credit for a sidewalk she tried to defund. Voters deserve better than misleading campaign spin.
