When you look deeper you understand why residents of Mount Si Road are not happy about the DNR’s plan to add a 70-space parking lot near the end of their road. This community has raised concerns that have been largely ignored. The saying “government by the people for the people” is in serious question.

Parking gets overloaded with hikers, who ignore no parking signs, park on narrow shoulders, and block private driveways. Residents call the Sheriff to have the vehicles ticketed or towed, and the response is “there are too many of them.” So nothing is done.

I asked a deputy to ticket or tow a car in my driveway, which was clearly signed “No Parking.” The officer explained that with only two officers to cover the area, he couldn’t wait for a tow truck.

The parking ticket fine is $20. A $20 ticket is hardly a deterrent. I’ve asked the State Legislature to raise it, but have been ignored.

The current trailhead on Mount Si Road can handle about 170 vehicles. The trails get over 360,000 visits annually. Increasing the parking by 70 spaces could bring visits to almost 500,000. Mount Si Road has the county’s lowest maintenance classification, yet it likely generates hundreds of thousands in gas taxes, along with tax income generated with the fast food stops after the hikes.

There are safety issues with hikers walking to their cars on the edge of the road. There are issues of the Sheriff’s union not letting DNR officers have ticket writing authority in King County. The DNR officer is often at the trailheads but as soon as he leaves DNR land, he no longer has any authority

This additional parking lot has uncovered some deeper problems that the residents of Mount Si Road have been living with. Writing letters to those who can make changes and then being ignored doesn’t sit well. Even elected officials sometimes talk like they want to help when they are running for office but when a situation like this comes up they can be so hard to find.

Michael Williams

North Bend