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Former Washington state Sen. Al Bauer and his neighbors have a front-row seat to the heavy traffic that builds up on Salmon Creek Avenue after classes are finished at Washington State University Vancouver and the evening commute begins.

“It just crawls,” he said, referencing the line of cars that backs up at the traffic light where Northeast 134th Street connects to Northeast Salmon Creek Avenue.

From his home at the Bonaventure of Salmon Creek senior living community, which sits along Salmon Creek Avenue, Bauer said he often sees a line of cars can that easily stretch up the block and up the hill that leads to the WSUV campus after classes let out. That congestion can complicate things for people coming and going from the facility he lives in.

“Traffic from this facility can’t get out,” he said.

In addition to congestion, residents have to contend with the noise from cars with loud exhaust systems and loud stereos. Now, some of the residents in his facility are crafting a petition urging officials to address the issue.

Bauer thinks he’s found a solution. He’s doing his part by doing much of what he did as a senator: connecting with local policymakers, potential stakeholders and sharing his idea.