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Farm equipment on county roads spurs safety proposals and requests for DOT, AG input
Summary
Public comment on April 9 raised safety concerns about large farm equipment moving on county and state roads, prompting commissioners to discuss possible mitigations including designated pullouts, signage and letters to transportation officials.
Public comment on April 9 raised safety concerns about large farm equipment moving on county and state roads, prompting commissioners to discuss possible mitigations including designated pullouts, signage and letters to city and state transportation officials.
Brock Wells, a Franklin County resident who farms near Basin City, told the board he has observed long strings of large farm machinery that are “virtually impossible to pass” safely on narrow rural roads during planting and harvest seasons. Wells suggested creating farm‑machinery pullouts—gravel pads with signage—on roads such as Glade North and Taylor Flats, and the board discussed whether farmers could create pullouts at their own expense where appropriate.
Commissioners and Public Works Director D. Erdman noted RCW 46.61.427 governs slow‑moving vehicles; Erdman said the county has submitted a request to the Washington attorney general and that the AG’s office has accepted the review but provided no timeline for an opinion. The sheriff’s office said deputies will enforce violations when they observe them, while acknowledging enforcement can upset some residents.
Commissioner Baumann asked the administrator to draft an official letter to the City of Pasco asking for repair of the Glade-to-Fourth railroad humpyard area and pothole repairs along the route used by commercial traffic. The board also asked staff to prepare a letter for the Washington State Department of Transportation regarding Highway 17, a narrow rural state route the commissioners called “the most dangerous roadway in the state” in their remarks; commissioners cited repeated near head‑on incidents when drivers attempt to pass slow equipment.
Ending: Commissioners directed staff to draft letters to the City of Pasco and to WSDOT and to pursue clarification from the attorney general’s office about enforcement and the slow‑moving vehicle statute; no new ordinance or enforcement policy was adopted at the meeting.
