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Kenmore highlights sidewalk grants and speeding reductions from automated enforcement
Summary
City leaders said Kenmore received large sidewalk grants, reported a drop in speeds after expanding automated photo enforcement, and outlined further sidewalk and multimodal safety projects.
Kenmore officials used the State of the City address to highlight multimodal transportation investments and the effects of the city's automated photo enforcement program on speeding in school zones.
The city said it received $8,200,000 in state funding for sidewalk projects across Kenmore; presentation slides and remarks listed planned projects on 80th Avenue NE, Arrowhead Drive and other locations. Councilors said new sidewalks, ADA accessibility work and bicycle infrastructure are planned and that the city recently completed a sidewalk inventory and ranking system to prioritize gaps.
Council members credited the Kenmore Automated Photo Enforcement (CAPE) program with large reductions in speeding. According to remarks, after CAPE began, average speeds in school zones dropped from more than 30 mph to about 16 mph during active school hours, and the share of drivers exceeding 26 mph fell from over 90% to 1% in school-zone hours. For the 30 mph regulatory limit, speakers said the share of drivers exceeding 36 mph dropped from roughly 50% before enforcement to 10% in the first week of warnings, 5% by the end of the first month and 2% by February; average speeds in enforcement areas were reported at 26 mph in February when school zones were not active. Speakers connected the speed reductions to large decreases in fatal-crash risk, citing an estimate of at least a 90% reduction in fatal-crash risk during active school hours and an 80% reduction during other hours.
Deputy Mayor Caine said the city is expanding CAPE locations, including into the Inglemoor school zone along Simonds, and staff will bring future recommendations for additional camera locations.
Officials said the sidewalk and bike-lane projects are part of the council's broader transportation safety priority, which includes a Target Zero resolution adopted in 2014 aiming to eliminate pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and serious injuries.
No new ordinance or council vote on enforcement policy was presented during the event; speakers described existing program results and planned locations for future camera deployment.
