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Council discusses lowering neighborhood speed limits to 20 mph; staff to return with options
Summary
Councilmembers and staff discussed adopting 20 mph as the default neighborhood speed limit under state law and possible citywide signage approaches. Several councilmembers expressed support for lowering residential limits; staff said RCW permits establishing 20 mph limits in residential areas without an engineering study and recommended options,
City staff briefed the council Aug. 4 on residential speed limits and options for lowering neighborhood limits to 20 mph. The staff presentation noted that state law (RCW) controls speed limits but allows cities to set 20 mph in residential and business districts without conducting an engineering study. The city's current default neighborhood limit is 25 mph, with three existing exceptions set at 20 mph where traffic‑calming projects were previously done.
Staff recommended options. Staff outlined three approaches: (1) retain the status quo and process requests case‑by‑case; (2) adopt 20 mph across residential areas citywide; or (3) allow neighborhood groups to initiate traffic calming and speed reductions under a program similar to the city’s existing traffic‑calming approach. Staff noted that a citywide change would require fewer signs if implemented with entrance signage that states a citywide 20 mph default and posts exceptions where higher speeds remain.
Council feedback. Several councilmembers said they favor a citywide default of 20 mph in neighborhoods. Councilmember DeRozier said, “I would prefer 20 throughout the whole city and all the neighborhoods,” and Deputy Mayor Bowman and others cited narrow streets, parked cars and children playing as reasons to lower speeds. Councilmember Overholser asked about signage costs and received staff guidance that a citywide entrance‑signing strategy would likely be the most cost‑effective approach.
Next steps. Staff said speed‑limit changes require an ordinance amendment and council approval and that staff will return with recommended language, a sign‑placement plan, and an estimate of costs for a citywide default approach versus a case‑by‑case program. No ordinance was introduced at the Aug. 4 meeting.
