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KDOT introduces new plow trucks with added safety features; committee renews adopt-a-highway agreements
Summary
Maintenance staff showed two new 2025 Kenworth plow trucks equipped with wing and rear-view cameras and green strobes approved by state law; staff reported safety improvements and invited members to inspect trucks after the meeting. The committee also approved four adopt-a-highway renewals.
King County maintenance staff presented two new 2025 Kenworth plow trucks equipped with added safety features and reported ongoing summer maintenance work; the Transportation Committee approved four adopt-a-highway renewals during the same report.
Maintenance staff said crews have started a second round of mowing, are performing guardrail repairs and other summer activities, and have added two new plow trucks to the fleet. Staff described safety equipment on the trucks including a rearview camera, a wing camera that activates in reverse and a new green strobe lighting package that the state legislature authorized this year. Staff cited a Minnesota study during remarks and said the green strobes increased visibility "up to a mile and a half".
Staff said adding the camera system targets crash risk while backing plow trucks: "Looking at our historical crash data involving plows, it tends to be that we get into our most wrecks when we're backing up," staff said. Staff invited committee members to inspect the new trucks after the meeting.
Staff also brought a resolution to adopt the highway program: committee staff recommended approving four renewals and reported there were no new applicants. A motion to approve the renewals passed on roll call.
No budget or funding shifts were discussed during the maintenance report. Staff framed the equipment changes as operational safety improvements and said other municipalities are adopting similar lighting.
