Edmonds reports roughly 50% drop in collisions after Highway 99 raised‑median project and speed reduction

Edmonds staff presented a safety update June 10 showing substantial reductions in collisions on the Highway 99 corridor after completion of the Stage 2 raised‑median and related improvements.

Transportation Engineer Bertrand House and Public Works Director Phil Williams reviewed collision records that the city compared before (2017–2019 average) and after improvements (2024). House said the corridor averaged roughly 220 collisions per year in the earlier period and that post‑project totals in 2024 were roughly half that figure. He reported the corridor’s crash rate per million vehicle‑miles fell from about 7.5 to roughly 3.5.

House told the council the project removed multiple conflict points by installing a continuous raised median, adding mid‑block left‑turn pockets in limited locations and installing a HAWK pedestrian crossing north of 230th. As a result, he said, the city saw fewer left‑turn and mid‑block collisions and a large decrease in serious‑injury crashes.

Williams noted the state approved a speed limit reduction from 45 mph to 40 mph after the raised median was installed. The city has also installed red‑light cameras at a high‑collision intersection and expects that enforcement to further reduce intersection crashes.

Council members praised the results and asked staff to share the data with state legislators and to continue monitoring active‑transportation outcomes; House said staff will continue with design work for further stages of Highway 99 revitalization and will evaluate pedestrian and bicycle solutions in later phases.

No formal council action was required; the presentation concluded with staff requests for continued funding and design work for future phases.