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Council committee sends speed-limit ordinance amendments to first reading; several commercial streets to rise to 30 mph, select corridors to be reduced
Summary
The committee advanced a staff ordinance to revise local speed limits: some commercially zoned streets would move from the residential-code default of 25 mph to 30 mph; WSDOT-funded road-diet corridors would be reduced (35 to 30 mph) to match bike- and pedestrian-safety features. The item was forwarded to first reading on May 20.
Transportation staff presented proposed amendments to the city's speed-limit code, asking the committee to adopt an ordinance that adjusts posted limits citywide where appropriate. Staff said the city sets speed limits on local streets (state highways remain under WSDOT jurisdiction) and that the package responds to project-specific requests from WSDOT for speed reductions on two projects (South 280 Eighth Street Road Diet and the Poverty Bay multi-use project) and to a desire to align posted limits with street design.
Major elements: - WSDOT-requested reductions: For corridors where WSDOT funded improvements (example: 280 Eighth Road Diet and the Poverty Bay multi-use project), staff proposed lowering posted limits to 30 mph to match narrower vehicle lanes and added bicycle facilities. - Commercial-area adjustments: Many streets not explicitly defined in code default to 25 mph (residential default). Staff proposed raising posted limits to 30 mph in certain commercially zoned locations where design speed and lane widths justify the change and where there are fewer residential driveways and pedestrian conflicts. - Engineering rationale: Staff described the relationship between lane widths, driver perception and posted speed; narrower lanes and protective facilities for people biking and walking tend to reduce actual speeds and improve perceived safety. Staff cautioned that raising a posted limit in commercial corridors typically does not increase vehicle speeds materially and in past cases reduced noncompliance counts.
Council members asked about collision severity differences between 30 and 25 mph and about enforcement plans. Staff said police would do spot enforcement and education following changes; signage costs were modest (roughly $6,000 to swap signs) and could be absorbed in operating budget.
Action: Committee Member Walsh moved to forward the proposed ordinance to first reading on May 20, 2025; the motion was seconded and passed.
Ending: The ordinance will come to the full council for first reading May 20; staff said final signage and implementation would occur shortly after adoption and that some project-specific construction (e.g., road-diet changes) is already in progress.
