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Covington council backs study of temporary traffic-calming tools, asks staff to test speed triggers and consult on Timberlane sidewalk LID
Summary
City staff will test temporary traffic-calming measures and an initial engineering threshold before advancing larger projects; council also asked staff to get cost estimates for a possible Timberlane sidewalk local improvement district and to pursue WSDOT signal coordination instead of red‑light cameras.
Covington moved Monday to study temporary traffic‑calming tools and to pursue next steps on a proposed Timberlane local improvement district to replace failing sidewalks.
Council members directed city staff to pilot temporary measures — such as movable speed cushions and radar feedback signs — and to evaluate a short engineering test (80th/85th‑percentile speed counts) as a screen before opening the full neighborhood traffic‑calming process. The council also agreed that the city should shoulder the cost of temporary devices for short trials, but that larger or permanent installations could carry cost‑sharing or LID approaches once designs and petitions are complete.
The action follows a staff presentation of a formal neighborhood traffic‑calming flowchart that includes petition thresholds, engineering scores and a resident ballot requirement. The city’s draft approach would score candidate locations on speed, traffic volume, pedestrian exposure and school proximity; places that score above the threshold would reach a neighborhood design phase and, if a ballot in the impacted area reaches 60% approval, the work would proceed. Council asked staff to treat the 85th‑percentile test as an initial, quick screen to avoid unnecessary full studies.
Councilors also rejected efforts to pursue automated red‑light or traffic enforcement cameras as a revenue source. Staff outlined recent state changes that limit how revenue from camera programs can be used, add substantial ongoing administrative and court processing needs, and in some cases divert a portion of net revenue to the state. Instead the council asked staff to work with the Washington State Department of Transportation to optimize signal coordination at the problematic 170th/State Route 18 intersection and to explore low‑cost signage or other behavioral tools.
On sidewalks, councilors directed staff to obtain consultant cost estimates and an implementation scope for a possible Timberlane local improvement district (LID). Timberlane residents previously surveyed on the idea indicated interest, and staff reported preliminary, high‑level estimates for a single‑side replacement (design and construction) in the low millions. Council asked staff to return with proposed consulting scopes and a timeline for community outreach; staff will also investigate grant options such as Safe Routes to School that could reduce the assessed cost per parcel.
Next steps: staff will (1) pilot temporary speed‑calming devices and ground the 85th‑percentile screening practice; (2) seek consultant bids to prepare a formal LID assessment and preliminary engineering for Timberlane sidewalks; and (3) open a coordination request with WSDOT on signal timing for the SR‑18/170th corridor. Council said it wants any permanent, funded projects to be brought back for formal approval.
Details, timing and follow‑ups will be posted to the city’s project pages and summarized in email updates as designs and consultant responses arrive.
