Consultants recommend clearing sight lines and adding speed humps at 11th & Loveland after neighborhood outreach

Consultants from Kimley Horn told the Mukilteo City Council on March 9 that the 11th Street and Loveland Avenue intersection has sight-line problems and higher-than-historical vehicle volumes, and they recommended a two-part response: clear vegetation to restore sight distance and install vertical speed-control elements in two locations north of the hill grade.

“ The average speed is around 21 miles per hour, ” said Kylie Jones, a transportation planner with Kimley Horn, describing a weekday 24-hour count and speed data. Consultants reported about 650 vehicles on the count day compared with roughly 560 in historical volumes and said the 85th percentile speed was near the posted limit.

Edward Coltonosse, a local consultant working with Kimley Horn, emphasized the value of short-duration counts for speed data: “ It's actually amazing how, consistent weekday traffic is compared to weekend traffic in a residential count… the main issue is the speed data, ” he said, adding that speed samples with more than 100 observations are generally reliable for the purposes of the study.

Consultants summarized outreach: staff mailed roughly 197 postcards, held an open house with about 20 attendees and received 54 survey responses. Residents ranked clearing sight distance first and vertical speed elements (speed humps or cushions) second. Staff noted two documented angle crashes at the intersection and multiple reported near-misses.

Consultants said the recommended approach aims to reduce the biggest risk (lack of sight distance for drivers entering from side streets) while minimizing unintended consequences (for example, opening sight lines can sometimes increase travel speeds). They explained placement constraints for vertical devices — avoiding driveways and steep grades — and recommended two hump locations immediately north of the intersection.

Public works staff also said the city has been awarded a Safe Streets for All grant to develop a comprehensive plan and pursue implementation funding. “ We just got awarded it recently, and we're working with the feds on getting it actually being able to bring it to you guys to get awarded and then get a consultant on board to work over it over the next, you know, 18 months or so, ” Public Works Director Matt Nienhaus said.

Council members asked about data robustness (single 24-hour count vs multi-day counts), timing, and resident opposition to trimming hedges on private property; consultants said trimming within right-of-way would be requested from property owners first and the city can trim if owners do not, and that they would double-check historic comparisons.

No final decision was made; staff said they will use the plan and grant process to refine designs and return with implementation steps and funding requests.