Today we start with two similar questions, followed by one answer.
Suzanne Souza of Edmonds writes: How do I get the speed limit on 52nd Avenue W. lowered to 30 mph? I live on 52nd Avenue W. and 160th Street SW. The speed limit on 52nd Avenue up to 168th is 30 mph. Between 52nd Avenue and 163rd is Beverly Elementary School and the speed limit starts at 35 mph. I see grade-school children walking home from school on 52nd Avenue W. with cars and trucks whizzing past them above 35 mph.
There is only one school traffic light on the street and drivers going northbound do not even see this so they don’t slow down to 20 mph. On the weekends, I see joggers, dog walkers and kids on their bikes on 52nd Avenue and I just can’t believe that the speed limit is 35 mph. Who do I need to write about this? The 52nd Avenue W. street is a residential street and 35 mph is just way too fast.
Doug Hetrick of Everett writes: I live near Center Road in south Everett. Center Road is between Highway 99 and Fourth Avenue W. When it was first built there weren’t so many apartments and schools, so I suppose 35 mph was OK. But I feel it should be lowered to 30 or even 25 mph. There are many kids and many areas without sidewalks and blind corners. I admit there is a caution sign at the corner for 25mph. It’s crazy that between Everett Mall Way and 112th, Seventh Avenue W. is 30 mph and it’s a straight shot easy to see oncoming anything and Center Road is 35 mph with a lot of blind stuff. Plus there aren’t enough signs saying what the speed limit is on Center Road. I know of one going to westbound but I do not remember anything going eastbound.
Owen Carter, chief engineer for Snohomish County, responds: County code designates the maximum speed limit on any road in unincorporated areas as 35 mph. However, the public works director and-or the county engineer may revise the speed limit up or down by a maximum of 10 mph based on an investigation of the conditions on the road.
The main factor in revising the speed limit is known as the 85th percentile speed. This is calculated by measuring the speed of all vehicles traveling on the roadway and then determining the speed at which 85 percent of vehicles are at or below. Studies have shown that 85 percent of all motorists drive at a safe speed on any given road, regardless of the speed limit. Most drivers pay attention to their surroundings and continually adjust their vehicle rate to maintain a safe driving speed.
The two streets in question, Center Road and 52nd Avenue W., are designated as arterial streets by Snohomish County. Because these streets serve predominantly “through trips” — moving vehicles from one area to another in the most efficient manner — arterial streets in unincorporated Snohomish County have speed limits of 35 mph or greater.
The function of nonarterial streets is to provide access to and from abutting properties. Nonarterial streets have significantly more stopping, turning and backing out onto the street by vehicles than an arterial and the typical speed limits on nonarterial streets are 35 mph or less.
Snohomish County is preparing an investigation for both Center Road and 52nd Avenue W. If this determines that an adjustment in the posted speed limit is appropriate the county will make the change. It is anticipated that both of these studies will be completed by the end of July. I have directed Snohomish County’s traffic section to review the road signs and take the appropriate steps to meet standards.
It should be noted that both questions compared the unincorporated streets with roadways in the cities of Everett and Lynnwood. The code for these cities establishes a 30 mph speed limit for arterial roads. In many cases, road characteristics across a jurisdictional boundary are identical except the speed limit may be different due to the jurisdiction’s code.
In addition, with respect to 52nd Avenue W. and Center Road, both are planned for improvements including curbs, sidewalks, planter strips, bike lanes, and a center two-way turn lane when funding becomes available.
E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence.
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