Lacey Transportation Manager Martin Hoppe presented an agenda document that contains the speed limit master list during the Lacey Transportation Committee last Tuesday, April 4.
According to the document, most of the modifications are aimed at lowering the speed limits to allow more consistency within the urban area and reduce the severity of some collisions.
“We started doing a whole bunch of speed limit changes – because we don't do that every two to three years,” Hoppe said.
The speed limit master list and the speed limit street map specified the following streets.
Steilacoom/Marvin Annexation
This extension incorporates a parcel of Marvin Road, Steilacoom Road, and a few residential streets. Marvin Street and Steilacoom Street have a 35 mph speed limit, and the residential streets have a 25 mph speed limit. No changes are suggested to these lanes.
Lake Lois Pacific Avenue Annexation
This annexation includes a parcel of Pacific Avenue, Kinwood Street, and several residential streets. Pacific Avenue's current speed limit is 40 mph, Kinwood Street is 35 mph, and residential streets are 25 mph. The recommendation is to lower the speed limit on Pacific Avenue to 35 mph and hold the speed limits for Kinwood Street and the residential streets.
Martin Way and Britton Parkway
The Martin Way in the city and the Britton Parkway from Marvin Road to around Carpenter Road are currently set to 40 mph. The recommendation is to lower the speed limit to 35 mph on these two roads.
College Street North East Extension
The project is currently in the planning stage and is scheduled for construction in 2024. Once the new road from 6th Avenue NE to 15th Ave NE is completed, staff recommends adjusting this section to 35 mph, like the rest of College Street.
The staff recommended the speed limit modifications, and the recommendations are now being forwarded to be adopted in a City Council resolution during a regular session.
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jimlazar
More than ten years ago, Olympia reduced all speed limits in the City to 35 mph or less. There has been little or no negative feedback.
There were two major reasons for this.
First and foremost, accidents at lower speeds are survivable, and those at 40 MPH or above often result in serious injuries.
Second, "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles" or "NEVs" are allowed ONLY on streets with speed limits of 35 MPH and below. This change meant that NEVs are allowed on EVERY street in Olympia. These are smaller electric cars, based on golf cart technology. But now they are legal everywhere in Olympia.
Lacey should follow suit. With these proposed changes, there are only a few short segments of streets in Lacey with higher speed limits. Meridian and 46th will be the only streets left with higher limits. Why not do EVERY street at 35 or below like Olympia did? It is more consistent, safer, and more inviting to super-efficient smaller electric vehicles.
Thursday, April 6, 2023 Report this
RobertV
Studies show that speeds traveled by motorists are often a principle of design, and not posted speeds. If a motorist feels comfortable driving faster, they will. For example wide, straight, and multi-lane streets (stroads) often produce speeds higher than pedestrian or cycling speeds. Streets that force the motorist to think about the changes ahead of them often force them to drive slower. Think of the difference between highway design and the pre- streets. The safety factor and effective speeds change when design is the primary principle.
Friday, April 7, 2023 Report this