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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: July 8, 2019 <br />TOPIC: Taneum Road East Speed Study Results <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Schedule a Public Hearing Considering a <br />Requested Speed Reduction along Taneum Road <br />East from MP 1.00 to MP 2.84 <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Schedule a public hearing considering reducing the speed along East Taneum Road from <br />50 MPH to 35 MPH (MP 1.00 to MP 2.84) <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Taneum Road is 35 MPH from MP 0.00 to MP 1.00 (Thorp Highway is MP 0.0), <br />then 50 MPH to the end of the county road <br />• Study was conducted in late April and early May 2019 <br />• 85th percentile speed recorded as being 35.4 MPH (MP 0.00 to MP 1.00) and <br />51.70 MPH from MP 1.00 to MP 2.84. <br />• Maximum recorded speed was 73 MPH <br />• No accidents in the past five years <br />• Approach density (MP 1.00 to MP 2.84) is 15 per mile <br />BACKGROUND: <br />East Taneum resident William Stovall requested the speed study. The section of roadway <br />requested for reduction does not reflect significant exceedance at the 85th percentile <br />speed. A single vehicle was recorded at 73 MPH in the roadway segment. Average daily <br />traffic is currently recorded as 44 vehicles per hour. Approach density is currently 15 per <br />mile. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />The speed data suggests average motorist are driving the road at slightly more than the <br />posted speed of 50 MPH. The maximum recorded speed of 73 MPH is significantly <br />greater than the legal speed limit. There was only one vehicle recorded at this speed. <br />Given the vast majority of drivers are driving the road at the posted speed suggests a <br />reduced speed is unwarranted in the absence of other compelling evidence. <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />