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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: May 11, 2020 <br />TOPIC: Cove Road Speed Study Results <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Schedule a Public Hearing <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Schedule a public hearing receiving testimony on Public Works (PW) recommendation <br />maintaining the posted speed of 50 Miles Per Hour (MPH). <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• PW received a request to conduct a speed study on Cover Road (Mile Post <br />3.040 to MP 3.59). <br />• County residents requesting the study express concerns following the <br />fatality in February at the intersection of Cove Road and Hanson Road. <br />• The intersection is located at MP 3.14. <br />• The study was conducted on 2/10/2020 to 2/24/2020. <br />• PW immediately evaluated the intersection and felt it prudent to perform <br />additional brush clearing at the intersection. <br />• MP 3.59 SB/NB 85" percentile average speed: 53 MPH. <br />• MP 3.04 SB/NB 85"' percentile average speed: 54.9 MPH. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Prompted by a fatality at the intersection of Cover Road and Hanson Road in early <br />February 2020; County residents requested additional vegetation removal at the <br />intersection along with a speed study (Electronic mail chain is attached as EXHIBIT 1). <br />Responding to the request, PW conducted vegetation clearing operations within the week <br />and a speed study was conducted from 2/10/2020 to 1/24/2020 (results of the speed study <br />are attached as EXHIBIT 2). <br />DISCUSSION: <br />PW utilizes industry standards when evaluating traffic operations affording consistency <br />to adopted state and federal standards. While 85°i percentile speeds represent national <br />and state decision making standards, PW also evaluates the mean speed of vehicles <br />included in the study. The Cove Road/Hanson Road intersection is located at MP 3.14. <br />Average 850' percentile speed in the study area at MP 3.59 are reported as being 53 MPH <br />and 54.9 MPH at MP 3.04. Mean calculated speed at the two locations are: 45.8 MPH <br />Page i of 4 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />