2023-05-08-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: May 8, 2023 TOPIC: Tjossem Road Speed Study Results ACTION REQUESTED: Receive Tjossem Road speed study results LEAD STAFF: Joshua Fredrickson RECOMMENDATION: Receive speed study results and not schedule a public hearing to reduce speed on Tjossem Road (MP 0.00 to MP 1.39) BRIEFING SUMMARY: • A resident on Tjossem Road requested a speed reduction on Tjossem Road (MP 0.00 to MP 1.39) on February 23, 2023 • The speed study was conducted on April 11, 2023 to April 18, 2023 • Speed study data collected at MP 0.1.19 • Average daily traffic (ADT) of 595 vehicles, with 134 trucks (25%) • ADT distribution is 53% eastbound and 47% westbound • 85% speed at 56 Miles Per Hour (MPH) for both eastbound and westbound traffic • Ten reported crashes in the past five years BACKGROUND: Responding to a request received on February 23, 2023 to reduce the posted speed on Tjossem Road, Public Works deployed traffic data collectors April 11, 2023 and collected through April 18, 2023. Traffic and speed data was collected at mile post 1.19. This road segment has 25 percent truck traffic within the average daily traffic distribution of vehicle size. Traffic at this location is split 53% eastbound and 47% westbound. Overall 85th percentile speed at this location is 55.9 MPH with directional speeds of 56.1 MPH eastbound and 55.7 MPH westbound. DISCUSSION: 85t' percentile speeds show traffic is operating at a speed greater than the current speed limit of 50 MPH. The 85th percentile speeds suggest the road segment is easily capable of managing design speed and the current speed limit. There are 22 approaches in 1.19 miles along Tjossem Road, primarily serving residential and agricultural uses. Access to a solar farm is located within this roadway section.