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

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Kittitas County Public Works 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Attention Candie Leader PFr"�'F_D _.; . Subject: Speed Reduction on Tjossem Road, Ellensburg WA in Kittitas County This memorandum is to officially request that a section of Tjossem Road located in Ellensburg, WA in the county of Kittitas have a speed reduction implemented. The requested location is between where Tjossem Road crosses over HWY 82197 then crosses Number 6 Rd. The current speed limit is fifty miles per hour. Within this particular section of county road there is a business named Ellensburg Pet Lodge that boards animals primarily dogs. The volume of customers arriving with dogs to drop off and pickup has been increasing over the months and years. This has increased the potential of road accidents and incidences that could occur within this section of road way. The current speed of fifty miles per hour with the added curve and rise of the road section over the 82197 HWY causes the possibility of collision with people, dogs, other animals and vehicles. With in the months of December 2022 and January 2023 two cats have been hit and fatally injured at this location, and this was during the icy cold season when drivers should have reduced their speed but did not. During these two incidents no drivers stopped to investigate what they hit. As stated in RCW 46.61.404 (1 ) No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use care. Another safety concern is for the postal carrier that has to deliver mail located in this area. The location they drop off mail is very dangerous and someday could cause a collision. With the added customers arriving and leaving the business Ellensburg Pet Lodge and having the postal carrier arrive adds more potential of accidents. And garbage pickup weekly blocks visibility during customers dropping off or picking up their animals at Ellensburg Pet Lodge, a slower speed would help reduce possible collisions. We have witnessed semi -trucks traveling the corner almost tipping over on multiple occasions in the location where Ellensburg Pet Lodge customers get in and out of their vehicles. This bend in the roadway driving at a speed of fifty plus miles per hour makes it difficult for the drivers to see customers and animals at this location.