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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 22,2024 <br /> TOPIC: Speed Study Process Change <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: Direct staff regarding finalizing the process <br /> change to Speed Study requests. <br /> LEAD STAFF: <br /> Cameron Curtis <br /> RECOMMENDATION: <br /> Direct staff to alter the process in which Speed Study requests are processed. <br /> BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br /> • Public Works has received approximately 62 Speed Study requests over the last <br /> ten years. Only 11 of these studies resulted in a change to the Speed Limit. <br /> • Currently, all Speed Study requests require physical data collection which is <br /> condensed into a report. The results of every report are presented to the Board of <br /> County Commissioners and potentially a Public Hearing. <br /> • PW reviewed alternatives for evaluating speed revision requests including Grant <br /> County utilizes screening criteria to minimize County resources spent on Speed <br /> Studies. <br /> • Public Works has identified criteria by which Speed Studies requests could be <br /> screened for advancement. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> Public Works receives speed revision requests which require a Speed Study every year, <br /> and very few requests are supported by engineering evidence. Posted speed limit <br /> revisions are requested by residents, county officials and staff. Typically speed revision <br /> requests come from a property owner along the road segment. In 2023 alone, 7 speed <br /> studies were requested and only 1 was deemed valid enough to set a adjust the speed limit <br /> (14%). This pattern is consistent with the last ten years when a total of 62 speed studies <br /> were requested and only 11 resulted in a change to the Speed Limit(18%). <br /> To perform a Speed Study, the following are typical steps taken by Public Works staff: <br />