2025-04-14-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: TOPIC: ACTION REQUESTED: LEAD STAFF: Cameron Curtis April 14, 2025 Umptanum Road Speed Study Direct staff regarding setting a Public Hearing to receive the Engineer's Report on the Request for Speed Reduction on Umptanum Road. RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff regarding setting a Public Hearing for the Speed Reduction Request on Umptanum Road. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • The Damman School District has requested a change to the speed limit on Umptanum Road from MP 1.00 to MP 1.69 from 50 MPH to 35 MPH. • Initial Screening Criteria was completed in March of 2025. The project scored 37 points of a possible 60 point maximum. • Traffic Tubes were deployed on March 26 and were in place until April 2, 2025. BACKGROUND: Responding to a request received on December 20, 2024, to reduce the posted speed on Umptanum Road from 50 MPH to 35 MPH, Public Works began working through initial screening criteria. The request indicated that the speed limit in the school zone is often not followed and that driving conditions regularly put students, parents, and staff at risk, noting several recent land use changes. Conforming to Board direction in July of 2024, Public Works only preceded to collect physical data after confirming the request met the initial screening criteria. On March 26, 2025, traffic tubes were deployed, and traffic data was collected at mile post 1.13 and mile post 1.79. An ADT of 2747 vehicles was measured, 28 percent of which was truck traffic at MP 1.13. At MP 1.79, an ADT of 1188 vehicles was measured, 41 percent of which was truck traffic. 85th percentile speed at these locations was measured as 49.4 mph and 49.7 mph respectively.