The City has announced plans to lower arterial speed limits from 30 to 25mph next year.
The change was announced earlier this week by Mayor Jenny Durkan, and comes as part of Vision Zero, a goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.
In addition to lowering arterial speeds, the City is also working with the Washington State Department of Transportation to reduce speeds on state highways within the city limits, including Aurora Ave N and Lake City Way on SR 522.
Many of Ballard’s busiest roads would be affected, including north-south arterials 8th Ave NW, 15th Ave NW, 20th Ave NW, 24th Ave NW, 32nd Ave NW, and Seaview Ave NW. East-west arterials set to change are Shilshole Ave NW, NW Market St, NW 65th St, NW 80th St, NW 85th St. (Here’s a handy map of city speed limits, for more info)
There are also plans to double the number of intersections with leading pedestrian interval safety enhancements to 250 in 2020. The City also plans to add safety cameras to five new school zones and double the number of red light cameras operating in the city.
“We must make our sidewalks and roads safe for everyone – too many of our residents have lost their lives in traffic incidents, often the most vulnerable. That is unacceptable,” Mayor Durkan said in a statement about the changes.
Photo: SDOT