King County considering speed reduction on Southeast 60th Street

Public comments and feedback accepted through Nov. 27.

King County has proposed a reduction in speed limit from 35 to 30 mph on a segment of Southeast 60th Street adjacent to the cities of Bellevue and Issaquah.

Earlier this year, citizens raised concerns about the different speed limits along Southeast 60th Street. Those complaints led to a road study.

Senior community relations planner and public information officer Brent Champaco said Southeast 60th street is a residential road that is accessed by 16 driveways and four intersecting streets. Champaco said the road was not built with formal engineering and land and shoulder widths are narrower than current standards. The study also cited two single-vehicle collisions with property along the road.

The street’s speed limit is inconsistent as it passes from Bellevue, where it is marked as 35 mph, into the unincorporated area marked at 30 mph, and then north into Issaquah where it becomes a 25 mph road.

The proposed change would reduce the roads 35 mph sections to 30 mph in order to improve safety. If the proposed reduction is approved, the change would go into effect before the end of the year.

King County is accepting public feedback on the speed limit reduction through Nov. 27. Comments will be reviewed by the county traffic engineer and county road engineer before the change is recommended to the director of the department of transportation and the King County Council.

The cost to change the speed limit signs will range from $200 to $300.

For questions or feedback call Brent Champaco at 206-477-9094 or email brent.champaco@kingcounty.gov.

Physical letters can be addressed to Brent Champaco, King County Department of Transportation, 201 South Jackson Street, MS: KSC-TR-0824, Seattle, WA, 98104-3856.

The shoulder and lane widths are narrower than current standards. Since 2013, two collisions have occurred on the SE 60th street. Courtesy Image.

The shoulder and lane widths are narrower than current standards. Since 2013, two collisions have occurred on the SE 60th street. Courtesy Image.