Speed limits on six Thurston County roads could drop by as much as 25 mph under a proposal headed to public hearing on Sept. 29.
County Engineer Matt Unzelman presented the changes to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
The board is scheduled to take public testimony at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, before voting on the new limits.
The biggest proposed reductions would hit two roads currently unposted at the default 50 mph. Driftwood Valley Rd SE, between Deschutes Dr SE and Fennel Rd SE, would fall to 25 mph. Waldrick Rd SE, from Offut Lake Rd SE to 0.17 miles east of the Chehalis Western Trail, would drop to 35 mph.
Four other segments are also on the list, according to the Board of County Commissioners agenda item:
- 196th Ave SW (Sargent Rd SW to Elderberry St SW): unposted 50 mph to 35 mph
- Gallagher Cove Rd NW (Steamboat Island Rd NW to 78th Ave NW): unposted 50 mph to 40 mph
- Marvin Rd SE (19th Ave SE to Union Mills Rd SE): 40 mph to 35 mph
- Johnson Point Rd NE (92nd Ave NE to Johnson Point Lp NE): 35 mph to 25 mph
The recommendations follow evaluation guidelines the commissioners adopted in Resolution No. 16142 in April 2022. State law and county code authorize the county to revise its speed limit schedule.
Public Works sent letters to property owners along the affected roads as part of the review.
Comments received as of the Sept. 1 presentation were "generally in favor" of the proposed changes, the agenda item states.
An online survey is available on the Public Works website during the comment period. Thurston County Public Works posted about the proposal on X on Monday, Sept. 14, encouraging residents to submit feedback.
The proposed ordinance also includes minor administrative edits to the county's speed limit schedule, such as formatting corrections and road-name updates.
Angela Celestine, an administrative assistant in Public Works, submitted the agenda item on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The five-member board is chaired by Tye Menser, with Vice-Chair Wayne Fournier and Commissioners Rachel Grant, Carolina Mejia and Emily Clouse. Residents who want to weigh in can attend the Sept. 29 hearing or check the Thurston County Public Works website for details on submitting written comments.
