Seattle Will Lower Speed Limits On City Streets To 25 MPH

SEATTLE, WA — A multi-pronged effort to reduce traffic injuries and deaths in Seattle will lower speed limits on all city streets to 25 mph, implement engineering changes on dangerous roads, and create a new task force to review serious crashes, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Tuesday.

The mayor's announcement follows the release of new data showing twice as many traffic deaths in Seattle compared to last year. The Seattle Times reports 2019 ranks among Seattle's deadliest on the roads in a decade, with 25 deaths and 153 serious injuries.

Studies have shown pedestrians are far more likely to survive a crash involving a car driving 25 mph, compared to a car traveling 30 mph. Downtown roads, where speed limits have already been lowered, saw a 35 percent drop in crashes, and 20 percent fewer serious injuries or deaths, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation data.

Seattle will also coordinate with the Washington State Department of Transportation to reduce speed limits on highways within city limits, including on State Route 99 and State Route 522.

A program that gives pedestrians a few seconds to cross before stoplights turn green will expand to 250 city intersections next year, and Seattle Police will double the number of red-light cameras in use. SPD officers will also provide extra enforcement on streets with the highest level of injury crashes.

$20 million is earmarked in the 2020 budget for projects related to the "Vision Zero" policy, a long-term goal to eliminate serious injuries and deathson Washington roads by 2030. The budgeted money will pay for safety corridor improvements on Highland Park Way, Boren Avenue, Rainier Avenue South, and MLK Jr. Way and fund citywide bicycle safety projects.

Other planned safety improvements include work on Aurora Avenue North and more than $8.5 million to make changes on Lake City Way.