Date:  Thursday, February 22, 2007

Contact:
Lisa Murdock, WSDOT Communication Manager, (360) 357-2789

SEQUIM – A request by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and a subsequent analysis of speed and collision data has prompted WSDOT to reduce by 5 mph the speed limit on a one-mile stretch of U.S. 101 near the Seven Cedars Casino.

The reduction, from 55 mph to 50 mph, will be implemented (from milepost 270 to 271) next week and new speed limit signs will be posted.
When considering speed reduction requests, WSDOT considers accident history, road characteristics, sight distance and the “85th Percentile” speed.

“We perform traffic studies to determine the speed that 85 percent of drivers are traveling,” said Steve Bennett, WSDOT traffic operations engineer. “National roadway studies show the majority of drivers travel at a speed they believe to be reasonable and prudent, and setting the speed limit accordingly results in the fewest accidents.”

The speed study for U.S. 101 showed that reducing the speed limit to 50 mph fell within the 85th percentile parameters.

That information, along with the accident data – which shows 20 collisions on this stretch of highway from 2003 to 2005 – contributed to the decision to reduce the speed limit. About 12,000 vehicles travel daily on this stretch of roadway.

“We try to be consistent about speed limits across the state,” Bennett said. “We look at other roadways with similar characteristics from all over Washington."

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