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Home My WebLink AboutTIS 2025-11-24 Item 1D - Ordinance - Reduce Speed on West Valley Hwy / Update TMC 9.16Thomas McLeod, Mayor Public Works Department - Jen Tetatzin, PE, PMP - Director TO: Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee FROM: Jen Tetatzin — Public Work Director BY: Adam Cox — Senior Program Manager — Transportation CC: Mayor Thomas McLeod DATE: November 21, 2025 SUBJECT: West Valley Highway (SR 181) Ordinance ISSUE Approve the West Valley Highway (SR 181) Ordinance amending Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 9.16 "Local Speed Limits" BACKGROUND The boundary between City of Kent and the City of Tukwila along the West Valley Highway (SR 181) corridor is located on the center line of the highway. From S 180th St to the Union Pacific Railroad crossing, the southbound direction of SR 181 is within the City of Tukwila, and the northbound direction is within the City of Kent. The attached map provides a visual of the boundary. Representatives from the City of Kent reached out to Tukwila staff with an inquiry about whether Tukwila would consider lowering the speed limit on the City's section of West Valley Highway in coordination with Kent's revision. The City of Kent had recently received approval from WSDOT to reduce the speed limit on West Valley Highway from 50 mph to 40 mph after the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) conducted a speed study, inclusive of the Tukwila section. As West Valley Highway is a state highway, WSDOT must approve all speed limits. City of Kent expects to adopt the speed limit reduction to 40 mph from S 180th Street southward on December 2, 2025. Kent forces are anticipated to change out speed limit signs sometime in January 2026. DISCUSSION City personnel are working in parallel with staff from the City of Kent to have the speed limit reduced on SR 181. The coordination efforts and adoption of the ordinance amendment will ensure that both the City of Kent and the City of Tukwila will post signage simultaneously, reducing confusion for both drivers and law enforcement. This ordinance enables the Tukwila Police Department, Kent Police Department, and Washington State Patrol to enforce penalties against drivers who fail to comply with the posted regulatory speed limit. FINANCIAL IMPACT De minimis RECOMMENDATION The Council is being asked to approve the ordinance and consider this item at the December 1, 2025 Regular Consent Meeting. ATTACHMENTS: Ordinance Amending Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 9.16 SR 181 WSDOT Approval of Traffic Regulations Tukwila Kent SR 181 Boundary Map Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov 21 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, REPEALING VARIOUS ORDINANCES AS CODIFIED AT TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE (TMC) CHAPTER 9.16, "LOCAL SPEED LIMITS — ONE-WAY STREETS"; REENACTING TMC CHAPTER 9.16; ADOPTING UPDATED REASONABLE AND SAFE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN DESIGNATED STREETS, AS POSTED BY OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, chapter 9.16 of the Tukwila Municipal Code ("TMC') adopts by reference the Washington Model Traffic Ordinance set forth in chapter 308-330 of the Washington Administrative Code ("WAC"); and WHEREAS, the Washington Model Traffic Ordinance and RCW 46.61.415 set forth the procedure for local authorities to determine and declare the maximum speed limits on city arterials, streets, and other rights -of -way, based on an engineering and traffic investigation by the traffic engineer. Following an engineering study or traffic investigation, the City of Tukwila ("City") may establish limits on certain designated streets by resolution; and WHEREAS, previously, Resolution No. 1370 established the maximum speed limit on certain portions of West Valley Highway (SR 181); and WHEREAS, the City shares jurisdictional authority on West Valley Highway with the City of Kent from the southern City limits north to South 180th Street. The City of Kent controls speed limits for northbound traffic, and the City of Tukwila controls speed limits for southbound traffic, both requiring consultation with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on state routes; and WHEREAS, the City of Kent is lowering the maximum speed limit for northbound traffic on that portion of the shared West Valley Highway after an engineering study and traffic investigation, and with approval from WSDOT, the Kent City Council is reducing the speed limit from 50 mph to 40 mph; and 2025 Legislation: WVH Speed Limit Revision Version: 11/19/25 Staff: C. Knighton Page 1 of 4 22 WHEREAS, the City desires to have the same maximum speed limit for southbound traffic on the shared portion of West Valley Highway with the City of Kent, and approval for the new maximum speed limit was granted by WSDOT based on the engineering study prepared by the City of Kent; and WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need for updating and amending the code provisions under Title 9 of the Tukwila Municipal Code to enact the maximum speed limit change; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Adoption of Findings of Fact. The City Council finds as follows. The above recitals, set forth as "WHEREAS" clauses, are hereby adopted as Findings of Fact in support of the adoption of this ordinance. Section 2. Repealer. Ordinance Nos. 1370 §1 (part), 1395 §1 & §2, 1583 §1, 1866 § 1, 1875 §1, 2380 §1, and 2566 §2, as codified at TMC Chapter 9.16, "Local Speed Limits — One -Way Streets," are hereby repealed, thereby eliminating this chapter. CHAPTER 9.16 LOCAL SPEED LI ITS ONE AY STREETS Sections: 9.16.010 Forty MPH on Portion of West Valley Highway 9.16.020 Secondary State Highway No. 181 9.16.030 South 132nd Street 9.16.0110 Maule Avenue 9.16.050 Interurban Avenue 9.16.060 South 12,1t Street, 112'd Avenue Sou -, .nd 50th Place South 9.17.070 Thirty five MPH on Portion of Tukwila International Boulevard Section 3. TMC Chapter 9.16 Reenacted. TMC chapter 9.16 is hereby reenacted to read as follows: (61:011. l°° °°'1' F III11 dRl9 6 � �l � IIL..... I ilY ....... t 1i 1��„, iM IIII 1111� 11111 IIII 1 is t 11.: '1 (6 \N(' t" mIIII III-1li:Ilu m A' "99l..,u( " ,11"3(:)I1 ut11 '9„ 1 „ (6 ( "(:). Il.,u 1:1.11 1(31.1 'u rid rv'Il u: 11 1 11„ ( ( aIl..,u ('M11„„1(fiiii"' ................(.::.5(::........................IILIL1tt(...:" ri uU...h...1U...1....A VV ........U...11::u( 9„ E'11„ (6E15 (1" u': III:"") II511(:6.,ut 9 „ 1..' 0"0..7(: 111...II,.,1Ik: II II a III u°:u:("'u a°.: auai().u°.: a III III (611..,u\lard 2025 Legislation: WVH Speed Limit Revision Version: 11/19/25 Staff: C. Knighton Page 2 of 4 23 Section 4. TMC Section 9.16.010 is hereby reenacted to read as follows: 11„:r (11 f„„)15-11 111111111griltsssu,„ .A. 210 rill („„1:':1!„1„3"t ctro \Arai, (13111""R. tr"' ircsuro :!istrIt„oth'to tyro II Onto trt (t; Oty, (Di"' """111"""t„„oktI,AtII II a at 2,12,0? rt:ttKII tiro 2;tatti:':) 1M II II 10'4 c't„ 9 „ rotD.rt h \ward It). tht'o(,':i:':! n d tht'o(,':i:':! t at 111-1IIts,htmsy and t rill, (:::)11"' at z1022,,,o,$);KIIrtuoat(,':i:!11,y 2;tatti:':) 111",tt).„ „21,5„ Section 5. TMC Section 9.16.020 is hereby reenacted to read as follows: 0120 2on f„'„';" S (3ILL,h ,',1„;tt 11'1 d 11'1 ILA 13 ttt h ott) tiro III 11'1 tti) ost rhb 11'1 11'1 ILA t c't t 11'1 (,) rt h t tr„„„1.'S t 11E3rOdt,i,',1ti:':': It). a rtuoZI;KrurulilL„„urruo rill 11"'ts 2110 """111"'",ypti:':) """111""lysti) """111"""y,,,p(i:':) 3 trt„,1 dti:':':,t11"'in(,':i:!d Asst)tt•IIatIIt:tro (:)ffitt•IIa „!„3 Section 6. TMC Section 9.16.030 is hereby reenacted to read as follows: GS() S (13 S re Eirstli'to ""63:',2ild 2;trti:':':i,t(,i:'S she II II a tsiti:),,,,,,way trall""fitt• tstII rra, 11"'itt)turuo ,143th 23t::::s„„olito Section 7. TMC Section 9.16.040 is hereby reenacted to read as follows: M A.ttlDrio„„„1(,i:':':,,, • 's1Sza1111 trailfitt• tursstOrt1,1 l'etstuo 23t::::s„„oth ""61:;;ttito 2;t::tot,•oth '1213 111""")Ilatt•(,':i:!„ Section 8. TMC Section 9.16.050 is hereby reenacted to read as follows: 050 1111 on re °nu orlb an . on Li E; :215 it'll Ot S („„1:':1!St•Za ctri IlltittDostrbzarl l'ottt)otruo 23,tzatti:) 111-1IAI ghtmay 1M II II ti:':':,,,,opc'ttst 10'4 c't „ „ 215 tc). n(prtlh (t;IIty II II rill „ Section 9. TMC Section 9.16.060 is hereby reenacted to read as follows: 060 52n 1111,S af„:„S';" S OU „ Sttl11°"" 111""")Ilatt,•ti:':) Eir,stth trallritt„ 13t:::,t1t„oth r371h arid 5:2111°"" A.t,sisr„„„iti) ifirstuo ""63"71h 5:21111"" 2025 Legislation: WVH Speed Limit Revision Version: 11/19/25 Staff: C. Knighton Page 3 of 4 24 Section 10. TMC Section 9.16.070 is hereby reenacted to read as follows: (.11 1 11""tokAAto '' IIIIntermit Jo n '' i' u'I. ''"i~v'' ui 35 in u u III.., p e a Ih(., i..0 r II u u u u u I. 2..(.)n E a .. «..n b II .. III E d II (.)r (,):11"' traffic (,)u fi III i..ull . uII«..n e u n«..nLu(., a fi«..nII II13(,)i..ullE v«..nu d bEL EE)n E;(,)i..uLIh 139th E;Lu EEI. and E;(,)i..ul.lh I 5.....n d E;LreE L. Section 11. Signs to be Posted. The Public Works Director is hereby directed to post appropriate speed limit signs reflecting the speed limits established in this ordinance after coordinating with the City of Kent. The speed limit signs are to be posted at the same time between both jurisdictions to avoid driver confusion. Section 12. Corrections by City Clerk or Code Reviser Authorized. Upon approval of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and the code reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including the correction of clerical errors; references to other local, state or federal laws, codes, rules, or regulations; or ordinance numbering and section/subsection numbering. Section 13. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or situation should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to any other person or situation. Section 14. Effective Date. This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published in the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five days after passage and publication as provided by law, provided that the speed limits set forth in this ordinance shall not be enforceable until appropriate signs are posted. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2025. ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED: Andy Youn-Barnett, CMC, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Office of the City Attorney 2025 Legislation: WVH Speed Limit Revision Version: 11/19/25 Staff: C. Knighton Thomas McLeod, Mayor Filed with the City Clerk: Passed by the City Council: Published: Effective Date: Ordinance Number: Page 4 of 4 25 STATE TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS ENGINEER CALENDAR AGENDA TO: DongohoChang, State Traffic Engineer FROM: JessiHendamon �--� RE: Approval ofTraffic Regulations CALENDAR ACTION Below are items for inclusion onyour Calendar for approval. SPEED LIMIT SR181' Kent OFFICIAL: K4P617TDK4P871 Both =50MPH K4P871 TO K4P976 Both = 50 MPH PROPOSED: K4P617TDK4P9.76Both =40MPH The proposed speed zone request was submitted bvthe Northwest Region based onotraffic engineering study. The region collaborated with the City of Kent, WSP on this request. 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