During its Thursday, Oct. 10, meeting, the Ridgefield City Council postponed a public hearing and potential speed limit changes for several current and future roads.
The proposed amendments were presented by Ridgefield Public Works Director Chuck Green, following a traffic study conducted by city staff. These changes also align with the updated 2023 guidelines from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
Ridgefield Mayor Onslow expressed that several of the proposed speed limit adjustments were unnecessary, while some councilors focused on the proposed speed limit reduction on South Hillhurst Road, a decrease from 35 mph to 30 mph from Great Blue to south of Carty Road. Currently, from Pioneer Street to Northwest 229th Street, Hillhurst Road’s speed limit changes from 25 mph to 30 mph to 35 mph. Several councilors suggested it would be better to make the speed limit consistent throughout. The school speed limit zones would remain unchanged.
The City Council will review the speed limit changes at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at 510 Pioneer St. The proposed speed limit changes under review, subject to change, are as follows:
• Reducing the speed limit on Pioneer Street, east of Ninth Avenue/Hillhurst to 65th Avenue, from 40 mph to 35 mph.
• Establish a 25 mph speed limit on South 15th Street, South 35th Place, South 10th Way and South 25th Place, west of South Royle Road, for the entire scenic collector on the Gee Creek Plateau.
• Set a 20 mph speed limit on South Fourth Way, from South 21st Place to South 25th Place.
• Lower the speed limit on South Wells Drive, from Royle Road to the future Discovery Drive, from 35 mph to 30 mph.
• Establish a 35 mph speed limit on Union Ridge Parkway, from South Fifth Street to Pioneer Street.
• Set a 25 mph speed limit on Union Ridge Parkway, north of Pioneer Street along the Clark College building to a future extension to North 10th Street, for both the current and future corridor.
• Reduce the speed limit on South Hillhurst Road, from Great Blue to south of Carty Road, from 35 mph to 30 mph.
