Bothell staff asked council to back 30-mph limits on 15th and 19th Avenues and a study of longer school-zone camera hours

What the records say

In materials for the Sept. 8, 2026 council meeting, staff presented a Transportation Safety Plan implementation briefing (agenda bill 26-164) and asked two feedback questions rather than requesting action ¹. The first: whether the council supports reducing the speed limit on two collector corridors — 15th Ave SE and 19th Ave SE — from 35 mph to 30 mph as part of the Calm Collector project, which has been awarded $1.05 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grant funding and is slated for construction in early 2028 ¹. The second: whether the council supports staff work to analyze increased enforcement hours for cameras at school zones with high rates of excessive speeding outside school hours ¹. Staff noted that roughly 75% of speed violations involve vehicles registered outside Bothell city limits, and that one-week camera data showed the largest share of off-hours speeding on 23rd Avenue SE, where about 13–15% of observed vehicles exceeded the threshold ¹. The packet included a federal Highway Administration Safe System flyer, a list of safety engineering projects, and existing school-zone camera data as attachments ¹.

• Staff recommended lowering the posted speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph on 15th Ave SE and 19th Ave SE, with speed cushions, under the Calm Collector project.
• The Calm Collector project received $1.05 million in Highway Safety Improvement Program grant funding and is slated for construction in early 2028.
• Staff asked whether the council supports analyzing increased enforcement hours for existing school-zone cameras at locations with high rates of excessive speeding outside school hours; no new camera locations are proposed.
• About 75% of speed violations involve vehicles registered outside Bothell, which staff said suggests regional cut-through traffic rather than residents.
• No action was requested at the meeting; staff sought feedback only, with speed-limit reductions anticipated to return to council later this fall.

Why it matters

If the council backs the changes, drivers on 15th and 19th Avenues could see the posted limit drop to 30 mph with speed cushions added, and selected school-zone cameras could begin enforcing the posted limit outside school hours — meaning tickets for speeding near schools at times cameras currently do not cite. Staff said speed-limit reductions would return to council for a vote later this fall ¹.

What changed / what's next

• No change was adopted; the Sept. 8 item was a feedback-only study session on proposed speed limit cuts and expanded school-zone camera enforcement hours ¹.
• The supplied records do not establish how the council responded at the Sept. 8 meeting or whether the speed-limit reductions will proceed to a vote this fall as staff anticipated ¹.
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.