Lower speed limits are coming soon to Pacific Highway South, aka Highway 99, in Kent and a couple of other streets on the East Hill in an effort to make the roads safer.

Speed limits will be reduced from 45 mph to 40 mph along Pacific Highway South between Kent Des Moines Road and South 272nd Street.

City staff already had looked at reducing speed between South 240th Street and Kent Des Moines Road due to light rail eventually opening (2025 at the earliest) in that area. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) must sign off on speed limit changes as well since it is a state highway. State officials suggested extending the reduced speed area.

“Their study and our study agreed it’s a good idea,” said Erik Preston, city traffic engineer, in a Feb. 6 report to the City Council’s Public Works Committee. “There’s a complex nature of roads and driveways. There will be an additional signal at South 236th Street (part of light rail parking garage project) and more people and cars will be crossing the street. Those are all good reasons to lower the speed.”

WSDOT also has worked with the cities of SeaTac, Des Moines and Federal Way to lower the speed limit along Highway 99 to 40 mph.

Rob Brown, city of Kent transportation engineering manager, said he didn’t know when the signs with the lower speed might go up in Kent, depending on when WSDOT approves the change.

“Pacific Highway South is also State Route 99, so the process to change the speed limit involves both the city and the state traffic engineer,” Brown said in a Feb. 18 email. “After the city approves the change, we ask for concurrence from the Washington State Department of Transportation. WSDOT reviews the proposed change and notifies the city of its decision. If the change is approved, the signs are changed, and the new speed limit can be enforced.”

The City Council approved the change Feb. 21 for lower speeds on Pacific Highway South and two other streets:

• SE 260th Street (which becomes 108th Avenue SE) between 97th Place South and Kent Kangley Road, aka State Route 516. Reduce from 35 to 30 mph. City staff noted a lot of housing and commercial activity in the area, including Home Depot.

• SE 264th Street between 104th Avenue SE and 108th Avenue SE. Reduce from 35 to 25 mph. City staff noted commercial activity, including Target, and a lot of residential activity and development in the area.

City staff will install flags on the new signs to alert drivers to the change in speed limits.