Weekly Report – August 6, 2021

Speed Control in Your City

The City of Normandy Park is committed to providing first-class service to its residents, and one area of concern that we hear about regularly is speeding. The City takes this topic seriously, and we work diligently to control the speed of all vehicles traveling on our streets. Having an effective traffic control program is a great way to ensure the safety of you and your family. How do we work to limit speeding?

Of course, the first step, and most traditional, is good old-fashioned traffic enforcement on our local streets by our outstanding police officers. While this is effective, we can’t be everywhere at all times, so we also rely on our electronic speed signs. These signs are valuable traffic calming tools that keep the roads safe. Studies have shown that providing most drivers with this instant feedback encourages positive driving behavior. Because of their effectiveness, the City has four electronic speed signs throughout the City. Two are permanently mounted, and two can be moved to various locations as needed. In addition, the department also has a speed trailer that can be placed in an area. Another benefit of these signs is that they collect traffic data that we regularly review. Here is a summary of the most recent results:

Location & Average Speed

• 16800 block Sylvester Road SW – Average Speed was 30.2 MPH
• 20100 block of Marine View Drive SW – Average Speed was 25.8 MPH
• 300 block of SW 208th Street – Average Speed was 25.5 MPH
• 200 block SW 192nd Street – Average Speed was 24.8 MPH
• 300 block SW Normandy Road – Radar USB malfunctioned so no results.

All streets listed above have a posted speed limit of 25 MPH. The exception is the section of Sylvester Road which has a posted speed of 30 MPH. Based on this information, we can report that most Normandy Park drivers obey the speed limits. In fact, the electronic speed signs data shows that 85% of the drivers are within 5 MPH of the speed limit, which is one matrix used by the Federal Highway Administration for evaluating traffic.

While we know most residents are obeying the speed limit, we do have speeders. To provide that first-class service to our residents, we are developing a new program to improve our traffic enforcement efforts. In 2022, the City will add a motorcycle unit to assist with enforcing speed limits throughout the City. We are very excited about this improvement, and more information will be presented to the public about this new program in the upcoming City Scene magazine.

Please remember to drive at or below the posted speed limits on our local streets. By obeying the speed limit, you are not only keeping yourself safe but your fellow residents as well. Add that extra minute to your travel time, be a good neighbor, and arrive at your destination safely.

Forest Bathing at Nature Trails Park

Join us on Monday, August 9th, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm for a meditative walk in the woods with Michael Stein-Ross of Cascadia Forest Therapy as we slow down and listen to nature. RSVP Required. Please email jmedrow@normandyparkwa.gov to reserve your spot.

Did you Know?

The City Council is committed to an open and transparent government, which includes the delivery of information. The City’s website has a wide array of information for residents to review. Here are two helpful online sites that provide some great information:

1. Normandy Park Municipal Code – Do you want to know what the rules are? Here is the best place to start. Click on this link to review the City’s Code. If you are looking for something specific, I recommend using the search box feature in the top right corner of the page.
2. City’s Document Library – A great feature of the City’s website is a document library with various helpful documents. Click here to visit the document library.

Shakespeare in the Park 2021 is here!

The City of Normandy Park and the Burien Arts Association are pleased to present another evening of Shakespeare plays this summer in collaboration with GreenStage. Join us, Saturday, August 7th at 7:00 pm for a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Marvista Park. The event is free to the public, and you can visit GreenStage Shakespeare in the Park for more information. Thanks to the Normandy Park Arts Commission and the Washington State Arts Commission for their support.

Thank you for your support of the recent Blood Drive

Our most recent blood drive was a huge success! Bloodworks Northwest collected 101 units of blood and saw nine first-time donors. What a great turnout by the community. We will be hosting again at Normandy Park City Hall on October 11^th and 12^th. Please click this link to make your appointment today!

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me at aarrington@normandyparkwa.gov. Have a great week!

“new program to improve our traffic enforcement efforts”