Public Works and Natural Resources Committee, Bellingham City Council

**A. State Route 11 (Old Fairhaven Parkway) Speed Limit Evaluation** At its May 18, 2026 regular meeting, the City Council directed staff to draft a proposal to change where the speed limit transition occurs on Old Fairhaven Parkway — specifically, where the posted limit drops from 35 mph to 25 mph — and, if necessary, to work on a separate ordinance with WSDOT to codify the change. City staff submitted the proposal to WSDOT. WSDOT responded by conducting a full traffic engineering study. Because the proposed change would reduce the speed limit by more than 10 mph in the affected section, WSDOT's own policy required a full speed study. The study relied on 50th percentile speeds and time-mile pace speeds — metrics tied to observed driver behavior rather than contextual safety factors. WSDOT's conclusion: it supports reducing the speed limit from 35 to 30 mph along the broader corridor but does not support extending the 25 mph zone to the proposed transition point. The agency determined the data does not support a reduction of that magnitude at that location. Transportation Engineer Shane Sullivan explained the methodological gap clearly. WSDOT's framework treats the 85th/50th percentile operating speed as the primary determinant of a safe and appropriate speed limit, with pedestrian presence, transit access, and land use context serving as secondary modifiers. Bellingham's adopted speed limit policy inverts this logic: the city identifies a target speed based on the road's context — pedestrian activity, transit stops, school proximity, residential density — and then uses engineering treatments, public education, and enforcement to bring actual speeds into alignment with the target. Council Member Lilliquist, who had originally proposed the speed limit change, noted that by the city's own criteria, the affected section of Old Fairhaven Parkway — adjacent to a middle school, with visible pedestrian activity by school-age children — would qualify for a lower speed limit. He acknowledged WSDOT's authority on the state highway and expressed appreciation for staff's advocacy for the city's approach. Council Member Anderson raised the question of what circumstances might prompt WSDOT to reconsider — whether accident history or pedestrian incidents could be a catalyst. Sullivan responded that while context matters to WSDOT, data from observed operating speeds remains the primary trigger. The practical pathway forward, per Sullivan, would be capital engineering changes to the roadway that physically lower observed speeds; once a new traffic study documents lower operating speeds, WSDOT would be willing to reconsider the posted limit. Council President Stone asked whether the WSDOT traffic study had cost the city anything. Staff confirmed there was no cost to the city beyond staff time: WSDOT was already conducting traffic studies in the city during the summer and incorporated this evaluation into its existing data collection effort. The city and WSDOT have opened a longer-range conversation about what changes to Old Fairhaven Parkway could achieve the city's speed goals, but no spec…

**Council Member Michael Lilliquist (Chair)** Initiated both agenda items. On the speed limit: expressed support for the city's context-based approach to speed limit setting, acknowledged WSDOT's authority, and appreciated staff's advocacy with the state. On the mitigation bank: expressed enthusiasm about the milestone and asked substantive questions about the bank's longevity, credit volume, and geographic prioritization. **Council Member Lisa Anderson** On the speed limit: asked what circumstances — including accidents or pedestrian tragedies — might prompt WSDOT to reconsider its position. On the mitigation bank: expressed personal connection to the project, noting she was on the Planning Commission when the bank was first discussed; thanked staff warmly and expressed hope that future sites would open faster. **Council President Hannah Stone** On the speed limit: asked whether the city bore any cost for the WSDOT study (answer: no). On the mitigation bank: sought public clarification on whether credits could be prorated for partial purchases (confirmed yes); expressed excitement about the bank surviving multiple administrations. **Council Member Jace Cotton** Present; no specific statements attributed in transcript. **Tim Holman, Assistant Public Wo…

**Council Member Michael Lilliquist, on the philosophical disagreement between Bellingham and WSDOT on speed limit methodology:** "They're still looking at how fast cars are going and setting the speed limit that way. Whereas we as a city are looking how fast we want cars to go and you know kind of setting the speed limit at that and then trying to use those three E of engineering, education and enforcement to get cars to go that speed." **Council Member Michael Lilliquist, on the school safe…

**Before this meeting:** - The Bellingham Mitigation Bank existed as a years-long regulatory process without committee or council authorization to execute the founding instrument. - The city had submitted a speed limit proposal to WSDOT but had not yet received its formal determination. **After this meeting:** - The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee unanimously recommended that the full City Council authorize the mayor to execute the mitigation banking instrument — formally clearing the interagency agreement for Council action. - WSDOT's official position is now on record: it does not support extending the 25 mph zone on Old Fairhaven Parkway; it su…

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