10.12.125 Speed limit in school zones.
A. Notwithstanding the speed limit that would otherwise apply on a city street, road or other right-of-way, the speed limit in posted school zones is 20 miles per hour when children are present. Signage shall be installed at appropriate locations, as determined by the city engineer or designee stating “School Zone – 20 mph when children are present, per ACC 10.12.125” or words to that effect. For the purposes hereof, “when children are present” means:
1. Children are occupying or walking within a marked or unmarked crosswalk, as defined by RCW 47.04.010 or successor statute, in a posted school zone;
2. Children are occupying or waiting at the curb or on the shoulder of the roadway in a posted school zone and are about to cross the roadway by way of the marked or unmarked crosswalk; or
3. Children are present on or walking along the roadway, either on the adjacent sidewalk or, in the absence of sidewalks, on the shoulder within the posted school speed limit zone which extends up to 300 feet in either direction from a marked school crosswalk.
B. Notwithstanding the speed limit that would otherwise apply on a city street, road or other right-of-way, the speed limit in posted school zones is 20 miles per hour when lights have been installed in conjunction with any school zone sign and such lights are flashing. Flashing lights shall be installed at appropriate locations, as determined by the city engineer or designee stating “School Zone – 20 mph when lights flashing, per ACC 10.12.125” or words to that effect in conformance with the following requirements:
1. The flashing lights shall be located within 300 feet in either direction from school boundaries as defined by WAC 468-95-330 except the flashing lights may be located more than 300 feet from said school boundaries if the city engineer deems appropriate based on a traffic engineering assessment.
2. In order to enhance public safety around schools, the city engineer shall periodically coordinate with the school principles and/or representatives of the school district to evaluate the appropriate times when flashing lights adjacent to various schools should be flashing.
C. The city engineer or designee may utilize the combined signage and flashing light provisions of subsections A and B of this section where deemed appropriate. (Ord. 6346 § 1, 2011; Ord. 6210 § 1, 2008; Ord. 6073 § 4, 2007; Ord. 5915 § 1, 2005.)