School Zone Traffic Cameras Resume Enforcement with Start of School

Published on August 28, 2024

Media Contact:
David Wolbrecht
Communications Program Manager
dwolbrecht@kirklandwa.gov
(425) 587-3021

KIRKLAND, Wash. – With the start of the new school year upon us, the City of Kirkland reminds residents and commuters that automated traffic cameras will resume protecting school children from excessive driving speeds along the Finn Hill combined school zone on 84^th Avenue Northeast. Beginning on September 3, the cameras will use images to enforce a 20 mile-per-hour school zone speed limit along Carl Sandburg and Henry David Thoreau elementary schools, Discovery Community School, Finn Hill Middle School and the Environmental and Adventure School.

The 20-mile-per-hour speed-limit is active when the beacons are flashing on the school speed zone signs.

The City added these schools—as well as Lakeview Elementary School— in September 2023 to its camera-enforced speed zone program after traffic studies showed the pilot program had successfully reduced speeds along the corridors of three other schools. Those schools are Kamiakin Middle School and Rose Hill and John Muir elementary schools.  All schools in the program are adjacent to streets where observed traffic speeds and volumes were high.

The City dedicates revenue from the speed enforcement program to projects and programs that improve safety for walking and bicycling, such as the Neighborhood Safety Program.

More information about school zone speed enforcement can be found on the City’s website.

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