Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Whitman County Public Works Department has completed a speed report on two roads in Palouse at the request of the town.
Looking at all safety hazards on the Palouse River Road and completing an engineer’s report on whether to reduce the speed limit, the county engineer recommended a 35-mph speed limit on the gravel roads which run along the river on both sides from Palouse east toward the state line.
Both roads are now posted at 50 mph.
Public Works Director Mark Storey reported to the county commissioners Monday that on the south road, the concern is more of a geometry issue regarding curves.
“The engineering science requires 35,” said Storey.
The study came about at the request of the city of Palouse, which is considering a possible ordinance to allow ATVs on the roads, which continue into Idaho where ATVs are more permitted.
“The speed limit is the first step of that,” Storey said.
The county commissioners will now read the report and are set to discuss the matter at their regular hearing June 15.
A change in a speed limit does not required a formal hearing.
“Those roads were never engineered,” said Storey. “They were not designed, just built. Now we’re looking at the geometry of how they fit into today’s standards.”
Factors studied to reach the determination include the geometry of the road, accident history, location, large fixed objects along right of way such as trees, drop-offs, presence of guardrails, width and visibility on vertical curves.
Traffic was also assessed by a sheriff’s deputy.
Accident history on the two roads include four incidents, one of which was a DUI collision with a fixed object, another a DUI overturned vehicle. One was an excessive speed collision and another was a collision with an animal.
None of the reported accidents on either road resulted in fatalities.
Public Works received the request to study the roads last summer and began the work in the fall.
Palouse Police Chief Jerry Neumann led the request, as part of an effort to possibly allow ATVs, with stipulations, to use the roads as they connects to Idaho. State law requires any legal ATV use on roads with speed limit of 35 mph or less.
A related matter is the question of whether to allow ATV or other four-wheeler use in downtown Palouse.
“I think there’s a reason to allow and make sure a legal way to use them in town, especially for work purposes,” said Palouse mayor Michael Echanove. “Whether from outside, I don’t know.”
Allowing ATVs on the Palouse River Road(s) would ultimately need to be adopted by the city council as an ordinance.
The two Palouse roads continue into Idaho toward Potlatch where ATV use on the road is permitted.
“We’re trying to look for a corridor, or at least a route,” said Neumann. “A link to Palouse.”
Neumann began working on a proposed ordinance last summer, to form a new policy to allow ATVs on city streets with certain restrictions.
The chief has also spoken about the proposal to the Garfield city council.
Neumann said the notion for an ATV ordinance had its origin with the Revised Code of Washington, which allows for towns to make their own ordinances on matters such as ATVs.
The requirements for the chief’s inside-city limits proposal include that riders need to be at least 16, with a driver’s license. All drivers must wear a helmet, except for in golf carts.
Neumann modeled the proposal after a similar one that took effect in the 2000s in Okanogan County. Idaho has more open ATV rules as well, particularly across the border from Palouse in the Potlatch area.
Under state law, all county road speed limits are set at 50 mph, unless specifically studied and made applicable.
Speed limits on Whitman County roads are sometimes changed after requests from residents or others to study the matter. In the mid 2000s, for example, Endicott Road was changed from 50 to 55 after the last phase of a construction project. Palouse Cove Road was also changed from 50 to 55 after construction. On another request, O’Donnell Road near Pullman was studied 10 years ago and it was determined the speed limit should stay where it was.
Five years ago Brayton Road by Pullman was reduced from 50 to 35.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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