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Transportation

Contact Info
The Transportation Department is staffed by three employees. If you are unsure with whom you need to speak to, call 870-6522 and you will be directed to the right person.

Six Year Transportation Improvement Program: 2008-2013

Streetlights
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is responsible for maintaining all streetlights in the City of Des Moines. Streetlight outages can be reported to PSE by calling 1-877-229-1235 -or- via their website at intolight.com. You will need to provide a GRID number when reporting an outage (two easily identifiable six digit numbers found on the pole itself).

For information on requesting a streetlight installation contact Ken Thomas at (206) 870-6585.

Children at Play / Deaf Child Signs
The City of Des Moines will not install CHILDREN AT PLAY or DEAF CHILD signs on public streets. Installation of these signs implies that they provide some added measure of safety – which they do not. These signs have not been shown to increase driver awareness and are not recognized as highway signs by the Federal Highway Administration. The City of Des Moines encourages children not to play on public streets.

Speed Bumps / Traffic Calming
The City of Des Moines has a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP). Typically, each year enough money is budgeted to do one or two traffic calming / safety projects depending on their complexity. To initiate the process, download the application here.

Speed Limits
First and foremost speed limits are set based on:

• roadway geometry,
• sight distance,
• roadway use factors,
• and speed limit consistency. 

If these factors are not limiting, the 85th percentile speed is used to set the speed limit. The 85th percentile speed is the speed at which 85% of vehicles are traveling at or under. It is generally accepted that this speed is considered reasonable for the roadway unless superseded by the factors listed above.

Lowering the posted speed limit does not significantly lower traffic speed, and can lead to unreasonable ticketing for acceptable driving behavior.

Crosswalks
The City of Des Moines will not install mid-block crosswalks unless very stringent criteria are met. Studies show that installation of mid-block crosswalks is no safer, if not less safe, than having no crosswalk at all.

Stop Sign Installation
Stop signs are not to be used as “traffic calming devices”. Stop signs serve a critical function and their placement should not be arbitrary. Misplaced signs tend to lower compliance, which can be dangerous.

Private Roads
The city of Des Moines is not responsible for the maintenance of private roads. However, installation of traffic control signs or objects that limit access on such roads must be approved by the Transportation Department.

Fences / Vegetation / Sight Obstructions
All fences, vegetation, or other objects that can cause sight distance issues must be approved prior to construction / planting. If you are in doubt please call Community Development at (206) 870-7576.

Pavement Preservation Program
If you have any questions or comments about our pavement preservation program, please call Scott Romano in Public Works at (206) 870-6539.  view brochure

Current Projects >>