Speed concerns in Freeman

Sitting at the intersection of state Highway 27 and Jackson Road in the south Spokane County community of Freeman is a roadblock of sorts.

There, opposing forces have built arguments why – and why not – the highway speed limit should – or should not – be lowered.

A committee called 55/40 or Fight is working to persuade the Washington state Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit on Highway 27 from 55 to 40 mph through Freeman.

Citizens are circulating petitions in an attempt to prevent what they think is the otherwise inevitable terrible accident.

But the Department of Transportation says there is not enough evidence to grant the request. “It’s a little more complicated than ‘there’s a school here – you should lower the speed limit all the time,’ ” said Al Gilson, department spokesman in Spokane.

In a news release, proponents contend the speed reduction “would dramatically improve safety for school.”

They point to what they say are similar scenarios at both Riverside and Lakeside high schools in north Spokane County.

However, the department says those comparisons are not valid.

According to Gilson, U.S. Highway 2 at Riverside High School also has extensive commercial development along the road and a significant number of residents who access the route. There’s a traffic signal and a center turn lane. The reduced speed was set only after the light was installed, Gilson said.

Lakeside High School also has substantial residential and commercial development nearby that led to the lowered speed.

“It’s apples and oranges,” Gilson said. “There is a lot more activity at those two locations” compared with Freeman.

At Selkirk High School south of Ione on state Highway 31, Gilson said, “I believe it’s still 55 (mph).”

The Freeman speed issue has been on the table since 2004. The Department of Transportation has denied a speed-limit reduction, saying, “The data do not support your request since the number of fatalities at this intersection is low.”

But the committee is prepared to fight for what it believes would be a lifesaving traffic safety measure.

Sergio Hernandez, superintendent of the Freeman School District, is concerned. “We’re fortunate that we haven’t had anyone seriously injured there from our student body.

“Unfortunately, a 17-year-old driver doesn’t always exert the same kind of caution as we do,” Hernandez said. “We’re concerned about safety and trying to be proactive. That’s our message.”

“Maybe there needs to be some education on the part of the school and its young drivers,” Gilson said. “Maybe the resource officer could help them judge gaps in traffic.”

“When you visit with (transportation officials), they say the data does not support it, and when you ask what the data is, it is the number of serious accidents or deaths,” Hernandez said.

Indeed, that is the case, Gilson said. “Look at (Highway) 27 in Freeman. All you have is the school and the store. Since 1999, there have been three collisions at Jackson Road.”

Those figures “don’t make our list of high-accident locations,” he said.

Dozens of cars and buses line up at Highway 27 and Jackson Road each afternoon when the closely grouped schools at Freeman release students. “In our opinion, it’s a very unsafe intersection,” Hernandez said.

Gilson said the relatively short period of high traffic does not necessitate a 24/7, 365-days-a-year lowered speed.

One of the petition organizers, parent Vicki Sellers, admits “they (transportation officials) have their criteria they have to work with, and I understand that.” But, she added, “We have to go beyond them.”

Former Freeman school board member Dave Koch said the road once had an advisory speed limit of 45 mph.

“Three superintendents ago, Harry Amend was able to get a speed reduction in there to 45,” Koch said. The state later removed the signs, saying they did not have an impact.

But “signs did have an impact because you go either side of Freeman and the traffic is moving 60 to 65,” Koch said.

Studies do show that motorists drop their speed about 5 mph when traveling through Freeman. “The average speed is 57 mph,” Gilson said.

“They are slowing down, so I don’t accept the state’s attitude,” Koch said. “No. 2, I don’t accept the concept of waiting until tragedy has happened. It’s a little frustrating.”

Highway 27, Gilson said, meets the criteria for sight distance; it meets the design speed, and congestion is only minimal.

Sight distance for Highway 27 in Freeman is “roughly about 1,000 feet,” Gilson said. “A fifth of a mile, which should be enough distance for you to make a decision.” The criterion is 990 feet for a 60 mph highway.

A group will study safety in the Highway 27 corridor between Trent Avenue and Rockford, Gilson said. However, even if the Freeman speed limit makes the “to-do” list, whether it happens is dependent on money.

The issue presents a traditional slippery slope for the Department of Transportation.

“Do we lower the speed limit at 27 and Palouse Highway?” Gilson asked. “Do we lower the speed limit at 27 and Elder? Do we lower the speed limit on 27 where it meets Rockford? Where do you stop?”