Kent city leaders lower speed limits to make travel safer

Slow down! That’s the message Kent city leaders are sending to drivers.

Speed limits will drop along several major Kent streets next year, including stretches of West Valley Highway, Kent-Kangley Road, Central Avenue South and Military Road South, in an effort to make travel safer.

The City Council’s Committee of the Whole unanimously approved the changes recommended by staff at its Nov. 18 meeting. That puts the measure on the Dec. 9 regular council meeting for approval as part of its consent agenda, when items passed unanimously at the committee level are adopted.

There’s changes to 19 segments across the city, including state routes, streets in the Valley and on the West Hill and East Hill.

“Specifically, maximum safe speed limits were updated in several locations after a recent eng