The County Engineer is directed to mark school zone speed limits as established by RCW 46.61.440 and as established below.

The County Engineer is authorized to evaluate County roadways within a designated school zone and, when deemed appropriate by a traffic engineering review, may establish by written authorization with a 14-day notification to the Council prior to implementation, a school speed zone along a County roadway. This authority does not preclude the Council from establishing other school speed zones that it may deem appropriate or otherwise altering or revoking any such zones which may have been established by the County Engineer.

Active warning devices (such as flashing lights) are encouraged to be installed at all new school speed zone locations on County arterial roadways. It is the responsibility of the school district to provide, install, and maintain the active warning devices and signs per County standards and requirements, and to obtain written approval from the County Engineer for all such installations that are within the County right of way. The devices may only be in operation for the periods when children are in the process of transiting to/from school, generally not to exceed 45 minutes in duration for each activation, or as otherwise approved by the County Engineer. The County Engineer may periodically coordinate with the school district to ensure the warning devices are properly maintained and operated. School speed zones may be revoked by the County Engineer if any of these requirements are not satisfied or maintained.

The speed limit in a posted school speed zone is 20 miles per hour when school speed zone flashing warning lights are in operation or when other designated signing shall indicate (such as “When Children are Present”), as defined by WAC 468-95-330 and 468-95-335.