Marina Blatt reports from the Oak Harbor City Council workshop of Tue., Nov. 25, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity.ai
Oak Harbor and state transportation officials are reassessing speed limits along Highway 20 in response to changing traffic patterns, collisions and citizen concerns. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) proposes lowering speeds on the south end from 40 to 30 mph between Barlow Street and Swantown Avenue, then to 35 mph heading south, to create a smoother transition from higher-speed rural sections. On the north end, the city is asking WSDOT to reconsider earlier plans to reduce speeds only to 45 mph near the new West Fakkema Road roundabout, suggesting 40 mph may be safer. Updated studies will guide final decisions and be consolidated into a 2026 ordinance, with a grace period and public messaging before enforcement.
They Said It
Based on recent rear-end collisions linked to drivers slowing suddenly at [the new West Fakkema Road] roundabout, Councilmember Jim Woessner reiterated that a 40 mph limit may reflect a better speed limit protocol approaching the roundabout than the proposed 45 mph.
“We drive that every single day,” he said. “When you change speed limits three times in a matter of a mile, a mile and a half, it gets a little confusing, and it gets hard to enforce.”
