Safe Speeds Bellevue is a new program to improve safety and support Vision Zero by evaluating speed limits and reducing speeds on city streets.
Speed is the primary contributing factor to the likelihood and severity of a crash. Safe speeds are also an essential component of the Safe System approach. This approach was adopted by the council in 2020 and provides a framework for Bellevue to reach the adopted Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030. You can learn more about the Safe System approach on our Vision Zero webpage.
The initial phase of Safe Speeds Bellevue evaluated speed limits on all city streets that had a speed limit of 30 mph or more. This evaluation led to reducing speed limits on the majority of these streets as a practical and effective way to improve safety. Reducing speed limits is proven in Bellevue to effectively reduce high-end speeding and has significantly improved safety in other cities. Lower speeds decrease the likelihood of a crash occurring and the severity of a crash when it does occur. Setting safer speeds reduces the frequency of all crashes, not just speeding-related crashes.
Current status
In June 2026, Bellevue City Council approved revised speed limits for all streets that currently have a speed limit of 30 mph or more, reducing speed limits on 84 percent of these streets. City staff are now advancing the design and implementation of the new speed limits in a phased approach, based on available funding and capacity. The first phase of speed limit reductions is planned for early 2027.
Where are we reducing speed limits and why?
The initial phase of Safe Speeds Bellevue focused on city streets that had a speed limit of 30 mph or higher. Generally, these are the streets that take you to daily destinations, like jobs, grocery stores, healthcare, shopping areas, recreation areas, as well as connecting to the freeway system. These streets are a focus because although they are a minority of streets, they account for the majority of traffic crashes. In Bellevue, almost 90% of fatal and serious injury crashes happen on streets with speed limits of 30 mph or higher. However, these streets are only 25% of total road mileage.
In future phases, the city will implement physical changes citywide to encourage safe speeds by design. Staff will monitor speed and crash data citywide to help prioritize streets for improvements and track progress towards the Vision Zero goal.
Safe Speeds Bellevue will not be reviewing state highways or private roads.
Local street speed limits have already been reviewed. In 2024, Bellevue City Council passed an ordinance in 2024 changing the speed on most local streets from 25 to 20 mph, with implementation planned for 2026.
How to get involved
Online
- Explore the frequently asked questions below.
- Submit a question or comment using the virtual comment box below.
- Watch our presentations to council: May 20, 2025, January 27, 2026, June 2, 2026.
- Watch our video overview:
Timeline
Safe Speeds Bellevue is the next step in the city’s efforts to improve safety for everyone who uses our transportation network.
- 2027: Safe Speeds Bellevue will begin implementing lower speed limits. Speed limits will first be updated in Downtown Bellevue, Wilburton, Bel-Red and West Bellevue, which account for over half of the High Injury Network corridors citywide.
- 2026: City staff presented findings from the four evaluation corridors from 2025, public outreach and the proposed speed limit reductions. Bellevue City Council approved the proposed speed limits for all 30 mph and higher streets (see map). The new 20 mph local street will be fully implemented with new speed limit signs and pavement markings.
- 2025: Safe Speeds Bellevue launched at the City Council meeting on May 20. Following council direction, speed limits were reduced on four streets and staff evaluated the impacts. Staff also used Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant funding to conduct citywide speed studies.
- 2024: The council approved a new Vision Zero Safe Speeds Program capital budget that allocated $4.7 million for safe speeds work from 2025-2030 and passed an ordinance lowering the speed limit on most local streets to 20 mph.
- 2023: The USDOT awards the City of Bellevue $2.8 million through an SS4A grant, which includes funding to conduct citywide speed studies.
- 2021-2023: The Transportation Department created the Speed Management Plan.
- 2020: The council passed a resolution approving the Safe System approach and strategies to move Bellevue towards Vision Zero. The Vision Zero Strategic Plan was approved by the City Manager, which includes information and strategies for Safe Speeds.
- 2015: The council passed a resolution providing a framework to pursue Vision Zero.
In future phases of Safe Speeds Bellevue, the city anticipates implementing physical changes on streets to encourage safe speeds by design. Staff will also monitor speed and crash data citywide to track progress towards the 2030 Vision Zero goal and identify targeted street improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What streets were evaluated for lower speeds?
All streets in Bellevue that had a speed limit of 30 miles per hour and more in 2025 were evaluated by Safe Speeds Bellevue.
What did the city learn from community input?
Through public outreach, staff heard that there is interest in prioritizing speed management in areas where people are walking and biking, such as school zones and commercial areas, as well as corridors where people have been killed or seriously injured. The Community Engagement Reports provide more detail on the public outreach conducted in 2025 (Phase 1) and 2026 (Phase 2).
How were speed limits determined?
The proposed speed limits were determined by considering the context of each street, including the activity level and the potential for conflicts between road users. This approach is based on national best practices for speed limit setting. More information is available here.
Have other streets in Bellevue already had their speed limits lowered?
Three neighborhoods in Bellevue (Surrey Downs, East Bellevue Greenway, and parts of Eastgate around Tyee Middle School) had speed limits on local streets reduced from 25 to 20 mph. Each of these changes reduced high-end speeding. In 2024, The council passed an ordinance lowering the speed limit on most local streets from 25 to 20 mph, and signs are anticipated to be updated in 2026.
In 2025, the speed limit on 130th Avenue Northeast (Bel-Red Road to Northeast 24th Street) was reduced from 30 to 25 mph after council passed an ordinance in October. In 2026, the speed limit was reduced on most of Coal Creek Parkway from 40 to 35 mph. As part of Safe Speeds Bellevue, the speed limit on portions of 124th Avenue Southeast/Southeast 38th Street and Northup Way from Bellevue Way to 120th Avenue Northeast were reduced from 35 to 25 mph. The speed limit on Village Park Drive and a portion of Northeast 40th Street were reduced from 35 to 30 mph.
Do lower speed limits improve safety?
Yes. Lower speed limits have been shown to reduce the speed people drive, especially high-end speeding. In Bellevue, reducing local street speed limits in the Eastgate neighborhood from 25 mph to 20 mph led to a 19% decrease in people driving 30 mph or more. Driving at a lower speed reduces braking distance and increases the cone of vision for people driving, allowing drivers to see more of the street and travel a shorter distance when reacting to a change. Crashes at lower speed limits are less forceful and are less likely to result in a fatal or serious injury. Lower speed limits have resulted in fewer overall crashes and fatal and serious injury crashes in cities across the US. In Seattle, reduced speed limits and increased speed limit signage resulted in a 22% decrease in all crashes and an 18% decrease in injury crashes, as well as a 54% decrease in high-end speeding.
What if people don’t slow down after speed limits are lowered?
In Bellevue, Seattle and many other cities across the US, a reduction in the speed limit and increased speed limit signage alone reduced the speeds that people were driving. However, if people do not slow down after the speed limits are lowered, there are a variety of countermeasures the city can use to encourage driving at lower speeds. This includes changes to the street like narrowing lanes or adding speed cushions, as well as adding technology such as radar feedback signs or speed safety cameras. A toolbox of countermeasures is provided in the Speed Management Plan. The council approved a new Vision Zero Safe Speeds Program capital budget that allocated $4.7 million for safe speeds work from 2025-2030, which can be used to fund these countermeasures.
How are speed limits enforced?
Speed limits in Bellevue are enforced by the Bellevue Police Department. Speed limits are also enforced in some locations in Bellevue with automated photo enforcement. The Transportation Department is currently assessing existing policies on automated photo enforcement. You can request enforcement at a specific location through the Traffic Service Request form.
When will new speed limits go into effect?
The first phase of speed limit changes is planned for early 2027. Speed limits will first be updated in Downtown Bellevue, Wilburton, Bel-Red and West Bellevue, which account for over half of the High Injury Network corridors citywide.
Documents
- City Council (June 2, 2026): Agenda Memo, 2025 Vision Zero Progress Report, 2026 Vision Zero Action Plan, Speed limit setting methods, Map of proposed speed limits, Safe Speeds Bellevue Community Engagement Report, CIP Project Description (PW-R-219), Proposed amendments to Chapter 11.32 of the Bellevue City Code
- City Council (January 27, 2026): Agenda memo, Safe Speeds Bellevue Community Engagement Report, Draft Speed Limits Map, Draft Speed Limit Reductions Map, Speed Limit Setting Methods
- Community Engagement Report, Appendices
- Flyer (July 2025)
- Evaluation corridors speed limit reduction mailers (June 2025)
- 124th Avenue Southeast/Southeast 38th Street (English, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 한국어
- Northup Way from Bellevue Way to 120th Avenue Northeast (English, 简体中文, 繁體中文, 한국어, Español, Русский)
- Village Park Drive (English, 简体中文, 한국어, Español)
- Northeast 40th Street from 140th to 148th Avenues Northeast (English, 简体中文, 繁體中文, Español, Русский, తెలుగు)
- Map of existing speed limits
- City Council (May 20, 2025): Agenda Memo, Map of Four Evaluation Streets, Map of Bellevue Streets with a Current Speed Limit of 30 MPH or Higher, CIP Project Description (PW-R-219), Proposed amendments to Chapter 11.32 of the Bellevue City Code