Excessive traffic speed on Capitol Way is one of the top issues for residents of the South Capitol Neighborhood. Local residents and members of the neighborhood association board of directors recently stepped up to tackle this problem. Gerry Apple and Treacy Duerfeldt both live on Capitol Way near the intersection with 18th Ave. They and many other residents have seen cars go by much too fast, especially since the pandemic. Gerry and Treacy organized a meeting with the Olympia Police Department in June which led to several steps taken to reduce speeds.
First, the City installed an automated speed monitor that is now on the south-bound side of Capitol Way South. You have probably driven by this and noticed your speed as you pass 18th Ave. The City also installed a traffic monitoring system across both directions of Capitol Way. This consists of 2 rubber tubes attached to the road surface. It counts the number of vehicles and their speed. The information collected will be used to determine if other traffic calming steps need to be taken.
Finally, the City trained Gerry and Treacy on how to record the speed of vehicles travelling over the speed limit and have them documented for warnings. They will record the license plate number of the vehicles they observe, the speed recorded and send this to the Police Department. The Department will then send a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle warning them of the fine they might have had if ticketed.
The South Capitol Neighborhood Association will work with the Police Department and the City to collect all of this data and make it available to everyone interested. The goal is to make the area safer for residents and visitors alike. Treacy’s insurance background will lend a different perspective to the data than what is typically interpreted. Instead of using a “mean average” method where outlying data is ignored, a focus on misbehaviour in terms of frequency and severity will be made. With this interpreted report, Olympia City Council and the Police will have solid motivation to make adjustments that should result in slower speeds.
Gerry Apple and Treacy Duerfeldt near the automated speed monitor on Capitol Way South
South Capitol Neighborhood Association 
Thank you Gerry and Treacy! Speeders and loud exhausts are also bad on Maple Park Ave SE.
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I very much appreciate this. I cross South Capital almost every day at the 24th Ave. crosswalk. It can be scary. Southbound speed is bad but so is Northbound as drivers barrel around the corner and step on the gas with only a few blocks to slow down for crossing pedestrians.
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Good work and thank you two! Following up on Hal’s comment, how will NORTHBOUND traffic be reviewed?
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Good move Tracey.
I’m sure you have all noticed the guard rails located right where Capitol Way becomes Capitol Blvd are all banged up. People take that curve both ways at excessive speed. Sometimes they end up in Oscar Soule’s yard or even his living room. We need a device on this end of Capitol way too.
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Thank you Gerry and Treacy for this important work!
Agree with Southbound traffic concerns, we live right at the Capitol guardrail and catch vehicles going at least 40-50+MPH on our home surveillance camera facing Capitol. Have already raised concerns with the City of Olympia, OPD and TCSO.
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