Puyallup is launching a new traffic-calming pilot programme that begins by tracking driver speeds in secret before the radar signs ever display a number, a two-phase approach city officials say will help determine whether driver awareness alone is enough to slow people down.
Under the programme, city crews will deploy mobile radar speed signs at nine locations with a history of speeding complaints, including 18th Street NW, 14th Street SW, 11th Street NW, 7th Avenue SW, and 5th Street NE. Each deployment runs for two weeks. During the first week, the devices operate in what officials call stealth mode, appearing turned off to drivers while quietly recording vehicle speeds and traffic volumes to establish baseline conditions. In the second week, the same signs switch to display mode, showing drivers their actual speed in real time so traffic engineers can compare behaviour before and after motorists become aware they are being monitored.
The approach represents a shift in how Puyallup addresses neighbourhood traffic concerns. Rather than relying exclusively on residents to request traffic-calming measures through petitions and applications, city staff will proactively identify problem corridors, collect data, and then work directly with neighbourhoods on potential solutions. The traditional application process for traffic-calming requests will remain available alongside the new proactive approach.
Traffic-related concerns remain among the most frequently raised issues by Puyallup residents. The city logged roughly 1,600 traffic complaints in both 2024 and 2025, while traffic stops rose from 9,031 in 2024 to 11,069 in 2025.
Once data collection concludes at all nine sites, traffic engineers will evaluate whether additional measures are warranted based on factors including vehicle speeds, average daily traffic volumes, and pedestrian activity. If improvements are recommended, the city will conduct targeted outreach to nearby residents before presenting proposed solutions, which could include speed humps, permanent radar speed displays, or roadway striping designed to visually narrow streets and encourage slower driving. If speeding problems are confirmed, the city could also pursue additional enforcement in coordination with the Puyallup Police Department.
The radar signs are expected to be deployed within the next few weeks, with findings from the nine study sites presented to the Puyallup City Council for review in approximately five to six months.
