Setting Speed Zones Oregon Transportation Safety Conference - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Setting Speed Zones

Oregon Transportation Safety Conference October 2019

How are speeds set in Oregon?

Some by state statute

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• 15 mph Alleys or Narrow residential roadways (less than 18’ wide)
• 20 mph Business district, school zones and on some residential roads.
• 25 mph Residential districts, public parks and ocean shores
• 55 mph Rural highways (and not posted elsewhere)
• 60 mph trucks on most interstates and some rural highways (65 mph on

some interstates and rural highways)

• 65 mph Passenger vehicles, light trucks on interstate highways (70 mph
• n some Interstates)

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Local road authorities can set speeds on low volume local roads Set Emergency and Temporary speed zones

How are Speeds set in Oregon?

Some by Local Agencies

15 MPH 20 MPH 25 MPH

Need Investigation to Determine

55 MPH 65 MPH 70 MPH Statutory Statutory

*Designated may be any speed or if roadway does not meet statutory requirements

How are Speeds set in Oregon?

Some by Designating Speeds (the alternative to Statutory)

Designated Speeds

Where statutory speeds don’t fit the road or the land uses When the statutory speed is greater than is safe or reasonable Requires Engineering Investigation of conditions

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Request

Investigation & Recommendation

State Traffic- Roadway Engineer Action

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Speed Zone Investigation

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Collected, compiled, analyzed:

Roadside character Traffic mix & volume Crash data Roadway measurements Travel Speeds

Concurrence on Local Jurisdiction's Roadways State Traffic Roadway Engineer Local Jurisdiction Concurs/or not

Option to take to SZRP SZRP Makes final decision Speed Zone Order

Does not concur Reconsider Concurs

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Speed Zone Review Panel Representatives from City, County, Safety, Enforcement and ODOT Hears disputed speed zone cases Makes final decision on speed zones

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Objective process Statewide consistency Minimize Speed Variance Local options Investigate “the middle”

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Travel Speed directly impacts mobility (time of travel) Travel Speed directly impacts Safety

New methodology - Our task is to set Reasonable and Safe Speeds

Speed setting practices are

• ften political

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Mobility was the highest value, increasing travel speeds to get there faster Roads were built to move motor vehicles more quickly

Where were we in the past?

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Local road authorities are desiring to slow speeds to meet community values We have many other users besides motor vehicles now

Where are we going in the future?

Set Context based on Land Use

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Set Speeds for Context and Function

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Proposed Target Posted Speeds

Context > Urban Core/CBD Urban Mix Suburban Commercial and Residential Suburban Fringe Roadway Class Arterial 20‐25 Low 25‐30 Med Low 30‐35 Med High 35‐45 High Collector 20‐25 Low 25‐30 Med Low 25‐35 Med 30‐40 Med High Local 20‐25 Low 20‐25 Low 25‐35 Med 25‐35 Med An alternative speed using 50th percentile can be used if:

• 50th percentile speed is more than 5

mph greater than range

• Context is inconsistent
• Limited Access Facility

Speed can vary 10 mph below 50th if:

• Average Crash rate exceeds 1.5

times average for functional class

• More than one F&A in 3 yrs
• Meets definition of residence

district

Proposed Target Posted Speeds

Context > Roadway Rural Highways Rural Communities State Highways

• r Non‐state

Arterials 85th percentile +/‐5 mph 50th percentile +/‐5 mph Non‐State collectors or locals 50th percentile +/‐5 mph 50th percentile +/‐5 mph Rural Communities (unincorporated communities) - within 10 mph of 50th percentile speed:

• Urban character
• Meets Business or Residence District
• DLCD Unincorporated Community

State Highways or Arterial; and Non-arterial County Road. +/-10 mph if:

• crash rate 1.5 times statewide
• more than one F&A class
• limited sight distance crashes

Why is considering other methods important?

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• Reduce Crashes (a small reduction in travel speed

results in a reduction of severe crashes)

• Improve Comfort and Consideration of Active Modes
• Increase Community Livability
• Transitioning to a more context based method

Thank you!

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Active Trans Options Reasonable and Safe All Users Compliance Safety