Traffic committee urges steps on speeding and school-zone safety; recommends 20 mph citywide to council

The Estacada Traffic and Public Safety Committee reported widespread speeding across town and brought several formal recommendations to the City Council, including a request that the council consider a 20 mph default speed limit citywide.

Jim Moriarty, speaking for the committee, told the council the committee identified 14 intersections near the city—s four schools for improved crosswalks, sidewalks and ADA ramps and conducted targeted speed studies. He said one 10-day study on Southeast Oak View Lane had been completed and a longer study on Hill Way showed a persistent pattern: "39 of [46] hours had a speeder," he said, summarizing the data. Moriarty told the council the raw Hill Way counts included 341 drivers recorded at least 10 mph over the limit and seven drivers doing 20 mph or more over the limit in the sampled periods.

The committee reported other work: PGE replaced several street lights near schools after the committee's reports, the committee logged 38 roadway issues in Uptown Estacada and recommended a neighborhood sign campaign called "Drive Safe" (yard signs) to raise awareness. The committee said Northeast Piers has been cleared for speed humps in early fall; status for Sweetwater (Faraday Hills) remains pending.

At its June meeting the committee said it voted to recommend to city council multiple measures: adopt a 20 mph speed limit for all of Estacada; require developers to install speed humps in new developments; install four-way stop signs at specific intersections in the Campanella neighborhood (Northwest Broadway Court at Northwest Liberty Lane and Northwest Broadway Court at Northeast Hill Way); purchase neighborhood signage (Scribe Safe); and send a letter of support for a GGM grant application for mixed-use development in the Riverside commercial area plan. Committee staff also reminded residents that the third annual National Night Out is scheduled for Aug. 5.

Council members praised the committee—s work but asked staff to return with more data and to explore enforcement options, grant funding for traffic-calming devices and a public outreach campaign. Moriarty said some recommendations could be implemented administratively (signs, yard signs) while others (citywide speed-limit changes) would require council action.

The committee—s motion-level recommendations were reported to council for consideration; where the committee approved a motion it was recorded as a committee vote and flagged as a recommendation to the City Council rather than a final council action.