Oregon City to pilot 20 mph family‑friendly streets in Kinema neighborhood

City transportation and planning staff presented a proposal Feb. 12 to pilot 20‑mile‑per‑hour speed limits on selected family‑friendly streets in the Kinema neighborhood.

John Lewis introduced the item and Dana Webb led the presentation, saying the pilot responds to a formal request from the Kinema Neighborhood Association and meets criteria established by state law. Webb described the main eligibility criteria: location in a residential district, daily volumes under about 2,000 vehicles and 85th‑percentile speeds below 30 mph, plus required traffic‑control devices to identify pedestrian and bicycle presence. Webb said the pilot would use a “family friendly” plaque below the speed sign and pavement markings sized to the local street cross section.

The Kinema request ties to the McLoughlin–Kinema Trail project; Webb told the commission the pilot would complement recent trail and pavement work and the permanent closure of a through route near the trailhead. If the commission supports the pilot, staff would confirm neighborhood association support in April, conduct resident outreach, return with an ordinance in summer to set the 20 mph speed limit, and then install signage and pavement markings. Staff would follow up about six months after installation to collect feedback and report back to the commission.

Commissioners expressed broad support but asked how the pilot’s effectiveness would be measured and whether enforcement presence could skew results. Commissioner Rocky Smith said he favored neighborhood‑requested pilots over a citywide mandate and stressed that markings plus calming measures matter, not the posted number alone. Commissioner Rachel Lyle Smith asked about outreach methods; staff said notices would be distributed by the neighborhood association mailer and direct outreach from planning staff. Commissioner Frank O’Donnell asked staff to ensure baseline speed and volume data and to track enforcement levels, since enforcement presence affects observed speeds.

Neighbor Ron Bison told the commission the neighborhood’s primary concern is safety, especially with more people using the nearby park and trail: “I think the biggest thing the neighborhood is concerned about is safety,” he said.

Staff said posted signs, pavement markings, and modest traffic‑calming elements (and, where requested, stop signs) would be used and that automated counters could capture speed and volume data before and after installation to measure change. The commission did not take formal action at the work session; staff proposed returning with an ordinance if neighborhood outreach confirms support.