Philomath police committee to deploy radar sign, collect speed and volume data on North Ninth Street

The Philomath Police Committee voted to collect additional traffic data on North Ninth Street after residents described near-misses on a blind hill and concerns about wildlife and bicyclists. Police staff said they will deploy a radar speed sign within a week and gather per-vehicle speed and volume records for roughly 7–14 days, then return to the committee with results.

The traffic item matters because the stretch at the crest of the hill is partially outside Philomath city limits, uses different speed limits in places, and includes a privately owned parcel described in staff materials as an “island” that attracts wildlife and limits municipal enforcement. Without updated data on speeds, volumes and times of day, police staff said they could not reliably recommend permanent changes such as new signs, pavement markings…