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Council hears Cedar Street pathway progress; staff to seek ODOT speed-study to lower limit
Summary
Staff reported progress on the Cedar Street multiuse pathway construction and said the city must apply to ODOT to change speeds; councilors discussed requests to lower a 35 mph section to 25 mph to reflect new pedestrian activity.
City staff updated the Council on Aug. 26 about construction progress and a request to change speed limits on Cedar Street where a new multiuse pathway is under construction. Staff said the portion of Cedar Street about 150 feet north of H Street to Hughes Lane is currently 35 mph and the portion to Campbell Street is 25 mph; the city would need to submit an application to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to request a speed study and a permanent change.
Public Works staff said the contractor has completed pulverization of the roadway surface on the phase between Campbell Street and H Street and has started excavation for the widening and pathway. Staff recommended formally applying to ODOT for a speed study because local governments must follow ODOT’s required traffic-study process for setting posted limits in areas where ODOT controls the traffic engineering function.
Councilors discussed increased pedestrian traffic expected once the multiuse pathway is open and asked about temporary measures such as speed trailers and enforcement; staff said the police department deploys speed trailers periodically and that an ODOT application is required for a formal posted change. A staff handout included an excerpt from a 2012 study noting a prior speed change on Cedar Street.
Staff also offered to coordinate meetings and advertise a planned ODOT town-hall meeting on the proposed lane configuration (reduction to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane) and to work with an ODOT traffic engineer on public outreach. No formal council action was taken at the meeting to submit the ODOT application; staff requested council awareness and asked if any councilor objected to pursuing the study.
