Keizer committee: lowering residential speed limits would require extensive sign work; staff to prepare analysis

The Keizer Traffic Safety Bikeways Pedestrian Committee on Sept. 18 discussed a staff review of potential changes to residential speed limits and was told the project would require more signage, labor and expense than some members expected.

Committee members were asked to consider the operational implications of changing speed zones citywide. Staff and legal advisers have noted that changing a speed limit requires clear signage at points where drivers enter a different speed zone, not only signs along the streets that currently show the slower or faster limit. That requirement would increase the number of signs and labor to install them across neighborhoods.

Public Works staff described current workload and staffing constraints. "I have one street guy, and he's my one street maintenance guy, and he's tasked to do sign work around town," a Public Works representative said, describing the effect on ongoing maintenance and emergency sign replacements.

Staff and committee members recommended a focused work session or joint session with Council to explore scope, cost and implementation sequencing. Public Works will prepare a man-hour and cost estimate explaining the number of signs that would need replacement, where additional signs are required to mark transitions, and potential effects on other maintenance priorities.

Committee members also discussed alternatives such as movable radar feedback signs and targeted speed-reduction measures at specific problem streets rather than a blanket citywide re-signing project. The committee asked staff to prepare a report and recommended scheduling a work session to review options in detail before drafting a specific budget request to the budget committee.