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City plans 48‑hour counts on local streets to inform traffic‑calming policy
Summary
Staff presented a plan to the commission to run 48‑hour counts on a sample of local streets in May to gather data for possible local‑street volume standards and future traffic‑calming measures; the city identified 18 candidate streets and may expand to 20.
City planning and public‑works staff told the commission on May 13 they will collect 48‑hour traffic counts on a representative sample of local streets before the end of the school year to inform possible local‑street volume standards and traffic‑calming policies.
Why this matters: Oregon City currently performs counts on collectors and arterials but lacks systematic data for local streets. The study will provide baseline counts that staff and the commission can use when considering mitigation, exactions or a citywide traffic‑calming program.
Study scope and schedule: Staff said they identified 18 streets to represent a geographic and typological cross‑section of local streets and can expand the sample to 20. "The goal is to take 48‑hour counts of up to 20 local streets before the end of the school year. So May is our goal," a staff member said. Counts will be standard weekday 48‑hour tubes placed in two waves over two weeks.
Method and use: Staff said the counts will exclude collectors and minor arterials; the final report will list street names (including correct suffixes such as avenue, road, drive) and will allow staff to compare volumes across different local street designs. The report will provide empirical support for options laid out in a November memo that range from requiring mitigation at land‑use approval to budgeting for citywide traffic calming.
Cost and next steps: When Commissioner Adam Marl asked about fiscal impact, staff said the expense is small and primarily equipment and labor: "It's really just putting down tubes, for 48 hours ... We're gonna do it's a 2 week. Half are gonna go in week 1 and half are going and go in week 2," the staff member said. Staff will circulate the counting map and accept suggested streets from the commission; results are expected later this summer.
Context and enforcement limits: Commissioners and staff noted data alone does not answer design or enforcement questions; legal and legislative changes could affect what the city can require from developers. The November memo and legal review will guide later policy choices.
Ending: Staff said planning will support public‑works implementation of the counts and that the commission can expect a recommendations report later this summer.
