Agenda Packet 3-11-20 Work Session

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March 11, 2020, Work Session – Item 2 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Speed Limits on Residential Streets Meeting Date: March 11, 2020 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Chris Henry www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-8472 ISSUE STATEMENT The Eugene City Council will be briefed on options to adopt an ordinance to designate lower speed limits on residential streets. BACKGROUND Senate Bill 558 passed in the 2019 legislative session, allowing cities to designate speeds on non-arterial residential streets five miles per hour lower than the statutory speed limit. Effectively, this legislative change allows the City Council to adopt an ordinance to designate a speed limit of 20 miles per hour on residential non-arterial streets. Previously, only the City of Portland had authority through legislation to designate speed in this context. The passing of SB 558 extended authority to all cities. The Eugene Vision Zero Action Plan, adopted by administrative order in 2019, identified: speed as a factor in crashes causing injuries or death; slowing vehicle speeds as a strategy to reduce harm to people in a crash; and taking actions to reduce speed limits on the Vision Zero High Crash Network as well as supporting legislation to allow local control to designate speed limits. Speed is a significant determinant of outcomes in crashes. When speeds are lower, people are less likely to be injured or killed. As speed in a crash increases, the likelihood of serious injury or death is much greater. Research shows that in crashes at 20 miles per hour, there is a 10 percent likelihood of serious injury or death; at 30 miles per hour, the likelihood of serious injury or death increases to 40 percent; and at 40 miles per hour, the likelihood of serious injury or death increases to 70 percent. Funding to implement a change designating 20 miles per hour speed limits on local residential streets has been identified. A strategy for implementation would include changing existing speed limit signs on local residential streets. The sign changes would include a community outreach campaign that make yard signs available to residents to remind neighbors that “20 IS PLENTY” or similar messaging as used in Portland, Oregon and other cities around the world. Designating lower speeds on residential collector streets would be considered on a case by case basis through evaluation of the street context. CC Agenda - Page 1