HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-16-151 T
of the
ESTABLISHINGTraffic Engineer of the City of Eugene
SCHOOL SPEED ZONE ON EAST 30TH
AT CAMAS RIDGE ELEMENTARY SC
The Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene finds that:
A. ORS 810.010 states that "[t]he governing body of an incorporated city is the road
authority for all highways, roads, streets and alleys, other than state highways, within the
boundaries of the incorporated city." OAR 734-020-0014 defines road authority as "the governing
agency which has the jurisdiction to place, maintain and operate traffic control devices, as defined
in ORS 810.010."
B. EC 5.040 authorizes the City Manager or the,Manager's designee to take
administrative action to establish, maintain, remove, or alter all traffic control areas and traffic
control devices. EC 5.055 sets forth the criteria the City Manager or the City Manager's designee
should consider when taking administrative action authorized by EC 5.040,
C. On September 24, 2009, the City Manager issued Administrative Order No. 58-09-
14 granting the Traffic Engineer and the Public Works Department the authority to exercise all of
the duties and responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City Manager in Section 5.040
and 5.050 of the Eugene Code, 1971.
D. By Administrative Order No. 58-16-06, the City Manager appointed me as the
City's AIC Traffic Engineer and delegated to me authority to exercise all duties and
responsibilities granted to the City Manager by EC 5.040 and 5.050.
E. ORS 801.462(1) defines "school zone" to mean both of the following: "(a) A
specific segment of highway that is adjacent to school grounds and that is marked by signs
described in subsection (2) of [ORS 801.462]. (b) A crosswalk that is not adjacent to school
grounds and that is marked by signs of [ORS 801.462]." The street segment of East 30th Avenue
from approximately 200 -feet east of University Street to approximately 200 -feet west of Harris
Street is adjacent to Camas Ridge Elementary School grounds and, once marked with signs, will
fall within the definition of "school zone" set forth in ORS 801.462(1)(a).
F. ORS 811.111(e)(A) provides that a person commits the offense of violating the
speed limit if the person "[d]rives a vehicle in a school zone at a speed greater than 20 miles per
hours if the school zone is: (A) A segment of highway described in ORS 801.462(1)(a) and; (i)
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The school zone has a flashing light used as a traffic control device and operated as provided under
ORS 810.243; or (ii) If the school zone does not have a flashing light used as a traffic control
device, the person drives in the school zone between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a day when school is in
session." ORS 810.243 provides: °`A flashing light used as a traffic control device to indicate that
children may be arriving at or leaving school that is operated to give notice under ORS 8 11. 111
(Violating a speed limit) or 811.235 (Fine for traffic offenses in school zones) may be operated
only at times when children are scheduled to arrive at or leave the school."
G. Pursuant to the above -authority, I intend to establish a school speed zone on East
30th Avenue from approximately 200 -feet east of University Street to approximately 200 -feet west
of Harris Street. In making the decision to establish a school speed zone on East 30th Avenue from
approximately 200 -feet east of University Street to approximately 200 -feet west of Harris Street,
I considered all of the applicable criteria set forth in EC 5.055, including the consideration of state
law, Oregon Department of Transportation guidelines, traffic engineering principles and traffic
investigations. Based on the applicable criteria set forth in EC 5.055, the following findings
support my decision to establish a school speed zone on East 30th Avenue from approximately
200 -feet east of University Street to approximately 200 -feet west of Harris Street:
1, The 4J School District Safe Routes to School Program, the Camas Ridge Elementary
School administrator and parents of children attending Camas Ridge Elementary
School have requested establishment of a school speed zone on East 30th Avenue.
2. East 30th Avenue from approximately 200 -feet east of University Street to
approximately 200 -feet west of Harris Street is a minor arterial with a posted speed of
35 mph. The street has two eastbound through lanes, one west bound through lane and
a center turn lane. The pavement is predominately 46 -feet wide.
3. The Camas Ridge Elementary School campus is adjacent to East 30th Avenue from
University to Harris Streets. Main access to the school is from East 29th Avenue.
4. A grade separated pedestrian bridge crosses East 30th Avenue at University Street. The
bridge is not ADA accessible and does not serve bicyclists.
5. In 2014, the City constructed a pedestrian hybrid beacon at University Street and East
30th Avenue to assist pedestrian and bicycle crossings of East 30th Avenue for Camas
Ridge Elementary School students and the general public.
6. Students attending Camas Ridge Elementary School walk and bike along East 30th
Avenue to access the pedestrian hybrid beacon crossing and pedestrian bridge at
University Street.
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7. Establishment of a school speed zone on East 30th Avenue adjacent to Camas Ridge
Elementary School grounds is consistent with objectives 1 and 2 and policies 1.1, 2.1,
2.2 and 2.3 of the Eugene Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (PBMP) accepted by
Eugene City Council on March 12, 2012.
Objective 1 -Create 20 -minute neighborhoods by proving accessible, efficient and
convenient methods for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel to the places where they
live, shop, work and play by expanding and improving Eugene's bicycle and pedestrian
network.
Policy 1.1: Make bicycling and walking more attractive than driving for trips of two
miles or less.
Objective 2—Safety and Equity: Build a system that addresses the needs and safety of
all users, including youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, and people of all races,
ethnicities and incomes.
Policy 2.1: Continually improve bicycling and walking comfort and safety through
design, operations and maintenance including development of "low stress" bikeways
to attract new cyclists.
Policy 2.2: Ensure that the transportation system is accessible to people with
disabilities, and that an ADA Transition Plan is completed to identify obstacles to
access, develop a work plan to remove those obstacles, and identify responsible parties.
Policy 2.3: Ensure that bicycling and walking facilities are provided for all
demographics, including people of different ages, races,
8. Establishment of a school speed zone on East 30th Avenue adjacent to Camas Ridge
Elementary School grounds is consistent with the Eugene Springfield Area
Transportation Plan (TransPlan) adopted as amended by Council Ordinance Number
20258 on July 8, 2002,
Transportation System Improvements Roadway Policy #1: Mobility and Safety for all
Modes states:
"Address the mobility and safety needs of motorists, transit users, bicyclists,
pedestrians, and the needs of emergency vehicles when planning and constructing
roadway system improvements."
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Transportation System Improvements Pedestrian Policy #1: Pedestrian Environment
states:
"Provide for a pedestrian environment that is well integrated with adjacent land uses
and is designed to enhance the safety, comfort, and convenience of walking."
9. The Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) "A Guide to School Area Safety"
describes five conditions, stating that "[w]here all of the following conditions exist, a
school speed zone is recommended when supported by an engineering study:
® The roadway is adjacent to the school grounds (not limited to front of school
buildings);
® There is at least one marked school crosswalk within the proposed school zone which
is not protected by a signal or STOP sign;
® The property houses a full time public or private school;
® The school is elementary or middle level (schools that include grades K-8) instruction;
and,
® The posted speed is 40 MPH or below.
Four of the above-described five conditions exist at East 30th Avenue adjacent to Camas
Ridge Elementary School grounds. As described in paragraph 10, further evaluation
done through an engineering study demonstrates the need for a school speed zone in
this location.
10. In accordance with ODOT's "A Guide to School Area Safety" and the Federal Highway
Administration's "Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices," the City completed an
engineering study to determine the need for a school speed zone on East 30th Avenue
adjacent to Camas Ridge Elementary School grounds. The engineering study
supported the establishment of a school speed zone on East 30th Avenue from
approximately 200 -feet east of University Street to approximately 200 -feet west of
Harris Street. The study further supports that, due to the high volume of traffic on East
30th Avenue, the siting of the school with entrances facing East 29th Avenue, the
fenced playing fields bordering East 30th Avenue and the expectations of compliance,
the school speed zone should be implemented only when a flashing light indicates
children are scheduled to arrive at or leave Camas Ridge Elementary School.
On the basis of these findings, I order that:
1. A school speed zone is established on East 30th Avenue from approximately 200 -feet
east of University Street to approximately 200 -feet west of Harris Street. The school
speed zone shall be implemented when a flashing light indicates children are scheduled
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to arrive at or leave Camas Ridge Elementary School.
2e Signs designating the school speed zone established by Section 1 shall be posted in
accordance with state statute and ODOT's Sign Policy and Guidelines.
Dated and effective this day of June, 2016,
Matthew'J. Rodrigues
AIC 'Traffic Engineer
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