HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-16-22ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-16-22
of the
Traffic Engineer of the City o: Eugene
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."
D. 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 segments of Willamette Street
from approximately 100 -feet south of East 33RD Avenue to 60 -feet south of East 35th Avenue and
East 35th Avenue from approximately 125 -feet west of Donald Street to 65 -feet east of Willamette
Street are adjacent to Village 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
Administrative Order -- Page 1 of 5
hours if the school zone is: (A) A segment of highway described in ORS 801.462(1)(a) and; (i)
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 811.111
(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 zones on
Willamette Street from approximately 100 -feet south of East 33RD Avenue to 60 -feet south of East
35th Avenue and East 35th Avenue from approximately 125 -feet west of Donald Street to 65 -feet
east of Willamette Street. In making the decision to establish the school speed zones, 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 zones on Willamette Street from approximately 100 -feet south of East
33RD Avenue to 60 -feet south of East 35th avenue and East 35th Avenue from approximately 125 -
feet west of Donald Street to 65 -feet east of Willamette Street:
1. The 4J School District Safe Routes to School Program, the Village School
administrator and parents of children attending Village School have requested
establishment of a school speed zones on Willamette Street and East 35th Avenue,
2. Willamette Street from approximately 100 -feet south of 33rd Avenue to 60 -feet south
of East 35th Avenue is a minor arterial with a posted speed of 30 mph. The street has
one eastbound through lane, one west bound through lane and bike lanes for both east
and west bound directions. The pavement is predominately 36 -feet wide.
East 35th Avenue from approximately 125 -feet west of Donald Street to 65 -feet east of
Willamette Street is a local street with a statutory speed of 25 mph. The street is not
striped and the pavement width is predominately 36 -feet wide.
3. The Village School campus is adjacent to Willamette Street from approximately 306 -
feet south of East 33rd Avenue to East 35th Avenue and along East 35th Avenue from
110 -feet west of Donald Street to Willamette Street. Main driveway access to the
school is from Willamette Street and East 35th Avenue is the principal pick-up and
drop-off location.
Administrative Order -- Page 2 of 5
4. Students attending Village School will walk and bike along Willamette Street and East
35th Avenue to access the school.
5. Establishment of a school speed zones on Willamette Street and East 35th Avenue
adjacent to Village 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,
6. Establishment of a school speed zone on Willamette Street and East 35th Avenue
adjacent to Village 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 41: Mobility and Safety for all
Modes states:
Administrative Order -- Page 3 of 5
"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."
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."
7. 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 on Willamette Street and East 35th
Avenue adjacent to Village School grounds. As described in paragraph 10, farther
evaluation done through an engineering study demonstrates the need for a school speed
zones in these locations.
8. 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 school speed zones on Willamette Street
and East 35th Avenue adjacent to Village School grounds. The engineering study
supported the establishment of a school speed zones on Willamette Street from
approximately 100 -feet south of East 33' Avenue to 60 -feet south of East 35th avenue
and East 35th Avenue from approximately 125 -feet west of Donald Street to 65 -feet
east of Willamette Street.
On the basis of these findings, I order that:
1. A school speed zone is established on Willamette Street from approximately 100 -feet
south of 33rd Avenue to 60 -feet south of East 35th Avenue. The school speed zone shall
be implemented initially from lam to 5pm on days when school is in session. When
Administrative Order -- Page 4 of 5
funds are available to install the school speed zone flashers, the school speed zone will
be converted to when a flashing light indicates children are scheduled to arrive at or
leave Village School.
2. A school speed zone is established on East 35th Avenue from approximately 125 -feet
west of Donald Street to 65 -feet east of Willamette Street. The school speed zone shall
be implemented from lam to 5pm on days when school is in session.
3. Signs designating the school speed zones established by Section 1 and 2 shall be posted
in accordance with state statute and ODOT's Sign Policy and Guidelines.
Dated and effective this ` ,4
Administrative Order -- Page 5 of 5
day of September, 20 ,6<
AIC Traffic Engineer