HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-18-08ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-18-08
of the
Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene
ESTABLISHING A SCHOOL SPEED ZONE ON DONALD STREET
NEAR 34TH PLACE AND 35TH AVENUE
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." Establishing a school speed zone on local roadways is the
responsibility of the road authority.
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. 58-17-08, the City Manager appointed me as the
City's 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)(a) and (b) defines "school zone" to include both a specific segment
of highway that is adjacent to school grounds and a crosswalk that is not adjacent to school
grounds, when the segment or crosswalk is marked by signs giving notice of a school zone. The
mid -block crosswalk on Donald Street between East 30h Place and East 35`h Avenue, is a "school
zone" as defined in ORS 801.462(l)(b) because it is a crosswalk that is not adjacent to school
grounds that is marked by signs giving notice of a school zone.
F. ORS 811.111(e) provides that a person commits the offense of violating the speed
limit if the person drives a vehicle in a school zone at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour if the
school zone is a crosswalk described in ORS 801.462 and: "(i) [a] flashing light is used as a traffic
control device and operated as provided under ORS 810.243 [(Operation of flashing light
indicating children in school zone)]; or (ii) [c]hildren are present, as described in ORS 811.124
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[(Meaning of `children are present' in ORS 811.111)]." ORS 811.124 provides: "For purposes of
ORS 811.111, children are present at any time and on any day when: (1) [c]hlddren are: (a)
[o]ecupying or walking within a crosswalk described in ORS 801.462(1)(b); or (b) [w]aiting on
the curb or shoulder of the highway at a crosswalk described in ORS 801.462(1)(b); or [when] (2)
[a] traffic patrol member provided under ORS 339.650 to 339.665 is present to assist children at a
crosswalk described in ORS 801.462(1)(b)."
G. In making the decision to establish a school speed zone on Donald Street from
approximately 200 -feet north to 245 -feet south of the marked midblock crossing between East 341'
Place and East 35th Avenue, I have 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 establish to a school speed zone:
The 4J School District Safe Routes to School Program and the Village School
Executive Director and Principal have requested establishment of a school speed zone
on Donald Street at the mid -block crosswalk between East 34th Place and East 35t"
Avenue.
2. Donald Street approximately from 200 -feet north to 245 -feet south of the marked
midblock crossing between East 34th Place and East 35th Avenue is a major collector
with a posted speed of 25 mph. The street has one northbound through lane, one
southbound through lane and northbound and southbound curbside parking. The
pavement is approximately 34 -feet wide.
3. Village School is located within 1/16 mile of the midblock crossing of Donald Street
between East 34th Place and East 35th Avenue.
4. Establishment of a school speed zone on Donald Street from approximately 200 -feet
north to 245 -feet south of the marked midblock crossing between East 34th Place and
East 35th Avenue is consistent with the following Goals, Policies, and Potential Actions
in the Eugene 2035 Transportation System Plan, adopted by City Council on June 26,
2017,
Goals
Goal 1: Create an integrated transportation system that is safe and efficient; supports
the Metro Plan's land use diagram, Envision Eugene, A Community Vision for 2032
(2012), the City of Eugene's target for a 50 percent reduction in fossil fuel
consumption, and other City land use and economic development goals; reduces
reliance on single -occupancy automobiles; and enhances community livability.
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Goal 2: Advance regional sustainability by providing a transportation system that
improves economic vitality, environmental health, social equity, and overall well-
being.
Goal 3: Strengthen community resilience to changes in climate, increases in fossil
fuel prices, and economic fluctuations by making the transportation networks diverse,
adaptable, and not reliant on any single mode.
Goal 4: Address the transportation needs and safety of all travelers, including people
of all ages, abilities, races, ethnicities, and incomes. Through transportation
investments, respond to the needs of system users, be context sensitive, and distribute
the benefits and impacts of transportation decisions fairly throughout the City.
Goal 5: By the year 2035 triple the percentage of trips made on foot, by bicycle, and
by transit from 2014 levels.
System -Wide Policies
2. Consider safety first when making transportation decisions. Strive for zero
transportation -related fatalities and severe injuries by reducing the number and severity
of crashes through design, operations, maintenance, education, and enforcement. In
furtherance of the City Council's adopted Vision Zero goal (Resolution No. 5143),
prioritize safety improvements for people who walk, bike and use mobility devices
because no loss of life or serious injury on our streets is acceptable.
3. Improve community health by designing streets and paths to encourage increased
physical activity by the public.
Potential Actions for System -Wide Policies
C. Create a strategy to facilitate 90 percent of Eugene residences to be within "20 -
minute neighborhoods." The strategy might include methods to improve proximity of
residences to services and prioritizing projects that improve convenience and safety for
walking, biking, and connections to transit stops.
Pedestrian Policies
1. Encourage walking as the most attractive mode of transportation for short trips (e.g.,
within one half miles) within and to activity centers, downtown, key corridors, and
major destinations, and as a means of accessing transit.
Potential Actions for Pedestrian Policies
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B. Provide street crossing enhancements and expanded crosswalk education and
enforcement programs.
C. Provide support for Safe Routes to School programs and other programs that create
safe walking conditions between residences and schools and other neighborhood
destinations.
5. 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 Donald Street from approximately
200 -feet north to 245 -feet south of the marked midblock crossing between East 34th
Place and East 35th Avenue. As described in paragraph 10, further evaluation done
through an engineering study demonstrates the need for a school speed zones in these
locations.
6. 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 Donald Street from
approximately 200 -feet north to 245 -feet south of the marked midblock crossing
between East 34th Place and. East 35th Avenue. The engineering study supported the
establishment of a school speed zone.
On the basis of these findings, I order that:
1. A school speed zone is established on Donald Street beginning at the SCHOOL,
SPEED LIMIT 20 signs and ending at the END SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT signs to be
installed approximately 200 -feet north to 245 -feet south of the marked midblock
crossing between East 34th Place and East 35`h Avenue. The school speed zone shall
be implemented when "children are present" as described in ORS 811.124.
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2. Signs designating the school speed zones 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, 2018.
Matthew -gues
Traffic Engineer
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