OAR 734-020-0016
Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Paved Low Volume Roads

(1)

Purpose. This rule is adopted for the purpose of establishing speed zones on public paved low volume roads by the Department and other road authorities and interested jurisdictions when appropriate. Establishment of a speed zone on a public paved low volume road must follow the method described in OAR 734-020-0015 (Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Roads Except Public Paved Low Volume or Public Unpaved Roads)(2) or (3), as applicable. With the permission of the State Traffic-Roadway Engineer, the alternative investigation method may be followed as described in OAR 734-020-0015 (Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Roads Except Public Paved Low Volume or Public Unpaved Roads)(4).

(2)

Delegation of Authority.

(a)

Upon the request of a road authority, the Department may delegate its authority under ORS 810.180 (Designation of maximum speeds) for public paved low volume roads if the road authority agrees to exercise the authority according to this rule. The written application must:

(A)

Be made to the State Traffic Engineer requesting delegated authority to determine and establish speed zones for public paved low volume roads under their jurisdiction;

(B)

Include a specific roadway or all roadways under their jurisdiction for which the road authority is requesting delegation;

(C)

If there is an interested jurisdiction on any public paved low volume road within the boundaries of the road authority, the written application from the road authority must include a statement that the road authority and interested jurisdiction have agreed to the need to perform an engineering study and if appropriate, establish a designated speed according to this rule; and

(D)

Specify that the road authority will perform or cause to be performed an engineering study to determine the appropriate designated speed.

(b)

If the Department determines that the road authority has established a speed zone without complying with this rule, the Department may withdraw the delegation of authority and the road authority must remove existing speed zone signing and post the section of roadway at the speed that was posted preceding the engineering study.

(c)

The Department may perform the engineering study at the request of the road authority following the procedures set forth in OAR 734-020-0015 (Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Roads Except Public Paved Low Volume or Public Unpaved Roads)(2) or (3), as applicable.

(3)

Speed Zone Criteria. A road authority granted speed zone authority under section (2) of this rule is subject to the following:

(a)

Perform or cause to be performed an engineering study to determine the recommended speed for the proposed speed zone using the criteria specified in OAR 734-020-0015 (Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Roads Except Public Paved Low Volume or Public Unpaved Roads).

(b)

Speed Zone Recommendation. The road authority is subject to the following guidelines when determining the recommended speed:

(A)

The engineering study must recommend a speed for the highway which falls within the range of recommended speeds described in OAR 734-020-0015 (Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Roads Except Public Paved Low Volume or Public Unpaved Roads)(2) or (3), as applicable to the particular segment of highway; and

(B)

The section investigated for speed zoning should be at least one-quarter of a mile in length except transition speed zones may be a minimum of one thousand feet in length.

(4)

Speed Zone Procedures.

(a)

The road authority may establish a different speed on a specific section of highway if the engineering study finds that the existing designated or statutory speed is greater or less than reasonable or safe under the conditions found in the specific section in question unless any part of subsections (b) or (c) of this section apply.

(b)

If the recommended speed falls outside the range allowed pursuant to 734-020-0015 (Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Roads Except Public Paved Low Volume or Public Unpaved Roads)(2) or (3), as applicable, the road authority must notify the Department and the matter will be presented to the Speed Zone Review Panel.

(c)

If there is an interested jurisdiction on the section of road, the following procedures must be followed:

(A)

If the recommended speed is within the range allowed pursuant to 734-020-0015 (Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Roads Except Public Paved Low Volume or Public Unpaved Roads)(2) or (3),as applicable and it is mutually agreed to by the road authority and interested jurisdiction then the road authority may issue a written order to establish the speed zone; or

(B)

When differences of opinion between the road authority and interested jurisdiction occur, the road authority must notify the Department and the matter will be presented to the Speed Zone Review Panel.

(d)

The road authority and interested jurisdiction, if any, should refer to the Department for further guidance on acceptable methodologies for an engineering study of speed zones.

(e)

The road authority must file with the Department a copy of the written speed zone order and engineering study.

(f)

The road authority must retain the original speed zone order and engineering study.

(g)

The road authority may authorize the Department to issue the speed zone order by submitting a copy of the engineering study.

(h)

The road authority is responsible for installing speed zone signing.

(i)

The speed zone becomes enforceable when appropriate signs giving notice of the designated speed are posted on the portion of the highway where the designated speed is imposed.

(5)

Rescission.

(a)

A designated speed established in a speed zone order created under ORS 810.180 (Designation of maximum speeds) supersedes the statutory speed that would otherwise apply, until or unless the speed zone order is rescinded.

(b)

A road authority may request that the Department rescind an established speed zone order if the road authority has determined that the statutory speed is more appropriate for the roadway and the roadway meets the statutory definition of the proposed statutory speed.

(c)

When a speed zone order has been formally rescinded, the road authority may post the statutory speed.

Source: Rule 734-020-0016 — Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Paved Low Volume Roads, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=734-020-0016.

734–020–0005
Traffic Control Devices 734–020–0010
Establishment of Speed Limits on Interstate Highways (Except Variable Speed Zones, see OAR 734-020-0018) 734–020–0011
Locations of Interstate Speed Limits Other Than Set in Statute 734–020–0014
Speed Zone Definitions 734–020–0015
Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Roads Except Public Paved Low Volume or Public Unpaved Roads 734–020–0016
Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Paved Low Volume Roads 734–020–0017
Establishment of Speed Zones on Public Unpaved Roads 734–020–0018
Establishment of Variable Speed Zones 734–020–0019
Locations and Criteria of Variable Interstate Speed Limits 734–020–0020
Warrants for Parking and Turn Prohibitions 734–020–0043
High Occupancy Vehicle Lane on Interstate 5 734–020–0045
Prohibition of Bicycles and Pedestrians on Freeways 734–020–0060
Design and Construction of Bikeways 734–020–0070
Fee for Issuance of Winter Recreation Parking Sno-Park Permits 734–020–0080
State Highway Right of Way Parking 734–020–0085
Parking Regulations 734–020–0090
Criteria for Parking Regulation 734–020–0095
Prohibited Activities on State Highway Right of Way 734–020–0100
Definitions for Freeway Median Crossovers 734–020–0105
Criteria for Approval of Freeway Median Crossovers 734–020–0110
Conditions under which Crossovers May Be Utilized 734–020–0115
Persons Authorized to Use Crossovers 734–020–0120
General Policy for One-Way Operation for Trucks and Buses 734–020–0125
One-Way Traffic Regulations for Trucks and Buses 734–020–0130
Criteria for One-Way Operation for Trucks and Buses 734–020–0145
Removal of Cargo or Debris from State Highways 734–020–0147
Disabled, Abandoned, and Otherwise Unattended Vehicles on State Highways Constituting Hazards or Obstructions to Motor Vehicle Traffic 734–020–0148
Disabled, Abandoned, and Otherwise Unattended Vehicle Tow Hearing Process 734–020–0150
Temporary Closure or Conditional Closure of Highways 734–020–0200
Yield Signs Attached to Transit Buses 734–020–0210
Yield Sign Specifications for Transit Buses 734–020–0220
Yield Sign Placement for Transit Buses 734–020–0300
Standards for Installation, Operation and Use of Traffic Control Signal Operating Devices 734–020–0310
Definitions for Traffic Control Signal Operating Devices 734–020–0320
Standards for Installation and Operation of Emergency Preemption and Bus Priority Systems 734–020–0330
Standards for Use of Traffic Control Signal Operating Devices 734–020–0400
Traffic Signal Approval Process 734–020–0410
Authority to place Traffic Control Devices 734–020–0420
Definitions for Traffic Signal Approval Process 734–020–0430
Traffic Signal Approval 734–020–0470
Traffic Signal Spacing Requirement 734–020–0480
Traffic Signal Progression Analysis for Traffic Signal Approval 734–020–0485
Design Standards for Installation or Modification of a Traffic Signal 734–020–0490
Conditions of Approval 734–020–0500
Removal of Traffic Signals
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 734-020-0016’s source at or​.us