OAR 734-020-0320
Standards for Installation and Operation of Emergency Preemption and Bus Priority Systems

(1)

The traffic control signal owner is responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance of signal preemption devices unless otherwise agreed to by a traffic control signal owner and a traffic control signal operator.

(2)

The traffic control signal owner or operator may install signal preemption devices to control signal operations at specific intersections, for arterial corridors or for defined geographic areas.

(3)

The emergency preemption and bus priority system approval authority and process is as follows:

(a)

The traffic control signal owner has approval authority for emergency preemption systems. Entities operating emergency vehicles must make a written request to the traffic control signal owner for authorization to use a traffic control signal operating device. If this is an additional use, the incremental cost, if any, shall be allocated to the additional users;

(b)

The traffic control signal owner has approval authority for bus priority systems. The traffic control signal owner and transit authority shall sign an agreement that covers cost, installation, operation, maintenance and use. If this is an additional use, the incremental cost, if any, shall be allocated to the additional users; and

(c)

No emergency preemption system or bus priority system shall be installed until an engineering study has been approved by the traffic control signal owner. The study should consider the needs of the road authority; local transportation plans; and the impact on safety, the efficiency and response times of emergency response operations and traffic flow. If a bus priority system is being considered, the engineering study must also consider the impact on the efficiency of public transit operations.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The traffic control signal owners and operators will operate the preemption system giving the priority established by OAR 734-020-0330 (Standards for Use of Traffic Control Signal Operating Devices) unless they enter into a signed Memorandum of Understanding with authorized users that documents the following:

(A)

Agreement on the use and operation of the emergency preemption system by authorized users and the traffic control signal systems owners and operators. Agreement can include any concessions or operational adjustments including but not limited to addressing the weight, operating speed, and braking distance of vehicles, corridor congestion impacts, or assigning multiple priorities to different classes or types of emergency vehicles.

(B)

When considering assigning multiple priorities for emergency vehicles, entities using emergency vehicles and traffic control signal system owners and operators will address allocating additional costs to users and the signal system owners and operators.

(b)

New authorized users wanting to operate within the emergency preemption system agreed upon and documented within a signed Memorandum of Understanding must do so within the bounds of the Memorandum unless the traffic signal owner agrees to reopen the Memorandum.

(5)

Operating requirements for signal preemption devices and traffic control signal operating devices are as follows:

(a)

All signal preemption devices and traffic control signal operating devices shall be tested by the Oregon Department of Transportation and approved for use;

(b)

Where multiple users of traffic control signal operating devices are authorized, the signal preemption device shall recognize and respond to the priority of each user as established by OAR 734-020-0330 (Standards for Use of Traffic Control Signal Operating Devices);

(c)

Actuation of a bus priority system is available only if the system has not been preempted by an emergency vehicle call. Bus priority operation will be immediately canceled when an emergency preemption call is received;

(d)

A traffic control signal operating device shall not continue to control the traffic control signal once the vehicle has entered the intersection or if a vehicle remains stationary for more than two minutes; and

(e)

Neither emergency preemption nor bus priority shall terminate an active pedestrian or vehicular clearance interval.

(f)

Entities operating emergency vehicles will provide training for all drivers in the operation and limitations of emergency preemption systems.

(g)

Lights and sirens on emergency vehicles must be activated when the traffic control signal operating device is activated.

(h)

Traffic control signal operating devices shall be deactivated when the emergency vehicle’s transmission is set in park or the parking brake is engaged.

Source: Rule 734-020-0320 — Standards for Installation and Operation of Emergency Preemption and Bus Priority Systems, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=734-020-0320.

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 734-020-0320’s source at or​.us