Speed limits changed on several streets around Bend, some by neighborhood request
(Update: Adding video, comment from neighborhood chairperson, transportation official)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- If you’re headed down the Cascade Lakes Highway on Century Drive, you had better slow down.
The speed limit is now 5 miles per hour slower.
Lisa Mushel and her neighbors in Bend’s Century West neighborhood noticed Century Drive was getting a little too busy.
“We’re very concerned with traffic safety for pedestrians and bikers on Century,” Mushel, chairperson of the Century West Neighborhood Association, told NewsChannel 21 on Monday.
The neighborhood association recently asked the city to lower the speed limit on the road heading out of and into the city.
“What we found is that there was a process where the state had to come in and do a traffic study to ensure the appropriateness of the speed reduction,” Mushel said.
Turns out that stretch of road was something city transportation officials already were interested in.
Assistant City Engineer Janet Hruby said, “With the additional traffic and development and pet and bike use, it met the characteristics to lower speed the speed limit.”
Just couple of weeks ago, the speed limit heading out of town on Century Drive was 50 mph. Now, it’s only 45. Another section was lowered from 45 to 40 mph. Several other streets have new speed limits too. A part of 15th Street was lowered from 45 to 35 mph, Chandler Avenue went from unposted to 25, and Murphy Road actually had its limit raised from 30 to 35 mph.
“There’s only been a very few cases like that where the speed limit went up,” Hruby said.
The changes can actually be requested by anyone.
“Things have happened, the development has built out the sidewalk and the street, and it seems to not match other streets in the area, you can fill out a citizen service request, go to the city's website and we’ll take a look it,” Hruby said.
The change is already paying off for Mushel.
“We’re starting to see a little bit of slowdown on Century,” she said. “I think more than anything, people are becoming more aware.”
Here's the summary of recent changes
đźš— Murphy Road: Between 3rd Street and Brookswood Boulevard, raised from 30 mph to 35 mph.
đźš— SW Chandler Avenue: Between Mt. Washington Drive and SW Century Drive, from not posted to 25 mph.
đźš— SE 15th Street: Between Chole Lane and Knott Road, lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph.
đźš— SW Century Drive: Between Elder Ridge Street and Mammoth Drive, lowered from 45 mph to 40 mph, and between Mammoth Drive and a quarter-mile south of Skyline Ranch Road, lowered from 50 mph to 45 mph.
The process by which residents can make a Citizen Service Request is detailed on the City of Bend's website.
