All of Portland's 3,000 miles of residential streets now have a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. Similar changes could be coming to more Oregon cities in the future.
"Crews installed the final 20 mile per hour speed zone sign on a neighborhood street in Southeast Portland on Tuesday, wrapping up a campaign to slow down cars and change the city’s driving culture dating back several years," reports Andre Theen.
"Last April, Portland formally lowered the speed limit by 5 miles per hour on all of its estimated 3,000 miles of residential streets," adds Theen to explain in more detail. "Crews removed 25 mile per hour signs citywide on those roads and installed more than 2,100 new signs across town in the past year."
The city of Portland is currently the only city in the state of Oregon with the legal power to lower its speed limit, thanks to state legislation approved in 2019. A bill currently under consideration at the state capital, Senate Bill 558, would give all Oregon cities that power, according to Theen.
As the rest of the state looks to Portland for lessons about the outcomes of the slower residential speeds, one large remaining question is the effectiveness of enforcement. The Portland Police Bureau is understaffed and speed enforcement is performed by triage. "Cops are focusing on high-crash corridors, those major streets like 122nd Avenue that see the greatest number of serious injuries or fatalities. Enforcing speed limits on neighborhood streets is 'a challenge,'" according to a bureau source cited by Theen.
FULL STORY: Portland wraps ‘20 is plenty’ effort, eyes more speed limit reductions
Speed Limit Reform Spreading Across Minnesota
After the Twin Cities lowered speed limits in the urban core of the region in 2020, a trio of suburban cities are planning to follow. Two of the cities are planning to set some speed limits as low as 20 mph.
'20 Is Plenty' in the Twin Cities
The first 20 mile per hour speed limit signs have been installed this week in the Twin Cities.
Portland Lowers Most of its Speed Limits to 20 mph
Portland has implemented one of the most sweeping commitments to traffic safety of any city in the United States: 20 mph speed limits over the vast majority of the city's streets.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.
Seattle Transit Asked to Clarify Pet Policy
A major dog park near a new light rail stop is prompting calls to update and clarify rules for bringing pets on Seattle-area transit systems.
Oregon Bill Would End Bans on Manufactured Housing
The bill would prevent new developments from prohibiting mobile homes and modular housing.
Nashville Doesn’t Renew Bike Share Contract, Citing Lost Federal Funding
The city’s bike share system, operated by BCycle, could stop operating if the city doesn’t find a new source of funding.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions