Traffic Operations Policy and Procedures

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2.C.5 Yield Signs (APWA 31.15) MUTCD standards and practices are employed in determining warrants for yield controls to assign public right - of -way at public intersections including bike paths. Engineering judgment may justify this control in certain circumstances where site specific conditions suggest that public safety will be improved. The state of Oregon also utilizes the "Right Turn Permitted Without Stopping" rider with "Stop" signs in lieu of Yield control where the predominant movement is the turn and sight distance is adequate to ensure safe and orderly movement of traffic. Yield signs shall be installed and maintained in compliance with MUTCD. Traffic Operations shall not install yield signs which do not meet established MUTCD warrants. Warranted yield signs shall only be installed to assign right -of -way. 2.C.6 Speed Lin Signs (APWA 31.07) By law, the Oregon Department of Transportation State Speed Control Board (SSCB) is responsible for establishing speed zones on all highways (roadways) in Oregon. The PWM Traffic Operations Section is' responsible for the overall administration of the program. Traffic Operations staff under the direction of the City Traffic Engineer conduct investigations to determine recommendations for safe speeds on local roads and streets. Cities may also appeal speed zoning recommendations to the State Speed Zone Review Panel. State Statutes give Oregon motorist the following designated speed zone standards: - 15 mph - alleys - 20 mph - business districts, school zones when children are present - 25 mph - residential districts, public parks, ocean shores - 55 mph -open and rural highways, urban interstate highways, trucks on rural interstate highways - 65 mph -autos on rural interstate highways - Posted speeds override these standards If the city determines the speed for a particular street or highway should be changed it can make a request to ODOT for review and investigation. Cities may also conduct their own investigations and submit them to ODOT's Traffic Management Section. Citizens may request the city study a particular speed zone. The investigations use procedures in accordance with nationally accepted traffic engineering standards. Factors taken into consideration are crash history, 85th percentile speed, roadside culture, traffic volumes, and roadway alignment, width and surface type and condition. When the investigation is complete, a report with photographs detailing the existing conditions and proposed changes is prepared. All speed zone change requests initiated by the city are authorized and signed by the City Traffic Engineer prior to forwarding to ODOT. If the SSCB agrees with the recommendation, the new speed zone is established by resolution. Signs are installed in accordance with APWA Policies 31.2 and 31.5 and the Traffic Manual. If ODOT and the local road authority cannot reach agreement on the setting of a speed zone, the speed zone request is referred to the Speed Zone Review Panel. The panel is comprised of representatives of the Oregon State Transportation Safety Committee, the Oregon State Police, the Association of Oregon Counties, the Page 12 of 38 Lest Revised: 2127/08