News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
According to Laurie Gould, public affairs representative of the Highway Division of the State Department of Transportation, the speed limit change was approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission on August 16, 1995.
However, the speed limit reduction will be put into effect on a temporary basis because highway division traffic studies show that 55 m.p.h.is the speed most drivers will travel on that section of road, according to Gould.
Traveling at the lower speed would add less than 25 seconds to the one-mile trip between the city and the high school.
In an August 18 letter, Regional Engineer Dale Allen thanked State Senator Neil Bryant for his support of the temporary lower limit. Allen also wrote "We will need considerable help from the School and City to ensure it becomes permanent. This issue will be whether we can avoid a speed trap and/or motorist disregard for the posted speed.
"Because almost all traffic is local, I am optimistic we can get the community to set a good example," Allen wrote.
However, because of these concerns, an agreement was reached between ODOT, the City of Sisters, the Sisters School District and the Deschutes County Sheriff's office, according to Gould.
The city will help publicized the lower limit. After the signs are posted, the sheriff's department and city police will "for a reasonable length of time" issue warnings to motorists exceeding the posted speed, according to Gould.
Driver response to the temporary speed limit will be monitored every six months for "excessive disregard or excessive complaints," Gould said. If the new limit is not working, it could be rescinded and the 55 m.p.h. signs reinstalled, she indicated.
Regional Engineer Allen signed the order for the new speed limit signs on January 31, Gould said. It then went to Salem for final approval. She expected signs up by the end of March.
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