Thanks Craig for your help and the additional background. Sorry my initial response was argumentative. We’ve had several years of issues and associated frustration regarding this stretch of roadway and your team does not likely have any knowledge of this history. Again, thanks for your time and have a good weekend.
Regards,
Gerald Fisher, P.E. | Public Works Director
City of Molalla
117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038
Office: 503.829.6855 | Direct: 503.759.0218
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient and have received this communication in error, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. Thank you.
From: CHADWICK Craig W <Craig.W.CHADWICK@odot.state.or.us> On Behalf Of ODOT Speed Zoning
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2019 11:23 AM
To: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>; ODOT Speed Zoning <ODOTSpeedZoning@odot.state.or.us>; MCCONNELL Kathleen E <Kathleen.E.MCCONNELL@odot.state.or.us>
Cc: FREITAG Kathleen M * Kate <Kathleen.M.FREITAG@odot.state.or.us>; PRUSAKIEWICZ Laura <Laura.PRUSAKIEWICZ@odot.state.or.us>; WINDSHEIMER Rian M <Rian.M.WINDSHEIMER@odot.state.or.us>; Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>
Subject: RE: Speed Zone Investigation Completed on Cascade Hwy South (OR 213), for Request 8398, recommending new order
Gerald, I’ve passed your previous response and I’ll pass this one as well on to Kathi McConnell. She’ll be getting back to you next week, I believe. I’ll add a few thoughts that may be helpful.
First, we don’t generate speed zone orders based upon proposed, anticipated future development. That may or may not come true, have the effects we anticipate. We will do a new investigation when conditions on the ground actually change and traffic has had a chance to “grow into it” and be surveyed. There is no “get out ahead of it” in terms of setting designated speed limits.
Second, investigations are rational engineering functions based upon the “facts on the ground” for individual roadways, not master plan type documents, etc. as far as I’ve ever seen. Those other things may be considered in an appeal to Review Panel but not so much at the investigator level.
It’s still possible the State Traffic-Roadway Engineer could reconsider the recommendation if he finds wiggle room in engineering requirements but I’ve no insight on that. It also occurs to me that Kathi may have been holding off for your official yay or nay on the investigation report we sent you. So you may want to call her at (503) 986-3609 for more authoritative information. She’s off until Monday.
Yours,
Craig Chadwick
Craig Chadwick
ODOT Speed Zone Specialist
Traffic-Roadway Section
4040 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, MS 5
Salem, OR 97302-1142
( (503) 986-3571
7 (503) 986-3749
Please let me know if I can be of further service!
craig.w.chadwick@odot.state.or.us
odotspeedzoning@odot.state.or.us
From: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2019 11:09 AM
To: ODOT Speed Zoning <ODOTSpeedZoning@odot.state.or.us>; MCCONNELL Kathleen E <Kathleen.E.MCCONNELL@odot.state.or.us>
Cc: FREITAG Kathleen M * Kate <Kathleen.M.FREITAG@odot.state.or.us>; PRUSAKIEWICZ Laura <Laura.PRUSAKIEWICZ@odot.state.or.us>; WINDSHEIMER Rian M <Rian.M.WINDSHEIMER@odot.state.or.us>; Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>
Subject: RE: Speed Zone Investigation Completed on Cascade Hwy South (OR 213), for Request 8398, recommending new order
Craig,
Before I discuss with our Council, what other options are available to Molalla that would vary from OAR 734-020-015.2.c.A related to reducing the speed to 35 MPH. I understand by OAR that the maximum reduction is 10 MPH below the computed speed. Are there any other things that we need to consider when we ask for a reconsideration of the speed order by the State Traffic Engineer? This issue with 35 MPH has far reaching effects beyond safety including roadway widths, compliance with our Transportation Master Plan, intersection improvements, etc. Development/redevelopment of parcels along 213 is getting ready to take off and I want to be out ahead of it and not have to ask ODOT for another speed study in one year’s time. My preference is to do this speed change once and be done with it. Thanks.
Regards,
Gerald Fisher, P.E. | Public Works Director
City of Molalla
117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038
Office: 503.829.6855 | Direct: 503.759.0218
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient and have received this communication in error, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. Thank you.
From: CHADWICK Craig W <Craig.W.CHADWICK@odot.state.or.us> On Behalf Of ODOT Speed Zoning
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2019 12:47 PM
To: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>; MCCONNELL Kathleen E <Kathleen.E.MCCONNELL@odot.state.or.us>
Cc: FREITAG Kathleen M * Kate <Kathleen.M.FREITAG@odot.state.or.us>; PRUSAKIEWICZ Laura <Laura.PRUSAKIEWICZ@odot.state.or.us>; WINDSHEIMER Rian M <Rian.M.WINDSHEIMER@odot.state.or.us>; Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>
Subject: RE: Speed Zone Investigation Completed on Cascade Hwy South (OR 213), for Request 8398, recommending new order
Thanks for your preliminary response, Gerald. I will pass it on to Kathi McConnell for further response.
Yours,
Craig Chadwick
Craig Chadwick
ODOT Speed Zone Specialist
Traffic-Roadway Section
4040 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, MS 5
Salem, OR 97302-1142
( (503) 986-3571
7 (503) 986-3749
Please let me know if I can be of further service!
craig.w.chadwick@odot.state.or.us
odotspeedzoning@odot.state.or.us
From: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2019 12:26 PM
To: ODOT Speed Zoning <ODOTSpeedZoning@odot.state.or.us>
Cc: FREITAG Kathleen M * Kate <Kathleen.M.FREITAG@odot.state.or.us>; PRUSAKIEWICZ Laura <Laura.PRUSAKIEWICZ@odot.state.or.us>; WINDSHEIMER Rian M <Rian.M.WINDSHEIMER@odot.state.or.us>; Dan Huff <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>
Subject: RE: Speed Zone Investigation Completed on Cascade Hwy South (OR 213), for Request 8398, recommending new order
Hi Craig and Kathi,
I will have to discuss with my City Council, the Police Department, and the Fire District first, but I don’t agree with only dropping to 40 MPH. Molalla is an urbanized area, an incorporated City in Clackamas County, OR 213 has over 12K vehicles per day as stated in the All Roads Safety Audit on Page XX , OR 213 and Toliver Road is the #2 serious injury accident intersection in Region 1, and traffic with development under construction and coming soon will only increase the problems we have here due to high speeds.
Compare this section to the 35MPH zone in Mulino and the one in Marquam and it makes no sense that ODOT feels that higher speeds in an urban area are OK when they’ve granted lower speed in un-urbanized areas. If you set the speeds higher, drivers will drive faster regardless of what is around them. So you know, we have been documenting all of the accidents along this section of highway since the audit and the accidents continue and we anticipate the frequency and severity of these crashes to increase. I believe the only way to fix this problem is to slow motorists down through our urban area. ODOT is concerned about mobility and moving traffic. The distance that we are requesting the speed reduction in is approximately 5,900 lineal feet. Assuming a green light at the intersection of OR 213/OR 211, the time to drive this stretch of road at 40 MPH is 1 minute 41 seconds. At 35 MPH the time increases to 1 minute 55 seconds. So, I think a delay of 14 seconds of travel time is worth the potential increase in safety that the residents of this community would receive from the slowing of traffic through our town. ODOT and Clackamas County are part of a Drive to Zero campaign. Wouldn’t lowering the speed to 35MPH through a City that has a high accident rate fall in line with the spirit of the Drive to Zero campaign?
Please let me know what the date is for the hearing because I have no doubt that elected officials, representatives from the Police and Fire Departments, and other interested parties will want to weigh in on this decision. Thank you.
Regards,
Gerald Fisher, P.E. | Public Works Director
City of Molalla
117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038
Office: 503.829.6855 | Direct: 503.759.0218
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient and have received this communication in error, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. Thank you.
From: CHADWICK Craig W <Craig.W.CHADWICK@odot.state.or.us> On Behalf Of ODOT Speed Zoning
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2019 8:45 AM
To: Gerald Fisher <gfisher@cityofmolalla.com>
Cc: FREITAG Kathleen M * Kate <Kathleen.M.FREITAG@odot.state.or.us>; PRUSAKIEWICZ Laura <Laura.PRUSAKIEWICZ@odot.state.or.us>
Subject: Speed Zone Investigation Completed on Cascade Hwy South (OR 213), for Request 8398, recommending new order
Speed Zone Investigation Completed on Cascade Hwy South (OR 213), for Request 8398, recommending new order
As you requested, a speed zone investigation has been conducted. A copy of the report indicating the recommended speed zoning is attached.
Please let us know if the speed zone recommendation is acceptable. If you concur, a speed zone order will be issued and a copy will be sent to you. If you do not concur, the matter can be presented at the next hearing held to decide contested speed zones.
Please respond within 30 calendar days to odotspeedzoning@odot.state.or.us.
If you have any questions, please contact us at (503) 986-3609 or (503) 986-3571.
ODOT Speed Zoning
Kathi McConnell, Traffic Investigations Coordinator
Craig Chadwick, Speed Zone Specialist
Traffic-Roadway Section
4040 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, MS 5
Salem, OR 97302-1142
( (503) 986-3609
( (503) 986-3571
Please let us know if we can be of further service!
odotspeedzoning@odot.state.or.us