ODOT panel to weigh Redmond and Deschutes County request to reduce Helmholtz Way speed limit
Barney Lerten
(Update: Details on where ODOT recommendation, city and county request differ)
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Speed Zone Review Panel will meet virtually next week to discuss a proposal to reduce the speed limit from 45 to 40 mph on Helmholtz Way. The City of Redmond and Deschutes County are seeking approval of a more consistent speed reduction on the whole roadway.
The meeting is set for 1 p.m. next Tuesday and is open to the public at Join Microsoft Teams Meeting or by calling 971-277-1965; Conference ID: 745 283 537#.
Accommodations will be provided to persons with disabilities. To request accommodation, please call (503) 986-3580 at least 48 hours in advance (TTY: 711).
The panel will consider testimony from applicants, ODOT and the public.
There is only item on the agenda: A reduction in the speed limit from 45 mph to 40 mph on NW Helmholtz Way/SW Helmholtz Way in Deschutes County and the City of Redmond, from NW Coyner Avenue to SW Canal Boulevard, requested by the city and county.
Here is the web site with more information about Oregon’s Speed Zone Review Panel. Oregon Department of Transportation Speed Zone Review Panel.
The Oregon Speed Zone Review Panel doesn’t meet on a regular schedule but upon submission of speed zone change requests, usually two or three times a year. The March 17 meeting will be the panel’s first meeting of 2026. It previously met in December.
How speed zone decisions are made
In Oregon, most decisions regarding speed zones are made jointly by ODOT and the authority governing the road, such as a city or a county. ODOT has the responsibility to investigate roads for establishing new speed zones or changing posted speeds of existing speed zones. ODOT performs these investigations at the request of the road authority.
If the recommended speed is of mutual agreement between ODOT and the local road authority, the speed zone is established. If mutual agreement cannot be reached, the speed zone decision is referred to the Speed Zone Review Panel.
ODOT officials told KTVZ News on Thursday that an issue arose because the city and county want a consistent 40 mph speed limit throughout the stretch of highway. But ODOT engineers have recommended retaining the existing 45 mph speed limit on a stretch between Maple and Quartz avenues and keeping the current 55 mph limit south of Wickiup Avenue to Canal Boulevard.
Redmond Public Works Director and City Engineer Jessica MacClanahan told KTVZ News Friday, “The Helmholtz corridor is currently experiencing a ‘checkerboard’ urbanization pattern, and we assert implementing a consistent speed limit throughout the entire corridor is most prudent for traffic safety and consistent enforcement, rather than trying to chase individual segments immediately adjacent to new developments year after year.”
She said the city and county “will be presenting this opinion to the Speed Zone Review Panel on March 17, where they will make their final decision on our request.
The panel receives testimony from ODOT, the local road authority, and interested parties and makes the final decision. The panel also serves as an advisory body to ODOT.
The Oregon Speed Zone Review Panel is comprised of representatives from the Governor’s Transportation Safety Committee, the Oregon State Police, the Association of Oregon Counties, the League of Oregon Cities, and ODOT.