Study puts brakes on speed limit increase.

Byline: Bob Keefer The Register-Guard

People probably won't be legally driving 70 mph on Oregon's freeways anytime soon, even though state officials recommend raising speed limits in Eugene and other urban areas.

A study released Friday by the Oregon Department of Transportation advised against boosting the current 65 mph limit on rural stretches of interstate - mostly to keep big trucks from going faster.

The issue is a state law that sets truck speed limits at 5 mph below car limits.

While the study said it was reasonable to raise car limits to 70 mph, "the engineering analysis supports a speed limit of 60 mph for trucks and not a higher limit."

The 2003 Legislature authorized the Transportation Commission to raise speed limits to 70 mph for cars and 65 mph for trucks; the law was backed by the Oregon Trucking Association as long as the 5 mph rule for trucks remained intact.

But the ODOT recommendations do call for higher limits in four urban areas.

In Eugene, the limit on Interstate 5 through town would go from 55 mph to 60 mph for cars and 55 mph for trucks, but would remain at 55 mph on I-105.

In other urban areas:

In Portland, speeds would increase on I-84 east of I-205 to 60 mph for cars, remaining at 55 mph for trucks.

In Salem, the 65 mph zone on I-5 on the north edge of town would be extended by .18 miles on the northbound side and 1.17 miles on the southbound side. The speed through Salem would be increased to 60 mph for cars.

In Medford, the 65 mph zone on I-5 would be extended by 2.5 miles on the north end of town. The speed limit through town would be 60 mph for cars, 55 mph for trucks, except for on and within 1,000 feet of the viaduct, where it would remain 55 mph.

The study evaluated the state's 732 miles of freeway.

Public hearings on the speed proposals are scheduled in Eugene, Grants Pass, Portland, The Dalles and LaGrande during the last week in August.

The Transportation Commission plans to make a final decision on Sept. 30.

SPEED LIMIT HEARING

What: Public hearing on state proposal to change some speed limits on Oregon's interstate system.

Where: Eugene City Council Chamber, City Hall, 777 Pearl St.

When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24.