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68 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 15, 2004 Medford highway speeds could increase to 60 mph By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Want to drive 70 mph on Interstate 5 without risking a speeding ticket? You better check your rearview mirror and hightail it to California or Washington, because if the Oregon Department of Transportation has its way, the maximum speed limit on state freeways won’t be increased from 65 to 70 mph as authorized earlier this year by legislators. But a few changes could soon be on the way for Southern Oregon motorists. An ODOT report issued Friday recommends increasing the speed limit from 55 to 60 mph for cars on a four-mile stretch of I-5 running between south Medford and Central Point. But a milelong section that includes the Medford viaduct would remain a 55-mph zone if ODOT’s recommendations are approved next month by the Oregon Transportation Commission, which has the final say on any speed limit changes on I-5. Advertisement ODOT is also recommending the speed limit be increased from 55 to 65 mph along the northernmost 2.5 miles of the 55-mph zone through Central Point. The 2003 Legislature authorized the transportation commission to raise freeway speed limits from 65 to 70 mph for cars and from 55 to 65 mph for trucks. According to the report, ODOT supports raising car speed limits to 70 mph in some areas. But the agency does not believe raising maximum truck speeds to 65 mph would be "safe and reasonable," ODOT spokesman Jay Remy said. ODOT engineers concluded speed limits could safely be raised to 60 mph for trucks in some areas, but the legislation requires truck speed limits be increased to 65 if car limits go to 70. "We just didn’t see it as safe and reasonable for trucks to go to 65," Remy said. Oregon State Police also disagreed with raising truck speed limits to 65, OSP Lt. Kurt Barthel said. The Oregon Trucking Associations supported the Legislature’s plan. But Richard Wilson, owner of Richard R. Wilson Trucking in White City, says no change is fine with him. "My trucks are geared to run at 55 to 60 mph," Wilson said. "Fuel is so expensive, and (increasing the truck speed limit to 65) just wouldn’t be worth it. The drivers may not see it this way, but as an owner who pays the fuel bill, that’s how I see it." Remy said the transportation commission could still decide to increase freeway speed limits at its Sept. 30 meeting, despite ODOT’s recommendations. The only other changes proposed by ODOT are increases in car speed limits along sections of freeway running through Eugene, Salem and Portland. Meeting set on speed limits Southern Oregon residents will have a chance to comment on proposed freeway speed-limit changes at an Aug. 23 public meeting in Grants Pass. The meeting is scheduled to run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Riverside Inn, 971 S.E. Sixth St. Comments may also be submitted at www.odot.state.or.us/traffic/freewayspeedstudy.htm . Comments will be reviewed by the Oregon Transportation Commission before it meets Sept. 30 to decide on the proposed changes. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities