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Since You Asked: Many factors go into Medford speed limits Tuesday Jul 25, 2017 at 12:01 AM I enjoyed Bob Hunter's editorial comments about the varying speed limits on East Main Street. Equally puzzling is Brookdale Avenue, which we travel on fairly frequently. This four-block stretch of road (between Spring Street and Lone Pine Road) has a posted speed limit of 35 mph (although it seems that many go faster coming off what has become the East McAndrews Raceway), but the same street north of Spring has a speed limit of 25 mph, as do parallel streets just to the west of Brookdale. What and who determines speed limits on Medford streets, and do they ever review whether those limits are actually appropriate? — Tim R., Medford Those quick changes on speed limits are a little puzzling in spots, Tim. We'll grant you that. We did get a lowdown on how the determination process works, though, and hopefully it will give you a clearer understanding. Speed limits in our state are determined one of two ways: by statute or by an Oregon Department of Transportation speed zone order, according to the folks at the Medford Public Works Department. Under state law, a road authority such as the city of Medford can post 25 mph speed limits in residential districts and 20 mph speed limits in business districts and school zones. For some streets, ODOT will conduct an engineering study at the request of a road authority. "The engineering study surveys the road for many factors, including crash history, actual speeds of motorists, and recommended speeds from the road authority, police department and community," Medford transportation manager Karl MacNair told us via email. If the road authority agrees with the study, the speed zone is established. And yes, it can be reviewed. "In Medford, we review speed zones when requested by the community or when there is a major change, like completion of a road improvement project," MacNair said. Community members may make requests on traffic-related issues at https://medford.seamlessdocs.com/f/CitReq. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.