Speed reduction on Newport road is subject of public hearing

The Newport City Council will conduct a public hearing on Monday, June 17, to consider reducing the maximum speed limits on portions of Northwest Oceanview Drive. The council meeting begins at 6 p.m. at city hall.

Northwest Oceanview Drive experiences higher traffic volumes than surrounding streets, and over the years, the city has received numerous complaints about vehicles being driven at excessive speeds. Also, police and fire department personnel have responded to traffic accidents that resulted in injuries and property damage.

The city retained the services of a transportation engineering and planning consulting firm to conduct a traffic operation and safety assessment along Oceanview Drive and has identified several steps it can take to improve traffic safety. One such step is to change the posted maximum speed limit as follows:

• Reduce the maximum speed limit along Oceanview Drive from 25 to 20 mph between Northwest Spring Street and Northwest 19th Court;

• Retain the existing 25 mph maximum speed limit along Oceanview Drive between Northwest 19th Court and Northwest Edenview Way;

• Reduce the posted speed limit along Oceanview Drive from 35 mph to 30 mph between Edenview Way and Highway 101.