20 MPH Residential Speed Limits

On February 23, 2021, the Tigard City Council approved an ordinance that authorized speed limit reductions from 25 MPH to 20 MPH on local residential streets in Tigard. This was made possible by recent state legislative changes which gave cities across Oregon the authority to designate speed limits 5 miles per hour lower than statutory speed limits on non-arterial streets in "residence districts." This provided the City with an opportunity to promote safer conditions for people walking, biking, using a mobility device, riding the bus, and driving.

Residential streets make up around 79 percent of Tigard’s street network. This program included 125 miles of streets. See which streets were included using this map.

Small Changes in Speed Have Big Impacts

This effort is to support walkability within the City of Tigard, which is outlined in the City’s Strategic Goals and Complete Streets policy. A speed reduction from 25 mph to 20 mph has life changing results for pedestrians. Crash data has shown there is a significant improvement in pedestrian survivability in the event of a crash when drivers are traveling at 20 MPH as opposed to 25 MPH.

Source: https://www.ite.org/technical-resources/topics/speed-management-for-safety/speed-as-a-safety-problem/

Higher speeds reduce a driver's field of vision

Traveling at higher speeds narrows your field of vision as you drive, making it more difficult to see and react to people in the roadway.

Source: https://visionzeronetwork.org/resources/safety-over-speed/

Safe Routes to School

This effort will support Tigard’s Safe Routes to School Program by providing a safer, more comfortable route to school for Tigard students. Although school zones are already 20 MPH during school hours, they only cover the area closest to the school. The residential speed change will encompass many walking and biking routes to school.

When will the speed limit change happen?

Speed limit signs were replaced in neighborhoods starting in November 2022 and completed in February 2024, taking a little over one year to complete (15 months). The new 20 MPH speed limits legally went into effect on each street when the existing speed limit signs were replaced.

Interested in showing support?

Come and pick up a free yard sign to show your support of ‘20 is Plenty’ and encourage safe driving in your neighborhood at the following location:

Tigard Permit Center
13125 SW Hall Blvd.
503-718-2708

Additional Information

• Signs should be placed on private property in your yard.
• Please don’t place the sign on someone else’s property without their permission.
• Make sure not to block driver visibility for pulling out of driveways, seeing pedestrians, etc.
• Make sure the signs do not block walkways, bikeways, or drainage ways.
• Do not place signs on traffic sign posts or utility poles.
• Please promptly remove any broken or vandalized signs; replacements are free!

Unfortunately, local recyclers do not accept corrugated plastic yard signs. If you no longer want the sign in your yard, please let someone else use it, or return it to one of the pick-up locations.