The Oregon Speed Zone Review Panel is scheduled to meet virtually at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, to consider a proposed speed limit change on NW Helmholtz Way/SW Helmholtz Way in Deschutes County and the City of Redmond. The meeting will focus on a request from the City of Redmond and Deschutes County to reduce the speed limit from 45 mph to 40 mph between NW Coyner Avenue and SW Canal Boulevard.
The public can participate in the meeting online or by phone. Accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request if made at least 48 hours in advance.
According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), “The panel will consider testimony from applicants, from ODOT and from the public.”
This session marks the first meeting of the Speed Zone Review Panel in 2026; its previous meeting was held in December 2025. The panel does not have a regular schedule but convenes two or three times each year when speed zone change requests are submitted.
In Oregon, decisions about establishing or changing speed zones are typically made jointly by ODOT and local road authorities such as cities or counties. ODOT investigates roads when requested by these authorities. If both parties agree on a recommended speed, it is implemented. If they cannot reach an agreement, the matter is referred to the Speed Zone Review Panel, which then receives input from all stakeholders before making a final decision. The panel also acts as an advisory body to ODOT.
The panel includes representatives from several organizations: the Governor’s Transportation Safety Committee, Oregon State Police, Association of Oregon Counties, League of Oregon Cities, and ODOT. More information about the panel is available on the Oregon Department of Transportation Speed Zone Review Panel website.
