Shortly after Salem City Council’s approval of the Winter-Maple Plan, the Safe Routes Partnership joined other advocates to take steps toward early implementation of the 2-mile route.

In April we asked the City of Salem Budget Committee to include funding for the speed humps designated in the Winter-Maple Plan, in this budget cycle. The Budget Committee ultimately chose not to include funding, but Salem City Council revisited the speed humps during their final consideration of the recommended budget earlier this month. Council unanimously voted for an amendment to increase the transportation budget by $50,000 for installation of all speed humps along the route, including near the Oregon School for the Deaf. We can expect to see a reduced posted speed limit to 20 mph and installation of speed humps throughout the route as early as late summer of this year.

Another early win for the Winter-Maple Neighborhood Greenway, can be found at the following intersections, where new stop signs will be installed early this summer:

D Street NE at Winter Street NE
Academy Street NE at Maple Avenue NE
Highland Avenue NE at Maple Avenue NE
Hickory Street NE at Maple Avenue NE
Spruce Street NE Maple Avenue NE
Tryon Avenue NE at Maple Avenue NE
Johnson Street NE at Maple Avenue NE

The City’s general transportation maintenance budget will cover the rough cost of these stop signs at $4,500.

A big thank you and congratulations to Salem City Council and Public Works, Oregon School for the Deaf, Salem Bike Boulevard Advocates and many others who continue to work tirelessly to open Salem’s first Neighborhood Greenway!

Click here to review coverage of the Winter-Maple Plan earlier this year.