Salem, Oregon
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The 20 is Plenty program is one tool in the City’s broader toolbox of strategies to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Salem’s streets. This program is part of the Salem’s Safe Streets for All Action Plan to encourage slower driving speeds which help create safer streets for everyone – people walking, bicycling, rolling, taking transit, or driving.
Salem’s 20 is Plenty effort includes three parts:
- Installing new 20 mph speed limit signs on select neighborhood and collector streets
- Implementing an education and awareness campaign to help residents understand the reasons behind and benefits of slower speeds
- Evaluating how the 20 is Plenty program is working by collecting and analyzing data on speeds to help staff update the program in the future, as needed, to be more effective
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20 is Plenty FAQ
- Why is 20 mph so important?
- National crash studies show that speeds over 20 mph – even just 25 mph – dramatically increase the risk of serious injuries or fatalities (for example, on average, pedestrians have a 93% chance of surviving a car crash at 20 mph, but those odds drop to 75% at 25 mph[1]). Slower speeds give drivers and other roadway users more time to react and avoid a crash, and can meaningfully improve safety for everyone.
- [1] Unsafe at Many Speeds - ProPublica
- Which streets will have 20 mph speed limits?
- There are two types of streets in Salem that will have 20 mph speed limits as part of the 20 is Plenty effort:
- Residential streets in Salem's neighborhoods
- Collector streets with fewer than 2,000 cars per day that connect residential streets to main arterial roads.
- Check out the interactive map to view the planned locations for new 20 mph speed limit signs.
- When will the new speed limit go into effect?
- The new speed limit goes into effect on specific streets once the 20 mph signs are installed. When you see the 20 mph sign on a street, the new speed limit is in effect on that street. We have a lot of streets in Salem, so not all the signs will be installed immediately. You will see the City starting to install signs in January 2027. All the 20 mph signs should be installed by January 2028.
- How can I learn when and where signs will be installed?
- You can find the locations and anticipated installation dates for the 20 mph signs on the City's interactive map. This map will be periodically updated through the sign roll-out to ensure it is as accurate as possible.
- How does 20 is Plenty connect to other road safety efforts in Salem?
- 20 is Plenty is just one element of the City's holistic approach to enhancing safety throughout Salem. It is a proactive, near-term effort to improve road safety in residential neighborhoods. This program is part of Salem Safe Streets for All Action Plan, which will identify projects, programs, and policies to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Salem's streets. The Salem Safe Streets for All Action Plan is being guided by the Safe System Approach.
- Have any other cities done something like this 20 is Plenty effort? Does it work?
- 20 is Plenty has been adopted by cities across the country from Washington D.C., to Madison, WI, to Tacoma, WA. In Oregon, both Portland and Eugene have adopted 20 mph speed limits on residential streets.
- 20 is Plenty efforts have successfully reduced speeds and improved safety in communities where they were implemented. A joint Portland Bureau of Transportation/ Portland State University study found a meaningful reduction in high speeds one year after reduced speed limits were posted. In Madison, a pilot 20 mph speed limit program led to a 40% reduction in crashes, contributing to an almost 60% decrease in crash fatalities between 2020 and 2024.
- How can I help promote and support the 20 is Plenty campaign?
- We would love for you to help spread the word about the 20 is Plenty campaign! In the fall of 2026, the City will launch an awareness campaign to educate community members about why 20 mph speed limits make our neighborhoods healthier and safer. Stay tuned to this page for opportunities to help share this message with others in your community.
- How will the City track the effectiveness of the 20 is Plenty program?
- The City will conduct a before and after study of vehicle speeds in key locations to measure the program impact. This data, coupled with feedback received from community members during the awareness campaign, will help the City evaluate the overall program success.
- Who is funding the 20 is Plenty program?
- This program is primarily funded by the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.
- What will enforcement of the 20 is Plenty campaign look like?
- Speed compliance is monitored by the Salem Police Department. The enforcement of new speed limits will follow existing practices for all posted speed limits. You can learn more about these practices here.
- Who can I talk with to learn more about the 20 is Plenty program?
- Questions may be addressed to Brian Banta, Engineering Program Manager, at bbanta@cityofsalem.net or 503-588-6211.