BACKGROUND:

Our residential community sits directly alongside U.S. Highway 97 in La Pine, on a level, straight stretch (roughly milepost 166 to 1st Street) where engine braking is not needed for safety. Day and night, we experience disruptive noise from semi-truck engine braking ("Jake brakes") and highway traffic that we believe exceeds the federal residential noise standard of 66 decibels (FHWA, 23 CFR 772).

This is not a new or unusual request. Oregon already prohibits unmuffled engine braking statewide (ORS 811.492, a Class A traffic violation), and Oregon law authorizes the Oregon Transportation Commission to post "No Engine Braking" signs (ORS 810.214). We are asking that this existing law be applied and enforced on our stretch of US-97.

REQUEST SUMMARY:

1. A "No Engine Braking" zone through our residential area, with signage posted under the state's existing authority (ORS 810.214)
2. Enforcement of Oregon's statewide prohibition on unmuffled engine braking (ORS 811.492)
3. A professional noise level assessment by ODOT
4. Evaluation and installation of sound barrier walls where noise levels exceed federal standards

IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY:

• Disrupted sleep at night and in the early morning, and lost rest during the day for shift workers, infants, and others
• Reduced quality of life for residents
• Difficulty with outdoor activities and conversations
• Potential health impacts from chronic noise exposure
• Decreased property values

We support safe, efficient freight. Engine braking serves an important function on steep grades, but ours is a level residential section where it is not needed for safety, and Oregon already restricts the loudest (unmuffled) engine braking everywhere in the state. Reasonable restrictions here keep freight moving while ending needless noise.

We request that the La Pine City Council advocate on our behalf with ODOT and support this petition with a formal resolution.

SPECIFIC REQUESTS

1. JAKE BRAKE RESTRICTIONS:
   We request that the City formally petition ODOT and the Oregon Transportation Commission to post "No Engine Braking" signage on US-97 through our residential area (approximately milepost 166 to 167), using the Commission's authority under ORS 810.214, and to enforce Oregon's statewide prohibition on unmuffled engine braking (ORS 811.492). Oregon cities including Bend and Scio (Ordinance No. 599) already restrict engine braking, and our stretch is level and straight, with no steep grades requiring it for safety.
2. NOISE ASSESSMENT
   We request that the City work with ODOT to conduct a professional noise level study of our area under the federal Highway Traffic Noise policy (23 CFR 772) to document the extent of the problem and determine whether sound mitigation is warranted against the 66 dBA residential criteria.
3. SOUND BARRIER EVALUATION
   If noise levels are confirmed to exceed federal standards, we request evaluation and installation of sound barrier walls along the affected highway section.
4. CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
   We request that the Council pass a resolution supporting our community's petition to ODOT, demonstrating municipal backing for this quality-of-life issue.

https://letlapinesleep.org