Item No. 6
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – REGULAR AGENDA
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ROBERT OVADIA, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: MAY 21, 2025
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF SPEED LIMITS IN SCHOOL ZONES AND PROVIDING
FEEDBACK DIRECTION RERGARDING SPEED LIMITS ALONG
VALPARAISO AVENUE
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution setting the speed limit at 15 Miles per Hour in certain School Zones and provide feedback and direction regarding the potential reduction of the speed limit on Valparaiso Avenue to 25 Miles per Hour along Valparaiso Avenue, a designated Safety Corridor.
BACKGROUND
The California Vehicle Code outlines the requirements for setting speed limits on local roadways. If jurisdictions wish to enforce using radar, an Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS) must be conducted and updated regularly (see CVC § 627 and CVC § 40802). Most roadways in California require an E&TS to justify radar enforcement. If no valid E&TS exists and enforcement is pursued, this is considered a “speed trap” (which is not legal in California). However, some roadway types do not require an E&TS for radar enforcement - these roadways are therefore exempt from this requirement of the speed trap provisions.
Local roads and in certain prima facie zones (i.e., business districts, railroad crossings with an obstructed view, uncontrolled intersections with an obstructed view, and alleys), the prima facie speed limits apply even in the absence of actual speed limit signage. In other prima facie zones (i.e., business districts and school, senior, and playground zones), prima facie speed limits apply only when speed limit signage is present.
Recent legislation allows jurisdictions to consider reduction of speed limits set via an E&TS on certain streets. Specifically, jurisdictions can consider reductions of 5 miles per hour in dense (as defined) residential districts, Business and Business Activity Districts, Senior Zones, and along designated Safety Corridors. Legislation also allows for the Speed Limits in School Zones and along Safety Corridors April 16, 2025
establishment of 15 mile per hour limits in School Zones (with 500 feet of a school, when children are present), and 25 miles per hour up to 1,000 of school grounds under certain conditions. The reduced speed limits in school zones may be adopted by resolution.
The City Council designated the following streets as Safety Corridors when they adopted the Town’s Local Roadway Safety Plan at their November 20, 2024 City Council Meeting.
Alameda de las Pulgas
Marsh Road
Middlefield Road
Oak Grove Avenue
Valparaiso Avenue
With the completion of the Valparaiso Slurry Seal project, and restriping the roadway with narrower lanes, Menlo Park has requested that the Town reduce the speed limit along the full length of Valparaiso Avenue from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour.
Both the Town and Menlo Park have designated Valparaiso Avenue as a Safety Corridor which would allow for the speed limit reduction. The City of Menlo Park has adopted the lower speed limit and has waited for the Town to consider the speed limit reduction before resigning the street. The current speed limit along Valparaiso Avenue was set based on an Engineering & Traffic Survey conducted by the City of Menlo Park. Pursuant to CVC Section 22358.7, the reduction of speed limits along safety corridors must be adopted via ordinance.
The City Council also requested that the Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee review and recommend potential speed limit reductions along the Safety Corridors and in School Zones.
ANALYSIS
The San Mateo County City/County Association of Governments has developed a San Mateo County Safe Routes to School High Injury Network Report. The report indicates that speeding is a top barrier to students walking and biking to school, and identified routes where students traveling to or from school may face increased safety challenges.
The Transportation, Pedestrian, and Bicycle Safety Committee received a presentation regarding the potential reduction in speed limits along Safety Corridors and in School Zones and following public comments and deliberation recommended the following speed limits:
School Zones:
School Street Speed
Limit
Speed Limits in School Zones and along Safety Corridors April 16, 2025
Las Lomitas Elementary Camino al Lago* 15 mph
Laurel Elementary Edge Road 15 mph
Nativity Laurel Ave** 15 mph
Sacred Heart Schools Emilie Ave 15 mph
*Shared with County of San Mateo
**Shared with Menlo Park
It is noted that the southern half of Camino al Lago between Barney Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas is withing the jurisdictional boundaries of the County of San Mateo, and that adoption of the reduced speed limit along this segment by the County of San Mateo is required to effect the change.
The City of Menlo Park has adopted, and posted, the 15mph speed limit along Laurel Avenue (and Oak Grove Avenue) associated with the Nativity School, within their boundaries.
Though considered, the Committee did not recommend reduced speed limits for the following School Zones:
School Street
Adelante-Selby Selby Lane
Encinal Elementary Encinal Avenue
Menlo-Atherton High School Oak Grove Avenue
Menlo-Atherton High School Ringwood Avenue
Menlo School/Cartan Field Alejandra Avenue
Sacred Heart Schools Elena Ave
Sacred Heart Schools Park Lane
The Committee did not recommend reductions in speed limits along any of the designated Safety Corridors at this time.
The attached draft resolution includes the reduction of speed limits in the following school zones:
School Street Speed
Limit
Las Lomitas Elementary Camino al Lago* 15 mph
Laurel Elementary Edge Road 15 mph
Nativity Laurel Ave** 15 mph
Sacred Heart Schools Emilie Ave 15 mph
*Shared with County of San Mateo
**Shared with Menlo Park
Though not recommended by the Committee, Staff is recommending discuss the desire to reduce the speed limit along Valparaiso Avenue, within the Town of Atherton, consistent with those adopted by the City of Menlo Park, as follows:
Limits Current Proposed CVC
Section
Speed Limits in School Zones and along Safety Corridors April 16, 2025
Street Speed
Limit
Speed
Limit
Valparaiso Avenue City Limit to Cotton Street * 30 mph 30 mph 22358.7 Valparaiso Avenue Cotton Street to El Camino
Real*
30 mph 25 mph 22358.7
*Shared with Menlo Park
As noted above, the current speed limits along Valparaiso Avenue were set pursuant to an Engineering & Traffic Survey conducted by the City of Menlo Park, and the reduction in the speed limit, if desired, must be enacted by ordinance. Should the Council desire to reduce the speed limit, consistent with the City of Menlo Park, staff would return with an ordinance for the Council’s consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT
Fiscal impact is limited to the costs associated with the installation of the new signs.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal Area B – Preserve Small Town Character and Quality of Life Goal Area D – Manage Circulation and Improve Safety
• Goal Area F – Be Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed, and Well-Planned
POLICY FOCUS
Policy focus should be on the desire to reduce speed limits within School Zones and along designated Safety Corridors.
ATTACHMENTS
1. School Zone Map
2. C/CAG Youth Based High Injury Network – Atherton Top Corridors
3. Draft Resolution to reduce speed limits in certain school zones