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May 6, 2025
ITEM TITLE
Speed Limit Adjustments: Olympic Parkway between Hunte Parkway and Olympic Vista Road and Olympic Parkway between Olympic Vista Road and Wueste Road
Report Number: 25-0043
Location: Olympic Parkway between Hunte Parkway and Olympic Vista Road ; and Olympic Parkway between Olympic Vista Road and Wueste Road
Department: Engineering
G.C. § 84308 Regulations Apply: No
Environmental Notice: This Project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines Section 15301 Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15061(b)(3).
Recommended Action
Place an Ordinance on first reading establishing the speed limits at the following segments: (1) decrease the existing speed limit on Olympic Parkway between Hunte Parkway and Olympic Vista Road from 50 mph to 45 mph, (2) decrease the existing speed limit on Olympic Parkway between Olympic Vista Road and Wueste Road from 45 mph to 40 mph, and amending Schedule X of the Register maintained in the office of the City Engineer to reflect the established speed limits. (First Reading)
SUMMARY
Staff completed Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS) on Olympic Parkway in accordance with the California Vehicle Code (CVC), which indicates that the posting of speed limits that are not the maximum or standard prima facie speed limits be determined by an E&TS for each street with a posted speed limit within the City. Based on the results of the E&TS, staff recommends that the speed limits on: (1) Olympic Parkway between Hunte Parkway and Olympic Vista Road be decreased from 50 mph to 45 mph; and (2) Olympic Parkway between Olymp ic Vista Road and Wueste Road be decreased from 45 mph to 40 mph (see Attachment 1, Location Plats).
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 Class 1 (Existing Facilities), because the proposed project would not result in a significant effect on the environment, create a cumulative impact, damage a scenic highway, or cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it has also been determined that the activity qualifies for an Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Traffic Safety Commission, at their meeting on December 12, 2024, voted to concur w ith staff’s recommendation to decrease the speed limit on Olympic Parkway between Hunte Parkway and Olympic Vista Road from 50 mph to 45 mph (Attachment 2) and to decrease the speed limit on Olympic Parkway between Olympic Vista Road and Wueste Road from 45 mph to 40 mph (Attachment 3).
DISCUSSION
Background
The CVC establishes minimum and maximum prima facie speed limits for all streets in the State. The minimum prima facie speed limit is 25 mph for specific roadways and the maximum speed limit is 65 mph (55 mph for undivided roads) and an E&TS is required t o change the prima facie speed limit from these preset limits for any City roadway.
The CVC and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD) requires that local agencies review changes in local speed limits every five, seven, or fourteen years to determine if the existing street segment speed limits require updating due to the age of the E&TS or changes in roadway and traffic conditions. Staff completed E&TS’s for the following segments and determined what speed limits were appropriate for the segments in accordance with the CVC and CAMUTCD.
Street Segment Existing Speed
Limit
Proposed Speed
Limit
A Olympic Parkway Hunte Parkway to Olympic Vista Road 50 mph 45 mph B Olympic Parkway Olympic Vista Road to Wueste Road 45 mph 40 mph
Per the California Vehicle Code, the E&TS’s performed by staff included:
(1) Prevailing speeds as determined by traffic engineering measurements; (2) Collision records; and
(3) Traffic/roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver.
Traffic Calming
Due to the major roadway classification of the subject segments, no traffic calming measures can feasibly be implemented.
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Speed Enforceability
If the proposed speed decrease supported by an E&TS is not approved, the following are the only means of enforcing speeds on the subject segments:
Basic Speed Law: police car matches the speed of a vehicle and determines that the speed is unsafe for current conditions. Infeasible due to insufficient police availability and the very short segment lengths.
Maximum Speed Law: use RADAR/LiDAR methods to enforce a speed limit of 65 mph.
If the proposed speed limit is approved, police can use RADAR/LiDAR to enforce the approved posted speed limit.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council members and has found no property holdings within 1,000 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Consequently, this item does not present a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(7) or (8), for purposes of the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has no t been informed by any Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
The establishment of the speed limit requires the posting of new speed limit signs and speed limit legends on Olympic Parkway between Hunte Parkway and Wueste Road only. This minor work will be incorporated into the existing Capital Improvement Project TRF0332, Signing and Striping Program. Sufficient funding is available within the projec t budget to cover the costs, ensuring no additional fiscal impact for the current year.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
Regular maintenance of the speed limit pavement legends is required every 5 to 7 years, while signage maintenance occurs every 12 to 15 years. Th ese ongoing costs will be incorporated into the annual budget development process in future years.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Plats
2. Traffic Safety Commission Report & Resolution, December 12, 2024 Item #1
3. Traffic Safety Commission Report & Resolution, December 12, 2024 Item #2
Staff Contact: Oscar Cortes, Senior Traffic Engineer
Eddie Flores, Assistant Director of Engineering/City Traffic Engineer Matthew Little, PE, Deputy City Manager/ Director of Engineering & Capital Projects