SAFETY COMMISSION AGENDA STATEMENT
Item _ 5.2__
Meeting Date 08/14/25
ITEM TITLE: RESOLUTION OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF CHULA VISTA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CHULA
VISTA CITY COUNCIL REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT ON FIRST
AVENUE BETWEEN ‘E’ STREETAND ‘L’ STREETFROM 30 MPH
TO 25 MPH, AND THAT SCHEDULE X OF THE REGISTER
MAINTAINED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER BE
AMENDED TO REFLECTTHE ADJUSTEDSPEEDLIMIT
SUBMITTED BY: PrincipalTraffic Engineer
Staff completeda review of roadway segmentsbasedon Engineeringand Traffic Surveys E&TS) preparedin accordancewith theCaliforniaVehicleCode (CVC) thathavesinceinitially expiredandmayqualify asa residenceor businessdistrict. Accordingto theCVC, a primafacie speedlimit of 25 mphcanbe postedon roadsegmentsin businessor residencedistrictswithout an E&TS. Therefore, staff recommendsthat the existing postedspeedlimit on First Avenue between ‘E’ Streetand ‘L’ Street (the “Segment”) of 30 mph be reducedto 25 mphbasedon it beinga residencedistrict (seeAttachment1, LocationMap).
RECOMMENDATION: ThattheTraffic SafetyCommissionreducetheexisting30 mphspeed limit on theSegmentto a primafaciespeedlimit of 25 mphbasedon meetingthedefinition of a residencedistrict.
DISCUSSION:
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) establishesminimum and maximum prima facie speed limits for all streetsin the State. The minimum defaultprima facie speedlimit is 25 miles per hour (MPH) and the maximum speedlimit is 65 MPH. An engineeringand traffic survey E&TS) is requiredto changetheprimafacielimit and/or updatevariousspeedlimits in theCity.
The CVC requiresthat local agenciesreview changesin local speedlimits everyfive to seven yearsto determinewhetherthe existingstreetsegmentspeedlimits requireupdatingdueto the ageof theengineeringandtraffic surveyor dueto changesin roadwayandtraffic conditions. In addition, the CVC setsa prima facie speedlimit of 25 MPH on roadsin businessor residence districts.
Thedefinitionsfor businessandresidencedistrictsin theCVC havea few caveats, but generally, the CVC definesa residencedistrict as a roadwith at least13 separatedwellings on one side within a quartermile or at least16 separatedwellinghousesonbothsideswithin a quartermile.
Page2, Item _ 5.2__
Meeting Date 08/14/25
PhysicalConditions
Thefollowing summarizestheconditionsalongtheSegment:
Classification – ClassII Collector
Length/Width – 1.71 milesand38’ to 40’ wide
AverageDaily Traffic: 2,935
Numberof Lanes: Onetravellane (1 perdirection)
ExistingSpeedLimit – 30mph
Striping – Two lanesof traffic
Parking – Parkingis allowedalongbothsides
HorizontalAlignment – Straight
FrontingDwellingsper ¼ Mile (135/1.71 mi) – 19.7
LongestUninterruptedSegment – 0.46 miles
The Segmentincludesmorethan16 dwellingsperquartermile, which meetsthedefinition of a residencedistrict per the CVC. In addition, becausethe entireSegmentis 40 feet or lesswide, has one traffic lane in eachdirection, and has not more than one half mile of uninterrupted length, it meetsthe definition of a local road per the CVC. Therefore, the Segmentas a residencedistrictcannotbeconsidereda “speedtrap” in accordancewith theCVC.
CONCLUSION:
Whenspeedlimits areappropriatelyestablishedthefollowing objectivesareachieved:
Meaningful, unambiguousenforcement
Voluntarypubliccompliance
Clearidentificationof theunreasonableviolator
Eliminationof unjustifiable “tolerances” of higherspeedtravel ShouldtheCity Councilreducethespeedlimit to 25 mph, ScheduleX of theregistermaintained in theoffice of theCity Engineerbeamendedto reflectthespeedlimit decrease:
First Avenuebetween ‘E’ Streetand ‘L’ Street, reducedspeedlimit from 30 mph to 25 mph.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The establishmentof the speedlimit would requirethe postingof new speedlimit signsand speedlimit pavementlegends. This work will be funded by an existing Traffic Engineering CapitalImprovementProject, TRF-0332, SigningandStripingProgram.
Attachments:
1. LocationMap
J:\Engineer\TRAFFIC\SAFETY COMMISSION\2025\08 - August\First Ave ResidenceDistrict\SC Report REDUCE Speed Limit FirstAve.docx
RESOLUTIONNO. TSC2025-04
RESOLUTION OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA RECOMMENDINGTHAT
THE CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL REDUCETHE SPEED
LIMIT ON FIRSTAVENUE BETWEEN ‘E’ STREETAND ‘L’
STREET FROM 30 MPH TO 25 MPH, AND THAT
SCHEDULE X OF THE REGISTERMAINTAINED IN THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER BE AMENDED TO
REFLECTTHE ADJUSTEDSPEEDLIMIT
WHEREAS, Section515 as qualified by Section240 of the California Vehicle Code CVC) generallydefinesa residencedistrict asa roadwith at least13 separatedwelling houseson one side within a quartermile or at least 16 separatedwelling houseson both sideswithin a quartermile; and
WHEREAS, staff determinedthat First Avenuebetween ‘E’ Streetand ‘L’ Street (the Segment”) meetsthe criteria to be considereda residencedistrict in accordancewith the CVC; and
WHEREAS, Section 22352 of the CVC sets a 25 mph prima facie speedlimit for segmentsthatqualify asbusinessor residencedistricts; and WHEREAS, Section40802 of the CVC definesa speedtrap that would invalidate a postedspeedlimit anddefinesconditionsthatwould notbeconsideredaspeedtrap; and WHEREAS, theSegmentmeetsthecriteriain CVC Section40802to not beconsidereda speedtrap; and
WHEREAS, in a residencedistrict, a 25 mph speedlimit on a streetcan be enforced prima facie,” which meansthat the PoliceDepartmentcanuseRADAR/LIDAR technologyto enforcethe speedlimit andthe burdenof proving whetherthe driver was proceedingat a safe speedis onthedriver; and
WHEREAS, denial of this resolutionlimits the Police Departmentsuchthat it will be unableto enforcethepostedspeedlimit usingRADAR/LIDAR technology.
Docusign Envelope ID: C2A0395E- B9AD- 4643- 856F- F5D02F6B4ADA esolution No. TSC2025-04
Page2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVEDthattheTraffic SafetyCommissionof theCity of Chula Vista doesherebyrecommendthat the City Council reducethe speedlimit and that ScheduleX of theregistermaintainedin theOffice of theCity Engineerbeamendedto reflectthe speedlimit asfollows:
First Avenuebetween ‘E’ Streetand ‘L’ Street, reducedspeedlimit from 30 mph to 25mph.
ACTION by theTraffic SafetyCommissionof theCity of ChulaVista, California, the14thdayof August2025, by thefollowing vote:
AYES: Commissioners: Caudillo, Luke, Marroquin, Orso-Delgado NOES: Commissioners: None
ABSENT: Commissioners: BecerraFirsht, DeMarco
Chair
ATTEST:
FlorencePicardal, Secretary
Docusign Envelope ID: C2A0395E- B9AD- 4643- 856F- F5D02F6B4ADA
SAFETY COMMISSION AGENDA STATEMENT
Item _ 5.1__
Meeting Date 10/09/25
ITEM TITLE: RESOLUTION OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF CHULA VISTA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CHULA
VISTA CITY COUNCIL REDUCE THE SPEEDLIMIT ON SECOND
AVENUE BETWEEN ‘C’ STREETAND ‘L’ STREETFROM 30 MPH
TO 25 MPH, AND THAT SCHEDULE X OF THE REGISTER
MAINTAINED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER BE
AMENDED TO REFLECTTHE ADJUSTEDSPEEDLIMIT
SUBMITTED BY: PrincipalTraffic Engineer
Staff completeda review of roadway segmentsbasedon Engineeringand Traffic Surveys E&TS) preparedin accordancewith theCaliforniaVehicleCode (CVC) thathavesinceinitially expiredandmayqualify asa residenceor businessdistrict. Accordingto theCVC, a primafacie speedlimit of 25 mphcanbepostedon roadsegmentsin businessor residencedistrictswithout an E&TS. Therefore, staff recommendsthat the existingpostedspeedlimit on SecondAvenue between ‘C’ Streetand ‘L’ Street (the “Segment”) of 30 mphbe reducedto 25 mphbasedon it beingaresidencedistrict (seeAttachment1, LocationMap).
RECOMMENDATION: ThattheTraffic SafetyCommissionreducetheexisting30 mphspeed limit on theSegmentto a primafaciespeedlimit of 25 mphbasedon meetingthedefinition of a residencedistrict.
DISCUSSION:
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) establishesminimum and maximum prima facie speed limits for all streetsin the state. The minimum defaultprima facie speedlimit is 25 miles per hour (MPH) and the maximum speedlimit is 65 MPH. An engineeringand traffic survey E&TS) is requiredto changetheprimafacielimit and/or updatevariousspeedlimits in theCity.
The CVC requiresthat local agenciesreview changesin local speedlimits everyfive to seven yearsto determinewhetherthe existingstreetsegmentspeedlimits requireupdatingdueto the ageof theengineeringandtraffic surveyor dueto changesin roadwayandtraffic conditions. In addition, the CVC setsa prima facie speedlimit of 25 MPH on roadsin businessor residence districts.
Thedefinitionsfor businessandresidencedistrictsin theCVC havea few caveats, but generally, the CVC definesa residencedistrict as a roadwith at least13 separatedwellings on oneside within aquartermile or at least16separatedwelling housesonbothsideswithin aquartermile.
Page2, Item _ 5.1__
Meeting Date 10/09/25
PhysicalConditions
Thefollowing summarizestheconditionsalongtheSegment:
Classification – ClassII Collector
Length/Width – 2.21 milesandapprox. 38’ to 40’ wide
AverageDaily Traffic: 7,195
Numberof Lanes: Onetravellane (1 perdirection)
ExistingSpeedLimit – 30mph (25mphD Streetto E Streetfor SeniorZone) Striping – Two lanesof traffic
Parking – Parkingis allowedalongbothsides
HorizontalAlignment – Straight
FrontingDwellingsper ¼ Mile (204/2.21 mi) – 23.1
LongestUninterruptedSegment – 0.48 miles (throughSeniorZone) TheSegmentincludesmorethan16 dwellingsper quartermile, which meetsthedefinition of a residencedistrict perthe CVC. In addition, becausethe entireSegmentis 40 feetor lesswide, has one traffic lane in eachdirection, and has not more than one half mile of uninterrupted length, it meetsthe definition of a local road per the CVC. Therefore, the Segmentas a residencedistrict cannotbeconsidereda “speedtrap” in accordancewith theCVC.
CONCLUSION:
Whenspeedlimits areappropriatelyestablishedthefollowing objectivesareachieved:
Meaningful, unambiguousenforcement
Voluntarypublic compliance
Clearidentificationof theunreasonableviolator
Eliminationof unjustifiable “tolerances” of higherspeedtravel ShouldtheCity Councilreducethespeedlimit to 25 mph, ScheduleX of theregistermaintained in theoffice of theCity Engineerbeamendedto reflectthespeedlimit decrease:
SecondAvenuebetween ‘C’ Streetand ‘L’ Street, reducedspeedlimit from 30 mphto 25 mph.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The establishmentof the speedlimit would requirethe postingof new speedlimit signsand speedlimit pavementlegends. This work will be fundedby an existing Traffic Engineering CapitalImprovementProject, TRF-0332, SigningandStripingProgram.
Attachments:
1. LocationMap
J:\Engineer\TRAFFIC\SAFETY COMMISSION\2025\10 - October\SecondAvenue SpeedReduction\SC Report REDUCE SpeedLimit SecondAve.docx
RESOLUTIONNO. TSC2025-05
RESOLUTION OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA RECOMMENDINGTHAT
THE CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL REDUCETHE SPEED
LIMIT ON SECONDAVENUE BETWEEN ‘C’ STREETAND
L’ STREET FROM 30 MPH TO 25 MPH, AND THAT
SCHEDULE X OF THE REGISTERMAINTAINED IN THE
OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER BE AMENDED TO
REFLECTTHE ADJUSTEDSPEEDLIMIT
WHEREAS, Section515 as qualified by Section240 of the California Vehicle Code CVC) generallydefinesa residentialdistrict asa roadwith at least13 separatedwelling houses on onesidewithin a quartermile or at least16 separatedwelling houseson both sideswithin a quartermile; and
WHEREAS, staff determinedthat SecondAvenuebetween ‘C’ Streetand ‘L’ Street (the Segment”) meetsthecriteriato be considereda residentialdistrict in accordancewith theCVC; and
WHEREAS, Section 22352 of the CVC sets a 25 mph prima facie speedlimit for segmentsthatqualify asbusinessor residentialdistricts; and WHEREAS, Section40802 of the CVC definesa speedtrap that would invalidate a postedspeedlimit anddefinesconditionsthatwould notbeconsideredaspeedtrap; and WHEREAS, theSegmentmeetsthecriteriain CVC Section40802to not beconsidereda speedtrap; and
WHEREAS, in a residentialdistrict, a 25 mph speedlimit on a streetcan be enforced prima facie,” which meansthat the PoliceDepartmentcanuseRADAR/LIDAR technologyto enforcethe speedlimit andthe burdenof proving whetherthe driver was proceedingat a safe speedis onthedriver; and
WHEREAS, denial of this resolutionlimits the Police Departmentsuchthat it will be unableto enforcethepostedspeedlimit usingRADAR/LIDAR technology.
Docusign Envelope ID: F2F7EDAE- 1DFF- 4D54- AEA8- 491D36DA01F5 esolution No. TSC2025-05
Page2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVEDthattheTraffic SafetyCommissionof theCity of Chula Vista doesherebyrecommendthat the City Council reducethe speedlimit and that ScheduleX of theregistermaintainedin theOffice of theCity Engineerbeamendedto reflectthe speedlimit asfollows:
SecondAvenuebetween ‘C’ Streetand ‘L’ Street, reducedspeedlimit from 30 mphto 25 mph.
ACTION by theTraffic SafetyCommissionof theCity of ChulaVista, California, the9thdayof October2025, by thefollowing vote:
AYES: Commissioners: BecerraFirsht, Caudillo, Galicia, Luke, Marroquin NOES: Commissioners: None
ABSENT: Commissioners: DeMarco, OrsoDelgado
Chair
ATTEST:
FlorencePicardal, Secretary
Docusign Envelope ID: F2F7EDAE- 1DFF- 4D54- AEA8- 491D36DA01F5