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TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL APPT� `_ '—D E;y FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER
BY: EDWIN J. NORRIS, P.E., INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY
ENGINEER
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The California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires Engineering and Traffic (E&T) surveys be conducted every seven years for roadway segments in order to post speed limits and allow enforcement by RADAR. Roadway segments that require surveys are non -local streets as defined in the federal -aid system maps administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Firestone Boulevard is designated as an "other principal arterial" on said map.
The E&T survey consists of the following three parts: 1) RADAR speed data, 2) crash history and accident rate calculation, 3) engineering survey of conditions of the roadway not readily apparent to the motorist. Typically, the recommend posted speed limit is determined as the nearest five mile -per -hour increment of the 85 th percentile speed, which is the speed at or below which is of the motorist are traveling as determined through the collected RADAR speed data samples.
There are three basic means by which speed limits are established. First, the CVC identifies speed limits which apply as a maximum in the event that no other condition is met to establish the speed limit as less than the maximum. The current maximum limits in California are 65 miles per hour (mph) for multi -lane roadways and 55 mph for two- lane roadways on local routes and 70 mph on State highways.
Second, the CVC establishes specific prima facie speed limits for streets when certain conditions are met (such as residential streets set at 25 mph). The prima facie speed
SPEED LIMIT ON FIRESTONE BOULEVARD BETWEEN OLD DRIVER SCHOOL ROAD AND THE
WEST CITY LIMIT
MARCH 28, 2023
PAGE 2
limits do not need speed studies or speed limit signs to be posted in order to be enforced. For the purposes of setting prima facie speed limits, all streets must be "local" streets based on functional usage as defined by the FHWA and meet the CVC criterion for the minimum number of residential dwellings per mile.
Third, in order to post a speed limit which varies from the maximum speed limit or a prima facie speed limit and allow enforcement by RADAR, the speed must be established based on an E&T survey. The purpose of the E&T survey is to determine a speed limit which is both reasonable and safe.
Firestone Boulevard between Brookshire Ave and the West City is a six -lane other principal arterial and thus requires the preparation of E&T surveys in order to establish RADAR -enforceable speed limits.
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The E&T survey, last updated in 2015 for Firestone Boulevard, expired in 2022.
Therefore, it is necessary to update the E&T survey for this location in order to continue speed enforcement through RADAR techniques. In October 2022, Public Works staff utilized the services of Willclan Engineering, one of the City's on -call traffic engineering consultants, to conduct Engineering and Traffic (E&T) surveys on Firestone Boulevard from Brookshire Avenue to the West City Limit in accordance with the current California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), which must be followed to document changing roadway/traffic conditions in order to make appropriate adjustments to complement speed enforcement.
The results of the E&T surveys are summarized in the below table, which reflects the current as well as proposed speed limits on Firestone Boulevard between Brookshirt and the West City Limit:
Limits
Brookshire Ave
D Ave
ne Blvd. Easthni,nd
Downe Ave
Paramount Blvd
Rives Ave
Rives Ave
Old Riv r School Rd.
re
SPEED LIMIT ON FIRESTONE BOULEVARD BETWEEN OLD DRIVER SCHOOL ROAD AND THE
WEST CITY LIMIT
MARCH 28, 2023
PAGE 3
The proposed change is to decrease the speed limit on both eastbound and westbound Firestone Boulevard between Old River School Road and the West City Limit from 40 to 35 mph (see location map in Attachment A). The remaining segments on Firestone Boulevard between Brookshire Avenue and Old River School Road will remain posted at their existing speed limits of 35 mph. The Police Department concurs with the proposed speed limits. The proposed change was presented to the Public Works Committee on November 17, 2022, which concurred with staff's recommendation. The ordinance amending Section 3199.10 of the Downey Municipal Code to affect the proposed speed limit change on Firestone Boulevard
(Attachment "B") was introduced on December 8, 2022 and will be adopted at tonight's City Council meeting. Staff recommends approval of this item and adoption of the ordinance in order to allow the Police Depart to continue enforcing the subject portion of Firestone Boulevard through RADAR. Otherwise, the speed limit at this location cannot be enforced through this method.
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
There will be two speed limit sign replacements. The estimated cost of said replacements is $300. Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 approved budget account number 10-3145 (Traffic and Street Maintenance Program) to cover the cost of the new signs.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A — Proposed speed limit change location map Attachment B — Ordinance
ORDINANCE NO. 23-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING SECTION 3199.10 OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE SPEED
LIMITS FOR FIRESTONE BOULEVARD BETWEEN OLD RIVER SCHOOL ROAD
AND THE WEST CITY LIMIT
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires Engineering and Traffic surveys to be conducted periodically for streets such as Firestone Boulevard in order to post speed limits and allow enforcement by RADAR; and
WHEREAS, the City of Downey has recently completed Engineering and Traffic surveys along the limits of Firestone Boulevard between Brookshire Avenue and the west city limit which produced results that indicate a lower speed limit is justified on Firestone Boulevard between Old River School Road and the west city limit; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends the proposed change to the speed limit on Firestone Boulevard between Old River School Road and the west city limit; and WHEREAS, the results of the Engineering and Traffic surveys and proposed speed limit change were presented to the Public Works Committee on November 17, 2022 and the Committee concurred with staff's recommendation.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNE"I'DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council does hereby approve the Engineering and Traffic surveys for Firestone Boulevard,
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suiosection(C)OT,-jection3l99.lUotthM)owneylilunicipaiL;oaeisnereDyamenaea Morea"as follows:
"Firestone Boulevard. Between the west city limit and Woodruff Avenue, the prima facie speed limit shall be thirty-five (35) miles per hour; and between Woodruff Avenue and the east city limit, the prima facie speed limit shall be forty (40) miles per hour." SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published or posted as required by law. A certified original of same shall also be forwarded to the Director of Public Works.
PAGE 1 ATTCHMENT B
CLAUDIA M. FROMETA, Mayor
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MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, tW--
City Clerk
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance No. 23- was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Downey held on the 8 th day of December 2022 and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Downey held on the 28 1h day of March 2023, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
Council Members,
NOES:
Council Member:
ABSENT:
Council Member:
ABSTAIN,
Council Member:
I FURTHER CERTIFY that a Summary of the foregoing Ordinance No. _, was published in the Downey Patriot, a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Downey, on the 16 th day of March, 2023 (after introduction), and on , 2023 (after adoption-, including the vote thereon). It was also posted in the regular posting places in the City of Downey on the same dates.
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CIVIC
City Clerk