STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of February 11, 2025
TO: The Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Nanda Gottiparthy, Acting City Engineer SUBJECT: 2025 Speed Survey and Recommended Speed Limit Changes RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive a report on the 2025 Speed Survey, discuss recommended speed limit changes, and provide direction to staff.
DISCUSSION:
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) generally requires that cities prepare Engineering and Traffic Surveys (i.e. speed surveys) every 5 years for most types of roads in order to allow the continued use of radar for traffic enforcement of posted speed limits. Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (Kimley-Horn) was commissioned in the Fall of 2024 to complete a new speed survey by 2025.
Kimley-Horn performed radar speed surveys along a total of 17 street segments in the City to determine if changes to the current posted speed limits are necessary and justified. The speed survey (attached) includes detailed information.
Based on the speed survey results, Kimley-Horn recommended that the speed limits for the 17 street segments remain unchanged from the existing posted speed limits.
Various City speed limits are codified in Section 3-4.1601 “Changed Speed Limits” of the Hercules Municipal Code (attached) and require an amendment adopted by ordinance to change them. Kimley-Horn’s speed survey included 4 new street segments (Nos. 4, 13, 16 & 17) that are not included in the Hercules Municipal Code, as well as 4 existing street segments (Nos. 8, 9-11, 12 & 13) whose speed limits are currently shown inaccurately in the Code. For that reason, staff is recommending the amendments to Section 3-4.1601 as outlined in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1
STREET SEGMENTS WITH RECOMMENDED MUNI CODE CHANGES
No
STREET
BETWEEN
Municipal Code (current) Speed Limit
(MPH)
Posted Speed Limit (MPH)
Revision to Municipal Code Speed Limit (MPH)
8 Refugio Valley Rd.
Falcon Way- Redwood Road
Bonaire Avenue
40 35
35 9-11
San Pablo Avenue
City Limit
City Limit
45 40
45 12
Sycamore Avenue
Civic Drive
Palm/
Sycamore
40 35
40 14
Turquoise
Sycamore
Cinnabar
30 25
30 4
John Muir Parkway
Alfred Noble Dr.
Bayfront
Blvd,
25 25
13 Sycamore Avenue
Palm Ave.
SR-4 Ramps
40 40
16 Willow Ave.
Canterbury
Palm Ave.
35 35
17 Willow Ave.
Palm Ave.
Sycamore
35 35
Kimley-Horn’s Traffic Engineer who prepared the speed survey will attend the Council meeting and respond to any questions.
FISCAL IMPACT OF RECOMMENDATION:
There will be no financial impact from receiving the report.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Attachment 2 - Speed Limits in Municipal Code
Attachment 3 - 2025 Speed Survey