Orchard Road Speed Limit
MAY 5, 2026
Background
• Traffic Calming Request submitted to Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) due to concerns from Cut-Through traffic on Orchard • Primary Safety Concerns:
• Large number of cut-through vehicles
• Excess speeding observed during morning school times
• Drivers ignoring the STOP sign at intersection of Orchard Rd and Brookside Rd • NAT Calming Request:
• No Left Turn sign at Orchard Rd (North) and Moraga Way • Speed Cushions
• Other signage and striping improvements
Traffic Study
• A traffic study was performed to assess need for No Left Turn sign. • Study did not recommend a no-left turn sign. Only a low percentage of cut-through traffic was observed.
• Traffic speeds were reviewed and the study concluded that a higher percentage of speeding was observed in the southbound direction.
• The recommendation was that the City consider changing the prima facie speed limit on Orchard pursuant to CVC. 22358.4.(a).(1).
TSAC Recommendation
• Findings and recommendations from the study were presented to the Neighborhood Action Team (NAT) and TSAC.
• Both the NAT and TSAC concurred with the recommendations. • TSAC recommended that staff proceed with the necessary steps to implement the recommendations from the study.
California Vehicle Code
• Section 22352: The prima facie limits shall be applicable unless changed as authorized in the CVC and, if so changed, only when signs have been erected giving notice thereof. • Section 22352.(b).(1) establishes Twenty-five miles per hour on any highway in any business or residence district unless a different speed is determined by local authority or the Department of Transportation under procedures set forth in the CVC. • Section 22358.4.(a).(1): Whenever a local authority determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that the prima facie speed limit established by subdivision (b) of Section 22352 is more than is reasonable or safe, the local authority may, by ordinance or resolution, determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 15 miles per hour if justified as the appropriate speed limit by that survey.
E&TS
• Speed survey was conducted in February 2026.
• Orchard Rd was studied as two separate segments
• The observed 85th percentile speed was close to 25 mph. • Orchard Road met the criteria for establishing a reduced prima facie speed limit of 15 mph pursuant to CVC. 22358.4.(a).(1). The following reasons were cited by the ET&S:
• The roadway is a local residential street with one lane in each direction • Narrow pavement width and predominantly residential frontage • Horizontal curvature, limited sight distance, and frequent residential driveway access • Pedestrian activity and lacks continuous pedestrian facilities in portions of the corridor Staff Recommendation
• This is a regulatory speed change which requires City Council approval and posting of new signs reflecting the speed change.
• Staff is recommending that the City Council Adopt Resolution 22-26 (Traffic Order #237) to Decrease the Prima Facia Speed Limit of 25 mph to 15 mph on Orchard Road between Moraga Way (North) and Glorietta Blvd and between Glorietta Blvd and Moraga Way (South).
Thank you!