City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MARCH 22, 2022 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: 2, 3 & 4
SUBJECT: SPEED LIMIT ZONE ESTABLISHMENTS AND REVISION ON CACTUS AVENUE, FREMONT STREET, AND UNIVERSITY DRIVE – ORDINANCE ISSUES:
Establishment of 35 MPH speed limit zones on 1) Cactus Avenue from Crystal View Terrace to Dauchy Avenue; 2) Fremont Street from Central Avenue to Mountain View Avenue; and revision of the speed limit zone on University Drive from Canyon Crest Drive to Sycamore Canyon Boulevard changing the speed limit from 15 MPH to 20 MPH.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council introduce and adopt an ordinance to:
Establish a 35 MPH speed limit zone on Cactus Avenue from Crystal View Terrace to Dauchy Avenue; Establish a 35 MPH speed limit zone on Fremont Street from Central Avenue to Mountain View Avenue; and Revise the speed limit zone on University Drive from Canyon Crest Drive to Sycamore Canyon Boulevard changing the speed limit from 15 MPH to 20 MPH.
BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS:
On January 5, 2022, the Transportation Board (Board) reviewed this matter; six of seven members were present. The Board voted unanimously to recommend establishment of the proposed 35 MPH speed limit zones on both Cactus Avenue from Crystal View Terrace to Dauchy Avenue and on Fremont Street from Central Avenue to Mountain View Avenue, along with revision of the speed limit zone on University Drive from Canyon Crest Drive to Sycamore Canyon Boulevard from 15 MPH to 20 MPH.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Works Department performs speed surveys to establish appropriate speed limits on City street segments, including those classified as collector or arterial roadways and local roadways which do not meet the California Vehicle Code (CVC) definition of a “Residence District.” These surveys include consideration of prevailing speeds as determined by traffic engineering measurements, accident data, unusual conditions not readily apparent to motorists, residential density, and pedestrian and bicyclist safety. These surveys are performed in accordance with the CVC and California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD), which enable both establishment and enforcement of the posted speed limit on many of our City streets.
DISCUSSION:
Cactus Avenue:
Cactus Avenue between Crystal View Terrace and Dauchy Avenue is a two-lane local roadway with single-family residential properties and vacant land situated along this street segment. However, the street does not have the residential density to meet the California Vehicle Code (CVC) definition of a residential district. There is currently no posted speed limit within this stretch of roadway. To establish an enforceable speed limit, the Public Works Department conducted a Traffic and Engineering Survey on Cactus Avenue from Crystal View Terrace to Dauchy Avenue, which concluded the current 85th percentile speed to be 39 MPH. As a result of the survey findings and noted unusual conditions including segments with dirt shoulder, roadway slope, lack of sidewalk improvements, and limited sight distance at vertical crests, the Public Works Department is recommending establishment of a 35 MPH speed limit on Cactus Avenue from Crystal View Terrace to Dauchy Avenue.
Fremont Street:
Fremont Street between Central Avenue and Mountain View Avenue is a two-lane collector roadway, which is primarily occupied by Manheim Riverside facilities as well as a vacant lot situated at the southeast corner of Fremont Street and Mountain View Avenue. There is currently no posted speed limit within this stretch of roadway. To establish an enforceable speed limit, the Public Works Department conducted a Traffic and Engineering Survey on Fremont Street from Central Avenue to Mountain View Avenue, which concluded the current 85th percentile speed to be 37 MPH. As a result of the survey findings, the Public Works Department is proposing establishment of a 35 MPH speed limit on Fremont Street from Central Avenue to Mountain View Avenue.
University Drive:
University Drive between Canyon Crest Drive to Sycamore Canyon Boulevard is a local street with residential homes situated along this stretch of roadway. A new Traffic and Engineering Survey for this segment of University Drive was performed due to the expiration of the existing survey on file and the updated survey concluded the current 85th percentile speed to be 26 MPH. As a result of the current survey findings and noted unusual conditions including narrow road widths, predominantly dirt shoulders, lack of sidewalk improvements, and limited visibility due to curvilinear and vertical alignments, the Public Works Department is proposing a change in the established speed limit on University Drive from Canyon Crest Drive to Sycamore Canyon Boulevard from 15 MPH to 20 MPH.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This action supports Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal 2.4, to “Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.” It also aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust: Development of Speed limit zones establishes Community Trust through the transparent methodology and public process that is set forth by the California Vehicle Code which requires an Engineering and Traffic Survey to determine the appropriate speed limit for a specific street segment. The speed limit zones are a direct response to resident concerns about speed management along public streets.
Equity: The development of speed zones is a traffic calming tool that manages speeds on the public roadway to allow for the safe usage of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Fiscal Responsibility: Speed limit zones are a cost-effective measure to regulate speeds on the roadway, to inform motorists about the design speed, and to increase safety.
Innovation: This project is neutral towards this cross-cutting thread Sustainability & Resiliency: The Engineering and Traffic Surveys that establish enforceable speed limits are valid for a maximum of 7 years and thus, the Police Services Department can enforce the speed limits once it is established on the roadway.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $1,270, for sign removal, fabrication, and installation. Funding is budgeted and available in the General Fund, Public Works Street Maintenance, General Fund, Signing Supplies account number 4110100-424143.
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Ordinance
Site Map – Cactus Avenue
Site Map – Fremont Street
Site Map – University Drive
Transportation Board Meeting Minutes – January 5, 2022
Speed Limit Zone Establishments and Revision on Cactus Avenue, Fremont Street, and University Drive – Ordinance Page 2