City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 28, 2025 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: 3 & 4 SUBJECT: INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 10, SECTION 10.76.010 OF THE RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMIT ZONES ON AIRPORT DRIVE, GEMENDE DRIVE, AND APPIAN WAY AND REDUCE THE ESTABLISHED SPEED LIMIT ON ACORN STREET AND MISSION GROVE PARKWAY ISSUE:
Introduce an Ordinance amending Title 10, Section 10.76.010 of the Riverside Municipal Code to modify or establish posted speed limits as noted in the Recommendation section of this report. .
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Introduce an Ordinance, amending Title 10, Section 10.76.010 of the Riverside Municipal Code to:
Establish a 25 MPH speed limit zone on Appian Way from Horace Street to Hawarden Drive; Reduce the established speed limit on Acorn Street from Jurupa Avenue to Central Avenue from 45 MPH to 40 MPH; and Reduce the established speed limit on Mission Grove Parkway from Alessandro Boulevard to Trautwein Road from 45 MPH to 40 MPH; and Establish a 25 MPH speed limit zone on Airport Drive from Arlington Avenue to Flight Road; and Establish a 25 MPH speed limit on Gemende Drive from Airport Drive to easterly terminus.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
The Transportation Board met on August 7, 2024, to consider the establishment of a 25 MPH speed limit zone on Appian Way from Horace Street to Hawarden Drive; and Reduce the established speed limit on Acorn Street from Jurupa Avenue to Central Avenue from 45 MPH to 40 MPH; and Reduce the established speed limit on Mission Grove Parkway from Alessandro Boulevard to Trautwein Road from 45 MPH to 40 MPH. The Board unanimously recommended that the City Council approve the speed limit zone establishments.
The recommended speed limit establishments on segments of Airport Drive and Gemende Drive are based on the City of Riverside’s agreement with Ohmio, Inc. to establish an autonomous shuttle route. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) permitting process requires that autonomous shuttles operate on roadways with a maximum established speed limit of 25 MPH. Due to the time sensitive nature associated with the NHTSA permit approval process, City staff directly forwarded the proposed 25 MPH speed limit establishments for both a segment on Airport Drive and Gemende Drive.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Works Department performs speed surveys to establish appropriate speed limits on City streets including those classified as collector, arterial, 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) and enable both establishment and enforcement of the posted speed limit on many of our city streets.
DISCUSSION:
Appian Way
Appian Way from Horace Street to Hawarden Drive is a two-lane local roadway with residential properties situated along the street segment. There is currently no posted speed limit within this stretch of roadway and the street segment does not have the residential density to meet the California Vehicle Code (CVC) definition of a residential district to qualify for prima facie 25 MPH zone thus requiring a speed survey to determine the appropriate speed limit. To establish an enforceable speed limit, the Public Works Department conducted a Traffic and Engineering Survey on Appian Way from Horace Street to Hawarden Drive which concluded the current 85th percentile speed to be 30 MPH. As a result of the survey findings and noted unusual conditions including variations in road width and narrow width on portion of roadway, segment without sidewalk improvements, and segment with dirt shoulder, the Public Works Department is recommending establishment of a 25 MPH speed limit on Appian Way from Horace Street to Hawarden Drive.
Acorn Street
Acorn Street from Jurupa Avenue to Central Avenue is a two-lane collector roadway with commercial properties and parking lots situated along both sides of the roadway. The existing adopted and posted speed limit along this segment of Acorn Street is 45 MPH, however, an updated speed survey was conducted at the time of the current survey expiration which concluded the current 85th percentile speed to be 41 MPH. As a result of the survey findings, the Public Works Department is recommending a revision of the existing speed limit zone on Acorn Street from Jurupa Avenue to Central Avenue reducing the speed limit from 45 MPH to 40 MPH.
Mission Grove Parkway
Mission Grove Parkway from Alessandro Boulevard to Trautwein Road is a four-lane arterial roadway with a combination of commercial properties, multi-unit apartment complexes, a Kinder Care Learning Center, and the back side of single-family residential properties situated along the street segment. The existing adopted and posted speed limit along this segment of Mission Grove Parkway is 45 MPH, however, an updated speed survey was conducted at the time of the current survey expiration which concluded the current 85th percentile speed to be 42 MPH. As a result of the survey findings, the Public Works Department is recommending a revision of the existing speed limit zone on Mission Grove Parkway from Alessandro Boulevard to Trautwein Road reducing the speed limit from 45 MPH to 40 MPH.
Airport Drive
Airport Drive from Arlington Avenue to Flight Road is a four-lane roadway serving Riverside Municipal Airport area with light industrial businesses fronting both sides of the street segment. The segment of Airport Drive north of Gemende Drive falls within City-owned property. There is an existing 25 MPH speed limit sign facing northbound traffic and a 35 MPH speed limit sign facing southbound traffic, however, there is no record of a speed survey being performed on this segment. Therefore, the existing speed limit signs are not enforceable without an appropriate Engineering & Traffic Survey (ETS). Accordingly, the 35MPH speed limit sign was removed.
To establish an enforceable speed limit, the Public Works Department conducted a Traffic and Engineering Survey on Airport Drive between Arlington Avenue to Flight Road. The survey of Airport Drive concluded the current 85th percentile speed to be 25 MPH. As a result of the survey findings the Public Works Department is recommending the establishment of a 25 MPH speed limit on Airport Drive for the segment between Arlington Avenue to Flight Road.
This segment of Airport Drive is one of the designated routes for autonomous shuttle service by Ohmio, Inc.
Gemende Drive
Gemende Drive from Airport Drive to its easterly terminus is a two-lane roadway serving Riverside Municipal Airport hangar access and airport-related businesses. The entirety of Gemende Drive falls within City-owned property. There are no existing speed limit signs and no record of a speed survey being performed on this segment.
To establish an enforceable speed limit, the Public Works Department conducted a Traffic and Engineering Survey on Gemende Drive between Airport Drive and its easterly terminus. The survey for this segment of Gemende Drive concluded the current 85th percentile speed to be 25 MPH. As a result of the survey findings the Public Works Department is recommending the establishment of a 25 MPH speed limit on Gemende Drive between Airport Drive and its easterly terminus.
Gemende Drive is one of the routes designated for autonomous shuttle service by Ohmio, Inc.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this action for the cost of sign removal, fabrication, and installation is estimated at $3,000. Funding is budgeted and available in the General Fund, Streets Maintenance, Signing Supplies account number 4110100-424143.
Prepared by: Philip Nitollama, City Traffic Engineer
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
Attachments:
Ordinance
Appian Way Site Map
Acorn Street Site Map
Mission Grove Parkway Site Map
Airport Drive and Gemende Drive Site Map
Presentation
Transportation Board Meeting Minutes August 7, 2024
Adopt Ordinance Amending Section 10.76.010 of the RMC to Establish & Revise Speed Limits Page 2