RESOLUTION NO. _____ (N.C.S.)
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPEED LIMITS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE 2026 ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY FOR SPEED LIMITS WHEREAS, in accordance with California Vehicle Code Sections 22357 and 22358, local municipalities have the power to increase or decrease prima facie speed limits for local streets; and WHEREAS, in accordance with California Vehicle Code Section 40802 and provisions of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Engineering and Traffic Surveys must be performed on those local streets every five to seven years when the use of radar or other electronic devices which measure the speed of moving objects are utilized to enforce the prima facie speed limits for those streets; and WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code defines a speed trap and prohibits evidence of a driver’s speed obtained through a speed trap from being admissible in court in any prosecution against a driver for a speed-related offense; and WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code deems a road where the speed limit is not justified by a traffic and engineering survey conducted within the previous 5 to 7 years to be a speed trap, unless the roadway has been evaluated by a registered engineer in which case the speed limit remains enforceable for a period of 14 years and exempts a school zone from certain provisions relating to defining a speed trap; and WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2024, the State of California, through Assembly Bill 43, granted local jurisdictions the authority to retain or reduce speed limits a maximum of 5 mph below the current posted speed limit without creating a speed trap following an Engineering and Traffic Survey evaluated by a registered engineer; and WHEREAS, the results of the 2026 Engineering and Traffic Survey for Speed Limits conform to the requirements of the California Vehicle Code; and WHEREAS, Staff have concluded those speed limits set forth in the 2026 Engineering and Traffic Surveys for Speed Limits attached hereto are justified for their associated street segments in that they are found to be most appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and are reasonable and safe for those street segments; and WHEREAS, at its May 14, 2026, meeting, the Traffic and Transportation Commission voted (5-1) on an alternate recommendation to recommend to City Council to approve the establishment of the 2026 Engineering and Traffic Survey for Speed Limits with the exception of Sconberg Parkway; and WHEREAS, setting a speed limit below the measured 85th percentile speeds and beyond the reductions allowed by law, would be arbitrary and capricious and the speed limit would not be enforceable by radar and is therefore not recommended by staff; and WHEREAS, the speed limits recommended by the 2026 Engineering and Traffic Survey for Speed Limits are as follows:
Street Segment
Speed Survey Study Limits
Posted Speed Limit
Existing
Recommended
Chaparral Street
North Main Street to Natividad Road
25 25
Towt Street
East Alisal Street to Garner Avenue
30 25
Post Drive
Calle del Adobe to North Davis Road
30 30
Monterey Street
West Market Street to John Street
25 25
Terven Avenue
South Sanborn Road to Airport Boulevard
25 25
Hansen Street
Airport Boulevard to Harkins Road
30 30
John Street
Wood Street to East Alisal Street
35 30
Freedom Parkway
Williams Road to Sconberg Parkway
35 30
Sconberg Parkway
Alisal Road to Freedom Parkway
25 35
North Davis Road
Larkin Street to Westridge Parkway
35 35
Alisal Street
Capitol Street to Front Street
25 25
Towt Street
Garner Avenue to Freedom Parkway
25 25
WHEREAS, the City of Salinas has determined that the establishment of the 2026 Engineering and Traffic Survey for Speed Limits is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Section 15301, Class 1). The proposed action has no potential to cause any effect on the environment and does not cause a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change on or in the environment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Salinas City Council hereby approves the speed limits as recommended by 2026 Engineering and Traffic Survey for Speed Limits; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City Staff is hereby directed to proceed with the establishment of the 2026 Engineering and Traffic Survey for Speed Limits to fully effectuate the intent of this Resolution.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 16th day of June 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
_______________________
Dennis Donohue, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Patricia M. Soratos, City Clerk
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