CITY OF SAN MATEO
DRAFT ORDINANCE
An Ordinance of the City of San Mateo Establishing Updated Prima Facie Speed Limits on Certain City Streets Based on Engineering and Traffic Surveys, and Superseding Prior Ordinances Establishing Speed Limits on City Streets
WHEREAS, the City of San Mateo's 2026 Strategic Plan identifies safety as part of the Transportation Priority Initiative, and in furtherance of that Initiative, the City's Public Works and Police Departments have advanced programs, enforcement efforts, and infrastructure improvements intended to reduce collisions, encourage safer travel behavior, and support a transportation network that serves all users; and WHEREAS, speed management remains a core tool for improving roadway safety by encouraging appropriate vehicle speeds, improving compliance with posted speed limits, and reducing the potential for serious injury or death when collisions occur, consistent with the City's General Plan 2040 Vision Zero policy and the City's Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP), both of which are grounded in the Safe Systems approach; and WHEREAS, beginning in 2022 the City prioritized speed management around schools and, by resolution of the City Council, established 15 mph school zone speed limits and related 25 mph school zone approach speed limits citywide, with installation of associated signage completed citywide in early 2024, and such school zone speed limits remain in full force and effect; and
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code Section 22358 and related provisions of the Vehicle Code authorize local authorities, on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey, to declare prima facie speed limits on City streets that are not otherwise subject to a speed limit established by state law; and WHEREAS, the City evaluated all roadways citywide to determine which street segments require an engineering and traffic survey (ETS) under state law in order to remain enforceable using radar, lidar, or other speed-measuring devices, which identified 121 roadway segments requiring an ETS, and that all other remaining City streets would be subject to the applicable default speed limits established under state law; and WHEREAS, the City conducted engineering and traffic surveys for said 121 roadway segments, applying the flexibility afforded under state law to establish the lowest defensible speed limit appropriate to each roadway's context, function, and safety needs, while preserving the City's ability to use radar, lidar, and other appropriate enforcement tools; and
WHEREAS, the results of said engineering and traffic surveys, and the resulting prima facie speed limits recommended for the 121 evaluated roadway segments, are set forth in Exhibit A to this Ordinance, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, state law requires that speed limits established through the engineering and traffic survey process be adopted by local ordinance and speed limit signs installed before they may be enforced; and WHEREAS, the City currently has multiple, older ordinances establishing prima facie speed limits on individual City streets, and the City Council desires to supersede those prior ordinances and consolidate the applicable speed limits into fewer ordinances in order to streamline administration, reduce fragmentation across multiple prior ordinances, and simplify future updates; and WHEREAS, the engineering and traffic survey results and speed limits set forth in Exhibit A are valid for seven years from the date of the underlying survey, and such validity may be extended to fourteen years where a registered engineer determines that no significant changes in roadway or traffic conditions have occurred, consistent with California Vehicle Code section 40802; and WHEREAS, the school zone speed limits described above were adopted by resolution rather than by ordinance, are not among the ordinances being superseded by this ordinance, and are not otherwise affected by this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the prima facie speed limits established by this ordinance shall become effective only upon passage of this ordinance and the posting of appropriate signs giving notice thereof on the respective street segments.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MATEO ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings. The recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference as findings of the City Council.
Section 2. Pursuant to Section 22358 of the Vehicle Code of the State of California, the City Council has determined, on the basis of engineering and traffic surveys, that the speed limits set forth in Attachment 1 (Schedule of Prima Facie Speed Limits), attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, will facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic, are reasonable and safe, and are hereby declared to be the prima facie speed limits for the respective street segments identified therein. Said prima facie speed limits shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the respective street segments.
Section 3. Prior Ordinances Superseded. Except as provided in Section Four below, and except as provided in a companion ordinance establishing prima facie speed limits on two South Delaware Street segments, all ordinances, and all provisions of ordinances, of the City of San Mateo establishing prima facie speed limits on City streets are hereby superseded in their entirety by this Ordinance, as specified in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference.
Section 4. School Zone Speed Limits Unaffected. Nothing in this Ordinance shall repeal, amend, or otherwise affect the 15 mph school zone speed limits, or the related 25 mph school zone approach speed limits, previously established by Resolution No. 120-2021 of the City Council.
Section 5. Environmental Determination. This action is categorically exempt as an “existing facility” pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, because it involves minor alterations of existing city streets and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing or former use.
Section 6. Severability. In the event any section, clause or provision of this ordinance shall be determined invalid or unconstitutional, such section, clause or provision shall be deemed severable and all other sections or portions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 7. Publication. This ordinance shall be published in summary in a newspaper of general circulation, posted in the City Clerk's Office, and posted on the City's website, all in accord with Section
2.15 of the City Charter.
Section 8. Legislative History and Effective Date. This ordinance was introduced on Clerk to complete., and adopted on Clerk to complete., and shall be effective 30 days after its adoption.
EXHIBIT A - CITY OF SAN MATEO E&TS SPEED LIMITS
NO. STREET FROM TO
FINAL SPEED LIMIT
(MILES PER HOUR)
1 Peninsula Ave El Camino Real San Mateo Dr 30
2 Peninsula Ave San Mateo Dr Airport Blvd 35
3 Coyote Point Dr Airport Blvd SF Bay Trail 25
4 W Poplar Ave Occidental Ave El Camino Real 25
5 E Poplar Ave El Camino Real N Claremont St 25
6 E Poplar Ave N Claremont St N Amphlett Blvd 25
7 Baldwin Ave El Camino Real N B St 25
8 1st Ave S B St S Delaware St 25
9 2nd Ave El Camino Real S Delaware St 20
10 2nd Ave Lindbergh St S Norfolk St 25
11 Crystal Springs Rd City Limit El Camino Real 25
12 W 3rd Ave Crystal Springs Rd El Camino Real 25
13 E 3rd Ave El Camino Real S Delaware St 25
14 E 3rd Ave S Delaware St S Humboldt St 30
15 E 3rd Ave S Humboldt St S Norfolk St 40
16 J Hart Clinton Dr S Norfolk St Ryder Park Crossing 35 SEGMENT REMOVED – CALTRANS RIGHT-OF-WAY
17 J Hart Clinton Dr Ryder Park Crossing City Limit 50
18 Parrot Dr Alameda de las Pulgas W 3rd Ave 30
19 Dartmouth/W 4th Ave W 5th Ave El Camino Real 25
20 E 4th Ave El Camino Real S Delaware St 20
21 E 4th Ave S Delaware St S Idaho St 25
22 W 5th Ave Parrot Dr El Camino Real 25
23 E 5th Ave El Camino Real S Delaware St 25
24 E 5th Ave S Delaware St S Amphlett Blvd 25
25 9th Ave El Camino Real S Delaware St 25
26 9th Ave S Delaware St S Amphlett Blvd 25
27 Newbridge Ave S Norfolk St J Hart Clinton Dr 25
28 Kehoe Ave Norton St S Norfolk St 30
29 Kehoe Ave S Norfolk St Shoreview Ave 25
30 Kehoe Ave Shoreview Ave Roberta Dr 25
31 Barneson Ave Alameda de las Pulgas El Camino Real 25 32 Borel Ave Tilia St El Camino Real 30
33 Bovet Rd/17th Ave Borel Ave Palm Ave 25
34 South Blvd Palm Ave S B St 25
35 Concar Dr Pacific Blvd S Grant St 25
36 19th Ave S Delaware St Fashion Island Blvd 30
37 W 20th Ave/E 20th Ave Alameda de las Pulgas Palm Ave 25 38 Campus Dr W Hillsdale Blvd 26th Ave Wkwy 30
39 CSM Dr City Limit Perimeter Rd 25
40 De Anza Blvd Polhemus Rd 92 Off-Ramp 30
41 De Anza Blvd 92 Off-Ramp Cherrywood Dr 25
42 Glendora Dr Cherrywood Dr W Hillsdale Blvd 30
43 Yates Way Saratoga Dr Wayne Way 25
44 Park Pl Saratoga Dr Wayne Way 20
45 W Hillsdale Blvd CSM Dr 92 Off-Ramp 35
46 W Hillsdale Blvd 92 Off-Ramp 31st Ave 25
47 W Hillsdale Blvd 31st Ave Alameda de las Pulgas 25
48 W Hillsdale Blvd Alameda de las Pulgas Edison St 25
49 E Hillsdale Blvd Edison St Saratoga Dr 35
50 E Hillsdale Blvd Saratoga Dr City Limit 35
51 36th Ave Fernwood St Hacienda St 25
52 37th Ave Hacienda St El Camino Real 25
53 W 39th Ave Edison St El Camino Real 25
54 42nd Ave West of Bettina Ave El Camino Real 25
55 N San Mateo Dr Peninsula Ave Grand Blvd 30
56 N San Mateo Dr Grand Blvd Santa Inez Ave 30
57 S San Mateo Dr Santa Inez Ave Baldwin Ave 25
58 S San Mateo Dr Baldwin Ave E 5th Ave 25
59 N Delaware St Peninsula Ave E Poplar Ave 30
60 N Delaware St E Poplar Ave Cypress Ave 25
61 S Delaware St Cypress Ave E 5th Ave 25
64 S Delaware St Concar Dr E 28th Ave 35
65 S Delaware St E 28th Ave Pacific Blvd 25
66 Pacific Blvd Concar Dr S Delaware St 30
67 Pacific Blvd E Hillsdale Blvd City Limit 35
68 N Humboldt St Peninsula Ave E Poplar Ave 25
69 N Humboldt St E Poplar Ave Cypress Ave 25
70 S Humboldt St Cypress Ave 9th Ave 25
71 Occidental Ave Barroilhet Ave W Poplar Ave 25
72 N Bayshore Blvd Coyote Pointe Dr Dore Ave 30
73 N-S Bayshore Blvd/2nd
Ave/Lindbergh St Dore Ave E 3rd Ave 30
74 N Kingston St Monte Diablo Ave Cypress Ave 25
75 S Norfolk St 2nd Ave Newbridge Ave 25
76 S Norfolk St Newbridge Ave Lodi Ave 30
77 S Norfolk St Lodi Ave Roberta Dr 30
78 S Norfolk St Roberta Dr Day Ave 30
79 S Norfolk St Day Ave La Selva St 30
80 N Ellsworth Ave Tilton Ave Baldwin Ave 25
81 S Ellsworth Ave Baldwin Ave E 5th Ave 25
82 N B St Tilton Ave Baldwin Ave 20
83 S B St 9th Ave South Blvd 30
84 S Grant St 10th Ave Haddon Dr 25
85 S Grant St Haddon Dr Concar Dr 25
86 S Grant St Concar Dr Ginnever St/Bermuda Dr 25
87 Bermuda Dr S Delaware St Kent St 25
88 Saratoga Dr S Delaware St E Hillsdale Blvd 35
89 David St Wayne Way Park Pl 25
90 Wayne Way Wayne Way Park Pl 25
91 Roberta Dr Kehoe Ave S Norfolk St 25
92 Mariners Island Blvd E 3rd Ave Armada Way 40
93 Mariners Island Blvd Armada Way City Limit 35
94 Alameda de las Pulgas Crystal Springs Rd Seville Way 30 95 Alameda de las Pulgas Seville Way W 20th Ave 30
96 Alameda de las Pulgas W 20th Ave 28th Ave 35
97 Alameda de las Pulgas 28th Ave 36th Ave 30
98 Alameda de las Pulgas 36th Ave City Limit 30
99 Hacienda St 22nd Ave 28th Ave 25
100 Hacienda St 28th Ave 37th Ave 25
101 Edison St 31st Ave 36th Ave 25
102 Edison St 36th Ave 42nd Ave 25
103 Palm Ave 9th Ave E 17th Ave 25
104 Palm Ave E 17th Ave E 20th Ave 30
105 Palm Ave E 20th Ave E 25th Ave 30
106 Curtiss St North of McLellan Ave E 39th Ave 25
107 La Selva St La Selva St Los Prados St 30
108 Los Prados Street La Selva St S Norfolk St 30
109 N Amphlett Blvd N Humboldt St E Poplar Ave 30
110 N Amphlett Blvd E Poplar Ave 2nd Ave 30
111 S Amphlett Blvd E 5th Ave Folkstone Ave 35
112 S B St Baldwin Ave 9th Ave 25
113 28th Ave Alameda de las Pulgas S El Camino Real 25
114 Fernwood St W Hillsdale Blvd 36th Ave 25
115 Clearview Way W Hillsdale Blvd City Limit 30
116 Parrott Dr City Limit De Anza Blvd 30
117 Camden Ave 42nd Ave Mills Ave/city limit 25
118 La Selva St S Norfolk St La Selva St 25
119 W 25th Ave Hacienda St Delaware St 25
120 31st Ave W Hillsdale Blvd Alameda de las Pulgas 25
121 31st Ave Alameda de las Pulgas El Camino Real 25
122 Fashion Island Blvd S Norfolk St Baker Wy 35
123 Chess Dr Bridgepointe Pkwy City Limit 25
124 Airport Blvd Lang Rd Coyote Point Dr 40