Agenda Item: 5
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: September 12, 2023
SUBJECT: 2023 ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY STUDY
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Joel Bareng
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution establishing prima facie speed limits on each roadway segment included in the 2023 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study.
2. Direct the City Clerk to certify the 2023 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study.
3. Direct staff to install the necessary speed limit signage changes brought about by adopting the 2023 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study.
4. Request the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to continue the radar enforcement program on City of Santa Clarita streets and highways covered in the 2023 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study as soon as the signage changes are complete.
BACKGROUND
The 2023 Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey Study (Study) was completed as defined in Section 627 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC). This Study forms the basis for establishing speed limits on roadways that have been annexed into the City of Santa Clarita (City), recently built, or have changed the number of lanes since the 2018 Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey Study. The Study was performed in accordance with the provisions of the CVC and as recommended by the California Department of Transportation Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. When adopted, prima facie speed limits will be established for the 13 highway segments that meet the criteria listed above.
Speed limits are established to protect the general public from excessive speeds. Speed limits are established by surveying vehicle speeds and calculating the 85th percentile. The 85th percentile
speed is defined as the speed at which 85 percent of traffic is moving. The speed limits are set at the closest 5 mph increment below that number.
The adoption of the Study is vital for the use of radar or laser enforcement. Without a valid Study, the Los Angeles County Superior Court will not uphold a speeding violation issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff’s Department) in which radar or laser enforcement is utilized. If radar or laser is not used, the Sheriff’s Department must rely on less effective alternatives, such as pacing speeding offenders. An effective radar or laser enforcement will promote the orderly movement of vehicles and reduce collisions.
The Study also includes a summary of adjustments to speed limits. The speed limit adjustments are listed below.
New Established Prima Facie Speed Limits
The following locations do not have posted speed limits and do not have established engineering and traffic surveys. Based on this Study, the appropriate speed limits are outlined below:
Road Segment Proposed
Five Knolls Drive (Golden Valley Rd - Celadon Ct) 30
Needham Ranch Parkway (Sierra Hwy - .25 miles west of Pine St) 40 Rio Norte Drive (Copper Hill Dr - Village Circle Dr) 30 Stratus Street (Skyline Ranch Rd - Skyline Ranch Rd) 35
Decreases to Existing Prima Facie Speed Limits
Based on the Study, the posted speed limits on the following sections will decrease as follows:
Road Segment Posted Proposed
Plum Canyon Road (Via Joyce - Skyline Ranch Rd) 50 45
Rancho Tesoro Drive (Ave Rancho Tesoro - Tesoro Del Valle Dr) 45 40 Tesoro Del Valle Drive (Copper Hill Dr - Via La Casa) 45 40 Tesoro Del Valle Drive (Via La Casa - Ave Rancho Tesoro) 45 40
No Change to Existing Prima Facie Speed Limits
Based on the Study, the posted speed limits on the following sections will remain the same.
Road Segment Posted
Avenida Rancho Tesoro (Copper Hill Dr - Tesoro Del Valle Dr) 45 Golden Valley Road (Sierra Hwy - Centre Pointe Pkwy) 50 Robert C. Lee Parkway (Golden Valley Rd - Vicenza Ln (N)) 35 Skyline Ranch Road (Plum Canyon Rd - Stratus St (N)) 45 Skyline Ranch Road (Stratus St (N) - Sierra Hwy) 45
Staff recommends the Council approve the proposed limits for the 13 roadway segments as described above, which are based on the results of the Study, for the use of radar and laser enforcement. The Sheriff's Department has reviewed the recommendations of this Study and concurs with its findings.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other direction as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adequate funds are available in Street Maintenance Traffic Signs expenditure account 2304504- 514108 to support the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution - Engineering and Traffic Survey
Location Map of Proposed Speed Limit Changes
Engineering and Traffic Survey Report (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)