Agenda Item: 8
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: January 13, 2026
SUBJECT: CITYWIDE 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 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study.
2. Direct the City Clerk to certify the Engineering and Traffic Survey Study, dated December 2025.
3. Direct staff to install the necessary speed limit signage changes brought about by adopting the Engineering and Traffic Survey Study, dated December 2025.
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 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study, dated December 2025, as soon as the signage changes are complete.
5. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
California cities, counties, and other state agencies are required to conduct an Engineering and Traffic Survey Study (Study) every five years to ensure speed limits on roads reflect current conditions and allow for the continued use of radar and laser enforcement. The Study can be extended to seven years if local law enforcement meets certain criterion relating to the training and calibration of radar/laser devices. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff’s Department) meets this criterion. The previous citywide Study was adopted by the City Council at its regular meeting on February 12, 2019.
The adoption of the Study is vital for the use of radar or laser enforcement. Without an approved Study, the Los Angeles County Superior Court will not uphold a speeding violation issued by the Sheriff’s Department in which radar or laser enforcement is utilized. If radar or laser enforcement is not used, the Sheriff’s Department must rely on less effective alternatives, such as pacing speeding offenders. Effective radar or laser enforcement will promote the orderly movement of vehicles and reduce collisions.
The engineering and traffic surveys for the current citywide Study, dated December 2025, were conducted in mid-2025 and evaluated 208 roadway segments on major, secondary, and collector streets within the City of Santa Clarita (City). Streets located within residential districts were excluded, as these areas have an established statutory speed limit of 25 miles per hour pursuant to California law. Posted speed limits are primarily based on the speed at which 85 percent of drivers travel under free-flowing traffic conditions. However, California law allows for downward adjustments when justified through the surveys by documented factors such as collision history, roadway characteristics, or bicycle and pedestrian activity. The current citywide Study was completed as defined in Section 627 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) and was performed in accordance with the provisions of the CVC and as recommended by the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
When adopted, the Study will establish the prima facie speed limits on every major, secondary, and collector roadway within the City. Below is a list of adjustments to existing prima facie speed limits and new established prima facie speed limits as a result of the Study.
Decreases to Existing Prima Facie Speed Limits
Based on the Study, speed limits on the following sections are decreased as follows:
Road Segment Posted Proposed
Alta Vista Ave. (Constellation Rd. - Copper Hill Dr.) 45 40 Arroyo Park Dr. (McBean Pkwy. - Cortina Dr.) 35 30
Avenida Rancho Tesoro (Copper Hill Dr. - Tesoro Del Valle Rd.) 45 40 Avenida Rotella (Lyons Ave. - Avenida Rondell) 30 25
Ave. Hall (Ave. Stanford - Ave. Crocker) 40 35
Ave. Mentry (Ave. Rockefeller - Ave. Kearny) 35 30
Ave. Stanford (Vanderbilt Way - Rye Canyon Rd.) 45 40
Ave. Stanford (Rye Canyon Rd. - Ave. Scott) 45 40
Ave. Tibbitts (Newhall Ranch Rd. - Ave. Scott) 45 40
Calle Arbor (Orchard Village Rd. - Fedala Rd.) 30 25
Cinema Dr. (Valencia Blvd. - Bouquet Canyon Rd.) 35 30
Citrus St. (Valencia Blvd. - Magic Mountain Pkwy.) 35 30 Dickason Dr. (Newhall Ranch Rd. - Decoro Dr.) 40 35
Dockweiler Dr. (Sierra Hwy. - Ivy Ln.) 45 40
Five Knolls Dr. (Golden Valley Rd. - Celadon Ct.) 30 25 Golden Valley Rd. (SR-14 - Sierra Hwy.) 50 45
Isabella Pkwy. (Golden Triangle Rd. - Aurora Ln.) 30 25 Jakes Way (Sierra Hwy. - Lost Canyon Rd.) 40 35
Lost Canyon Rd. (Medley Ridge Dr. (N) - Via Princessa) 45 40 Newhall Ave. (Lyons Ave. - Main St.) 35 30
Rio Norte Dr. (Copper Hill Dr. - Village Circle Dr.) 30 25 Sand Canyon Rd. (Lost Canyon Rd. - Soledad Canyon Rd.) 45 40 Sand Canyon Rd. (Soledad Canyon Rd. - 490’ n/o Thompson Ranch Rd.)
45 40
Sandy Dr. (Sierra Hwy. - Jakes Way) 35 30
Shangri-La Dr. (Soledad Canyon Rd. - Nathan Hill Rd. (E)) 35 30 Singing Hills Dr. (Arroyo Park Dr. - McBean Pkwy.) 35 30 Tournament Rd. (McBean Pkwy. - Golf Course Rd.) 40 35
Valley Center Dr. (Soledad Canyon Rd. - Golden Valley Rd.) 40 35 Via Princessa (Rainbow Glen Dr. - Whites Canyon Rd.) 45 40 Via Princessa (Sierra Hwy. - Lost Canyon Rd.) 45 40
New Established Prima Facie Speed Limits
The following locations did not have an established engineering and traffic survey. Based on this Study, the appropriate speed limits are outlined below:
Road Segment Proposed
Avenida Rancho Tesoro/Casa Luna Pl. (Tesoro Del Valle Rd. (E) - Tesoro Del Valle Rd. (W))
35 Deputy Jake Dr. (Valle Del Oro - Matthew Pl.) 25
Golden Valley Rd. (Claremore Way - Plum Canyon Rd.) 50
Heller Circle (Plum Canyon Rd. - Whites Canyon Rd.) 25
Honby Ave. (Soledad Canyon Rd. - Santa Clara St.) 25
Lost Canyon Rd. (Jakes Way - Medley Ridge Dr. (N)) 40
Trevino Dr. (Tournament Rd. - Vista Fairways Dr.) 25
Staff recommends the City Council approve the adjustments as described above, which are based on the results of the Study, for the continued use of radar and laser enforcement. Research indicates that drivers are influenced based on roadway design and existing traffic conditions, choosing a speed at which they feel comfortable. These adjustments, when combined with effective enforcement, promote safer operating speeds on roadways. Staff estimates the cost of installing new signage and/or replacing signage for speed limits to be approximately $10,000.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adequate funds are available in Street Maintenance Traffic Signs and Markings expenditure account 2304504-514108 to support the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution - Engineering and Traffic Survey
Location Map
Engineering and Traffic Survey Report (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)