Agenda Item #13.8
For Council Meeting of: August 19, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROBERT SPRINKLE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS TO REDUCE VEHICLE SPEEDS TO BETWEEN 25-40 MILES PER HOUR ON 29 STREET SEGMENTS CITYWIDE AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Transportation and Public Works Department that the Council, by resolution, establish radar enforceable speed limits that reduce vehicle speeds to between 25-40 miles per hour on 29 street segments throughout the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This item is establishing radar enforceable speed limits on street segments within the City of Santa Rosa.
BACKGROUND
Changes to the California Vehicle Code and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices were implemented with Assembly Bills 43 (2021) and 1938 (2022). Assembly Bill 43 provides greater flexibility in establishing speed limits in California. Assembly Bill 1938 clarifies in further detail the intent of AB 43 and provides specific limits within the California Vehicle Code on how the rules can be implemented.
AB 43 states the following (summarized):
Revise traffic survey procedures to require bicycle/pedestrian safety consideration and develop survey guidance on this safety topic.
Allow state and local agencies to post speed limits below 25 mph when supported by a traffic survey.
Increase reduction allowance for posted speed limits to allow greater deviations from the 85th percentile speed by including criteria for a statewide definition of High Injury Networks (HIN), criteria for areas adjacent to land uses and types of roadways that have high concentrations of vulnerable road users.
Add business activity district as an additional class of location eligible for a prima facie speed limit and include statewide definition to include urban villages, neighborhood downtowns, and other business-oriented locations.
Revise requirements related to posting prima facie speed limits in school zones to allow speed limit as low as 15 mph without requiring a traffic survey.
Allow for a traffic survey to retain the existing speed limit (or revert to one determined in a prior traffic survey) unless a registered engineer determines that significant design changes have been made to the roadway since completion of the last traffic survey with the specific intent of increasing the safe operating speed. It extends the maximum length of time an engineering and traffic survey may be used from 10 to 14 years.
Consolidate and clarify statutory sections related to speed setting methodology.
AB 1938 does the following (summarized):
Makes technical, clarifying changes to existing law (AB 43 provisions) on how speed limits are set. It clarifies the circumstances where and how much a local authority may lower the speed limit below that is indicated by an Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS).
AB 1938 simply codifies the preexisting authority on setting speed limits and clarifies that the additional authority granted by AB 43 was meant to supplement, not supplant, that authority.
AB 1938 clarifies the intent of AB 43 was to lower speed limits by not more than 12.4 miles per hour from what would have resulted from an E&TS.
California Vehicle Code Section 22358.7 permits local authorities to set prima facie speed limits that have been reduced by an additional five miles per hour for either of the following reasons:
The portion of the highway has been designated as a safety corridor. A local authority shall not deem more than one-fifth of their streets as safety corridors.
The portion of highway is adjacent to any land or facility that generates high concentrations of bicyclists or pedestrians, especially those from vulnerable groups such as children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and the unhoused.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On December 14, 2010, the City Council, by Resolution 27784 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Barnes Road between 600 feet north of Camino Del Prado and North City Limits.
On March 14, 2017, the City Council, by Resolution RES-2017-037 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Bennett Valley Road between Santa Rosa Avenue and Brookwood Avenue.
On January 5, 1982, the City Council, by Resolution 15475 established a speed limit of 40 mph on Bicentennial Way between Range Avenue and Mendocino Avenue.
On December 10, 1991, the City Council, by Resolution 20616 established a speed limit of 40 mph on Bicentennial Way between Mendocino Avenue and Fountaingrove Parkway.
On September 9, 2008, the City Council, by Resolution 27196 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Brookwood Avenue between Kawana Springs Road and Linwood Avenue.
On November 6, 2012, the City Council, by Resolution 28201 established a speed limit of 40 mph on Brush Creek Road between Montecito Boulevard and Badger Road.
On April 19, 2016, the City Council, by Resolution 28767 established a speed limit of 30 mph on Cleveland Avenue between Ninth Street and College Avenue.
On August 7, 1973, the City Council, by Resolution 10492 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Cleveland Avenue between College Avenue and Edwards Avenue.
On May 17, 1983, the City Council, by Resolution 16162 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Colgan Avenue between Santa Rosa Avenue and Petaluma Hill Road.
On February 14, 2012, the City Council, by Resolution 28037 established a speed limit of 40 mph on West College Avenue between Fulton Road and Clover Drive.
On September 27, 2011, the City Council, by Resolution 27981 established a speed limit of 35 mph on North Dutton Avenue between West Third Street and West College Avenue.
On February 6, 1979, the City Council, by Resolution 13681 established a speed limit of 40 mph on North Dutton Avenue between West College Avenue and Guerneville Road.
On May 11, 2010, the City Council, by Resolution 27629 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Dutton Meadow between Bellevue Avenue and Hearn Avenue.
On July 10, 1979, the City Council, by Resolution 13949 established a speed limit of 30 mph on Fourth Street between E Street and College Avenue.
On September 27, 2011, the City Council, by Resolution 27981 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Fourth Street between College Avenue and Bryden Lane.
On September 27, 2011, the City Council, by Resolution 27981 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Fourth Street between Bryden Lane and Farmers Lane.
On January 7, 1975, the City Council, by Resolution 11232 established a speed limit of 45 mph on Fulton Road between Highway 12 and West College Avenue.
On July 5, 1988, the City Council, by Resolution 18980 established a speed limit of 45 mph on Fulton Road between West College Avenue and Guerneville Road.
On January 7, 1975, the City Council, by Resolution 11232 established a speed limit of 45 mph on Fulton Road between Guerneville Road and Piner Road.
On March 18, 2008, the City Council, by Resolution 27052 established a speed limit of 45 mph on Fulton Road between Piner Road and Wood Road.
On November 19, 1996, the City Council, by Resolution 22933 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Maple Street between Santa Rosa Avenue and Brookwood Avenue.
On August 2, 1977, the City Council, by Resolution 12642 established a speed limit of 40 mph on Montecito Boulevard between Middle Rincon Road and Calistoga Road.
On June 4, 1991, the City Council, by Resolution 20381 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Parker Hill Road between Chanate Road and Stagecoach Road.
On August 28, 1979, the City Council, by Resolution 14038 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Santa Rosa Avenue between Maple Avenue and Sonoma Avenue.
On May 6, 1975, the City Council, by Resolution 11405 established a speed limit of 30 mph on Santa Rosa Avenue between Sonoma Avenue and Third Street.
On October 9, 2007, the City Council, by Resolution 26945 established a speed limit of 35 mph on Steele Lane between Cleveland Avenue and Mendocino Avenue.
On November 13, 2018, the City Council, by Resolution RES-2018-197 established a speed limit of 40 mph on South Wright Road between Ludwig Avenue and Price Avenue.
On February 5, 1974, the City Council, by Resolution 10757 established a speed limit of 40 mph on Yulupa Avenue between Bennett Valley Road and Tachevah Drive.
ANALYSIS
The following table gives a summary of the engineering and traffic survey results:
Street
From
To
High Injury Network
Existing Speed Limit
Proposed Speed Limit
Justification for Lowering
Barnes Rd
600’ n/o Camino Del Prado
North City Limits
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Bennett Valley Rd
Santa Rosa Ave
Brookwood Ave
Yes
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Bicentennial Way
Range Ave
Mendocino Ave
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Bicentennial Way
Mendocino Ave
Fountaingrove Pkwy
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Brookwood Ave
Kawana Springs Rd
Linwood Ave
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Brush Creek Rd
Montecito Blvd
Badger Rd
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Cleveland Ave
Ninth St
College Ave
Yes
30 25
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Cleveland Ave
College Ave
Edwards Ave
Yes
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Colgan Ave
Petaluma Hill Rd
Santa Rosa Ave
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
West College Ave
Fulton Rd
Clover Dr
Yes
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
N Dutton Ave
W Third St
W College Ave
Yes
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
N Dutton Ave
W College Ave
Guerneville Rd
Yes
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Dutton Meadow
Bellevue Ave
Hearn Ave
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Street
From
To
High Injury Network
Existing Speed Limit
Proposed Speed Limit
Justification for Lowering
Fourth St
E St
College Ave
Yes
30 25
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Fourth St
College Ave
Bryden Ln
Yes
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Fourth St
Bryden Ln
Farmers Ln
Yes
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Fulton Rd
Highway 12
West College Ave
Yes
45 40
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Fulton Rd
West College Ave
Guerneville Rd
45 40
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Fulton Rd
Guerneville Rd
Piner Road
45 40
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Fulton Rd
Piner Rd
Wood Rd
Yes
45 40
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Maple Ave
Santa Rosa Ave
Brookwood Ave
Yes
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Montecito Blvd
Middle Rincon Rd
Calistoga Rd
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Parker Hill Rd
Chanate Rd
Stagecoach Rd
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Santa Rosa Ave
Maple Ave-South A St
Sonoma Ave
Yes
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Santa Rosa Ave
Sonoma Ave
Third St
Yes
30 25
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Steele Ln
Cleveland Ave
Mendocino Ave
Yes
35 30
CVC 22358.7 (a)(1)
Street
From
To
High Injury Network
Existing Speed Limit
Proposed Speed Limit
Justification for Lowering
S Wright Rd
Price Ave
Ludwig Ave
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Yulupa Ave
Bennett Valley Rd
Bethards Dr
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
Yulupa Ave
Bethards Dr
Tachevah Dr
40 35
CVC 22358.7 (a)(2)
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The Council finds that pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the proposed action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Vicinity Map
Resolution
PRESENTER
Mike VanMidde, Associate Traffic Engineer
ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS TO REDUCE VEHICLE SPEEDS TO BETWEEN 25-40 MILES PER HOUR ON 29 STREET SEGMENTS CITYWIDE
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