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Home My WebLink About2005-09-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS (2)Agenda Item: 6 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: Andrew Yi DATE: September 13, 2005 SUBJECT: 2005 ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY STUDY DEPARTMENT: Public Works RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council adopt a resolution establishing prima facie speed limits on each highway segment included in the 2005 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study; direct the City Clerk to certify the Study as to the effective date of the individual surveys; direct staff to implement the necessary signing changes brought about by adoption of this Study; and request the Sheriff's Department to continue an aggressive radar/laser enforcement program on City streets and highways covered in the Study as soon as the signing changes are made. BACKGROUND Staff has completed an Engineering and Traffic Survey Study (Study) as defined in Section 627 of the California Vehicle Code (Code). This Study (copy available in the City Clerk's reading file) forms the basis for recommended speed limits on nearly every major, secondary, and collector roadway within the City. The Study was performed according to the provisions of the Code and as recommended by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Traffic Manual. When adopted, the Study establishes prima facie speed limits on every highway segment included in the Study. When appropriate signs are posted according to this Study, the Sheriff's Department can enforce each of these speed limits. California cities, counties, and other state agencies must conduct these surveys every five years to validate the continued use of radar/laser enforcement. Without a valid Engineering and Traffic Survey Study approved by the City Council, it is likely that the Los Angeles County courts will not uphold a speeding violation issued by the Sheriffs Department, in which radar/laser was utilized. Enforcement of speed limits by radar/laser is the safest and most effective form of speed control. Without radar/laser, speed enforcement becomes more complicated, more time consuming, and less safe because of the need to pace offending vehicles with a police unit. Rather than one speeding vehicle on the highway, there would be two: the offender and the police unit. Adopted: 29.so. 0 5-) 07 An effective radar/laser enforcement program can: • Lower prevailing vehicle speeds • Lower vehicular accident rates • Enhance overall highway safety The results of this Study are presented in one report. The report includes individual surveys on 202 highway segments. The purpose of this presentation is to include all engineering and traffic surveys in one volume. As such, each surveyed street will have virtually the same data from which the five-year cycle would begin. The report contains a brief discussion regarding speed zone principles, basic purpose, and methodology of speed zone studies. It includes a summary of recommended speed limits for each highway segment studied and a color -coded City map depicting the recommended speed limits as formulated in this Study. There are two tabulated summaries of traffic accident analysis and the speed survey summary and recommendations. It also includes the appendices containing the detailed engineering and survey data. The report also contains a summary of significant adjustments to existing posted speed limits. Staff has recommended these adjustments, based on the results of the Study, as essential to the overall success of the program. The speed limit adjustments are listed as follows: 1. New Established Prima Facie Speed Limits The following locations did not previously have an established Engineering and Traffic Survey. Based on the new survey, the appropriate speed limits are outlined below: Proposed • Aurora Drive between Newhall Ranch Road and Kelly Johnson Parkway 30 mph • Avenue Scott between McBean Parkway and Avenue Rockefeller 45 mph • Copper Hill Drive between Buckhom Lane and David Way 40 mph • Decoro Drive between McBean Parkway and Dickason Drive 45 mph • Golden Valley Road between SR -14 and Sierra Highway 50 mph 2. Decreases to Existing Prima Facie Speed Limits Based on the new survey, the speed limits on the following sections are decreased as follows: Posted IProposed • Anza Drive between Mentry and Avenue Hopkins 40 mph 35 mph • Bouquet Cyn. Rd. between Urbandale Ave. and Steve Jon St. 50 mph 45 mph • Decoro Dr. between McBean Pkwy. and Vista Delgado Dr. 50 mph 45 mph • Northpark Dr. between McBean Parkway and Copper Hill Drive 30 mph 25 mph • Parkwood Ln. between Newhall Ranch Rd. and Bridgeport Ln. 30 mph 25 mph • Whites Canyon Road between Nadal Street and Ashboro Drive 45 mph 40 mph 3. Increases to Existing Prima Facie Sneed Limits Based on the new survey, the speed limits on the following sections are increased as follows: Posted Proposed Decoro Drive between Dickason Drive and Copper Hill Drive 35 mph 45 mph Nathan Hill between Shangri-La Dr. (N) and Shangri-La Dr. (S) 25 mph 30 mph Staff recommends these adjustments primarily because of observed speeds on the highway segments. These observed speeds are the result of driver comfort with the roadway. The individual driver selects this comfort level, often without regard for the posted speed limit. It is not likely that these adjustments in the speed limit will result in higher prevailing speeds. In fact, these adjustments, when combined with an effective enforcement program, can result in safer operating speeds on the highway. The increase in speed limits for Decoro Drive was mainly due to the roadway connection after the Decoro Bridge was constructed. The Sheriff's Department has carefully reviewed each recommendation of this Study and concurs with its findings. The County of Los Angeles will need to review and concur with those recommendations along street segments under joint City/County jurisdiction. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT New sign installations or minor adjustments to existing signs will be required. The estimated cost is about $3,000.00. Funds for these expenses are available in the Signing and Striping Maintenance Account 4814-7335. ATTACHMENTS Resolution Figure 1 - Recommended Speed Limits - 2005 Speed Surveys 2005 Engineering and Traffic Survey Study (copy available in the City Clerk's Reading File) W 06a3 4 m ia®v°°9a®v9vv ®®@' 8� vvvvvvle �a3 e Q9� sv ® �P� vv a8'_ Baa 9 'a 's 133 9 6 D mx "� n 9w Q s, 8 E 'a IN Q:. ° �mm N e ap@:-„m�rgn 5� N p6Ytl as "q x ,, e o` Q9� sv ® 9avva vv a8'_ Baa 8 �iM�ef ee •aee i o > �Yy6aauxG. n 9w p p a q+b 8° +� e a u a IV e o` Q9� sv ® 9avva vv a8'_ Baa m s� � a � o i o > �Yy6aauxG. n 9w p p a q+b 8° +� e a u a IV e o` �u �vv�'y Ras e yT��yq�o,ga2gT-"-�� 5e� 9 i o > �Yy6aauxG. n 8 s p p e o` emNMM��tnN