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Home My WebLink AboutPW Change in Speed Limits on 24 San Rafael Roadways PPTCITYWIDE ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEYS AND ASSEMBLY BILL 43 STRATEGY FOR SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION Changing Speed Limits on 24 Roadway Segments February 18, 2025 OUTLINE 1.Background on Speed Limits & Assembly 43 (AB 43) 2.San Rafael’s AB 43 Strategy & Downtown Speed Limit Study 3.Engagement Efforts 4.Proposed Speed Limit Reductions 5.Other Infrastructure Improvements 6.Recommendation Motorists (California Vehicle Code (CVC) §22352) Required to operate vehicles at speeds that are “reasonable and prudent” SPEED LIMITS BACKGROUND Advise drivers of maximum reasonable and safe driving speeds Provide legal basis for adjudication Are responsibility of state and local governments Speed Limits Prima Facie Speed Limits (CVC §22352) Presumed speed limit even without posted sign E.g. 25 mph in residence or business districts All Other Roadways (CVC §22357, 22358) Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS) 85th percentile speed (speed at which 85% of vehicles drive at or below) largely dictates speed limits SPEED LIMITS BACKGROUND SPEED SURVEYS AND THE 85TH PERCENTILE Average speed: 23 mph 85th percentile: 28 mph Free- Flow Speed [mph] Measure unimpeded speeds of 100 vehicles 85th Percentile VEHICLE SPEED AND CHANCES OF SURVIVING A CRASH San Francisco Vision Zero Action Plan 2015 PROJECT OVERVIEW CVC requires an E&TS to be updated every 7 years in order to enforce speed limits by radar E&TS for most San Rafael roadways expire in October 2025 −City entered into an agreement with W-trans to conduct citywide update of all E&TS results CA Assembly Bill 43 (AB 43) provisions became fully effective on July 1, 2024 −City entered into an agreement with Parametrix to evaluate potential for additional speed limit reductions pursuant to AB 43 AB 43 BACKGROUND Statewide safety goals are not being met Issues with 85th percentile approach and need for speed limit reform is generally recognized (NTSB, NACTO, CalSTA) AB 2363 (2018) convened the Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force, whose recommendations formed basis for AB 43 AB 43 Effective January 2022, many provisions effective June 30, 2024 AB 43 HIGHLIGHTS Requires jurisdictions to take into account the presence of vulnerable groups including children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and the unhoused when establishing speed limits Permits local jurisdictions to reduce speed limits in certain areas −Safety corridors* −High pedestrian- or bicycle-generating land uses* −Business activity districts *effective June 30, 2024 BAY AREA AB 43 IMPLEMENTATION SAN JOSE OAKLAND SAN FRANCISCO PETALUMA MENLO PARKNAPA PLANNING BASIS Local Road Safety Plan (2024) Downtown Precise Plan (2021) Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan (2018) Unsafe speed is the leading cause of all crashes resulting in injury or fatality in San Rafael The High Collision Network is centered on downtown LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PLAN (2024) Citywide E&TS identifies locations for speed limit reduction AB 43 Evaluation in 2 phases 1.Downtown 2.Citywide Downtown: Existing speed limits are 25 mph, identify roadways eligible for 20 mph Business activity district Speed surveys Crash history Land use and roadway context Vulnerable roadway users Current and future infrastructure projects CITYWIDE E&TS AND AB 43 EVALUATION ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS Ongoing −Collaboration with Police Department −Information website update −Review of public feedback & online input form results Oct 2, 2024 −Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Jan 15, 2025 −Police Advisory and Accountability Committee (PAAC) Feb 5, 2025 −Update to BPAC RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT REDUCTIONS – DOWNTOWN AREA RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT REDUCTIONS – OTHER AREAS Roadway Segment Current Speed Limit Proposed Speed Limit Andersen Drive (Francisco Boulevard West to Bellam Boulevard)35 mph 30 mph Francisco Boulevard West (US-101 South Ramps to Rice Drive)35 mph 30 mph Redwood Highway (Manuel T. Freitas Parkway to 4222 Redwood Highway)35 mph 30 mph Smith Ranch Road (Redwood Highway to East End)35 mph 30 mph Civic Center Drive (Avenue of the Flags to Manuel T. Freitas Parkway)30 mph 25 mph Du Bois Street (Irwin Street to Woodland Avenue)30 mph 25 mph NEXT PHASE OF AB 43 SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION Inform & Educate Install Signage & Striping 30-day warning period Conclude Engineering Studies & Adopt Ordinance Enforce and Evaluate for Effectiveness AB 43 Evaluation for Citywide Roadways* Winter 2025 Spring/Summer 2025 Summer/Winter 2025 Citywide E&TS and AB 43 Evaluation of Downtown Roadways Fall 2024 * Phase 2 of AB 43 Evaluation: We will identify roadways with high levels of vulnerable roadway users and heavy pedestrian activity such as community centers, schools, parks, and along the City’s bicycle network citywide. Streets that we want to investigate for potential speed limit reduction will require an E&TS to be conducted along that roadway segment. Plans & Studies Road Safety Implementation Program Vision Zero Action Plan AB 413 – “No Parking” zones near crosswalks Crosswalk improvements Establish Traffic Calming ToolBox Sidewalk Repair Program Ongoing grant efforts LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PLAN (LRSP) IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS Programs Completed Francisco Blvd West MUP (2021) Francisco Blvd East Sidewalk (2022) Third Street Improvement Projects (2023) Grand Ave Cycle Track Project (2024) Multiple sidewalk / curb ramp installations (yearly) Ongoing Annual Pavement Management Program Striping Improvements Second/Fourth Intersection Improvements South Merrydale Connector Pathway Caltrans Freitas/101 Roundabout and more! INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS Before After CLOSING THOUGHTS & RECOMMENDATION ACTION Maximize safety impact through combine with education, enforcement, and infrastructure improvements Improve public health outcomes and livability (e.g., active travel, air quality, noise, etc.) in addition to improving safety outcomes by reducing speeds Recommended Action: Staff recommends that the City Council introduce the Ordinance to reduce speed limits on 24 roadways throughout the city, waive further reading of the Ordinance, and refer to it by title only. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ADDITIONAL SLIDES / BACKUP 85TH PERCENTILE EXAMPLE 85th percentile: 31MPH Conducting Speed Surveys •“The intent of the speed measurements is to determine the actual speed of unimpeded traffic…locations to take speed measurements should be chosen to provide true free flow speeds” •Avoid traffic control, high-volume driveways, speed feedback signs, or other elements that may influence vehicle speed •Minimum 5 second gap between vehicles •Conducted during off-peak hours with favorable weather => Results in elevated 85th percentile speeds UNDERSTANDING THE 85%PERCENTILE SPEED LIMITS: THE VICIOUS SPEED CYCLE SPEED CREEP CAUSES Forgiving roadway design can increase driver comfort level If an E&TS measures high travel speeds, the speed limit is increased Speed limits and police enforcement reflect driver comfort level, not necessarily safety 25 VS 20 MPH: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? When Seattle lowered its speed limit from 25 to 20 mph: •17% reduction in severe injury crashes •20% reduction in all crashes When Toronto lowered its speed limit from 40 to 30 kph: •67%reduction in severe injury/fatal crashes •28%reduction in pedestrian/vehicle crashes Fridman, L., Ling, R., Rothman, L. et al. (2020) Hu and Ciccino (2024) 15% reduction in severe injury risk Tefft, B.C. (2011). More substantial improved outcomes resulting from speed limit changes alone IMPACT OF AB 43 (EXAMPLE) Example 85th Percentile Speed Round to nearest 5 mph (CVC 22358.6(a)) If rounded up, may round down (CVC 22358.6(c)) 1)Safety corridor, or 2)Adjacent to high ped/bike generator (CVC 22358.7)+ If no additional general purpose lanes added since last E&TS (CVC 22358.8) 38 40 35 30 May retain currently adopted speed limit, or restore immediately prior adopted speed limit464540 PRE-AB 43 AB 43 Provisions +Cannot be implemented before June 30, 2024 AB 43: SAFETY CORRIDORS AND HIGH PED/BIKE GENERATING LAND USES Safety Corridors: CVC Section 22358.7(a) Eligible for additional 5 mph reduction of speed limit determined by E&TS 85th percentile Segment where highest number of serious injury and fatality crashes occur One or more required crash weighting factors applied Safety corridors shall not exceed one-fifth of the overall roadway network High Ped/Bike Generating Land Uses Eligible for additional 5 mph reduction of speed limit determined by E&TS One or more land uses are present within ¼ mile of corridor Only one of the above provisions may be enacted (cannot be combined to 10 mph speed limit reduction from E&TS) Goes into effect June 30, 2024 More definition and guidance in CA MUTCD, Section 2B.13 AB 43: BUSINESS ACTIVITY DISTRICT CVC Section 22358.9 Roadway must meet following conditions: Maximum of 4 traffic lanes Maximum posted 25 mph speed limit if establishing 20 mph limit (or 30->25 mph) In addition, roadway must meet 3 of 4 of the following criteria: 1.No less than 50% of property fronting roadway consists of commercial uses 2.Parking alongside roadway 3.Traffic signals or stop signs located at least every 600 feet 4.Uncontrolled crosswalks More detail in the CA MUTCD Section 2B.13 CITY WEBSITE https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/traffic/assembly -bill-ab-43-strategy -faq/ SAN RAFAEL AB 43 PROJECT TIMELINE Collect Feedback •City Staff •Police •Committees Citywide E&TS and AB 43 evaluation •Update Citywide E&TS •AB 43 analysis •Practical and effective •Draft 20 mph zone Implement •Adopt ordinance •Install signage and striping •30-day warning period •Enforce and evaluate 2024 Fall/Winter 2024 Spring/Summer 2025 Safety and business district priorities: Downtown Roadways Other Roads RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT REDUCTIONS ON 24 ROADWAYS Roadway Segment Current Speed Limit Proposed Speed Limit Mission Avenue (H Street to Hetherton Street)25 mph 20 mph Fifth Avenue (H Street to Hetherton Street)25 mph 20 mph Fourth Street (Marquard Avenue to Hetherton Street)25 mph 20 mph Second Street (Marquard Avenue to Hayes Street)35 mph 30 mph H Street (Mission Avenue to Fourth Street)25 mph 20 mph G Street (Mission Avenue to Second Street)25 mph 20 mph F Street (Fifth Avenue to Latham Street)25 mph 20 mph Shaver Street (Fourth Street to Second Street)25 mph 20 mph E Street (Mission Avenue to Second Street)25 mph 20 mph D Street (Fifth Avenue to First Street)25 mph 20 mph D Street (First Street to Antonette Avenue)30 mph 25 mph C Street (Mission Avenue to Second Street)25 mph 20 mph B Street (Mission Avenue to First Street)25 mph 20 mph A Street (Fifth Avenue to Second Street)25 mph 20 mph Lootens Place (Fifth Avenue to Third Street)25 mph 20 mph Cijos Street (Fourth Street to Third Street)25 mph 20 mph Lincoln Avenue (Mission Avenue to Second Street)25 mph 20 mph Tamalpais Avenue (Mission Avenue to Second Street)25 mph 20 mph Andersen Drive (Francisco Boulevard West to Bellam Boulevard)35 mph 30 mph Francisco Boulevard West (US-101 South Ramps to Rice Drive)35 mph 30 mph Redwood Highway (Manuel T. Freitas Parkway to 4222 Redwood Highway)35 mph 30 mph Smith Ranch Road (Redwood Highway to East End)35 mph 30 mph Civic Center Drive (Avenue of the Flags to Manuel T. Freitas Parkway)30 mph 25 mph Du Bois Street (Irwin Street to Woodland Avenue)30 mph 25 mph Plans & Studies: Canal Community Based Transportation Plan (2022. Update 2025) Crosswalk inventory and improvement prioritization system (2020) Local Road Safety Plan (City Council approved April 2, 2024) Bicycle & Pedestrian master plan update (2024-2026) Programs Safe Routes to Schools Street Smarts Marin Video Detection & Automated Traffic Signal Performance Operating Budget Set- Aside Road Safety Implementation Program OTHER Third Street Improvement Projects Grand Ave Cycle Track Project N. San Rafael Pavement Striping (2023) Francisco Blvd East Sidewalk (2022) Francisco Blvd West MUP (2021) Freitas/101 Roundabout (Ongoing) Annual Programs: −Crosswalk improvements −Sidewalk/ Curb Ramp Replacement −SMART City implementation SAN RAFAEL RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS Before After PUBLIC OUTREACH City has hosted a public website since October 2024, which includes information on AB 43, FAQs, resources, and a survey available for public input: https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/traffic/assemb ly -bill-ab-43-strategy -faq/ Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) on October 2, 2024, and an update was presented to the BPAC on February 5, 2025 Results of the study were presented to the Police Advisory and Accountability Committee on January 15, 2025 ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS Public website since October 2024: −Information on AB 43, FAQs, resources, and a survey available for public input: −https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/traffic/ass embly-bill-ab-43-strategy-faq/ Presentations: −Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC): October 2, 2024, −Police Advisory and Accountability Committee (PAAC): January 15, 2025 −BPAC: February 5, 2025