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Home My WebLink AboutPW Changing Speed Limits on Two Streets in North San Rafael____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: 03/04/2019 Disposition: Passed Ordinance 1969 to Print Agenda Item No: 6.b Meeting Date: March 4, 2019 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Public Works Prepared by: Bill Guerin, Director of Public Works City Manager Approval: ________ File No.: 18.06.77 TOPIC: CHANGING SPEED LIMITS ON TWO STREETS IN NORTH SAN RAFAEL SUBJECT: ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SAN RAFAEL SPEED ZONES TO INCREASE THE SPEED LIMITS ON LOS GAMOS DRIVE AND REDWOOD HIGHWAY RECOMMENDATION: Conduct a public hearing to consider introduction of an ordinance to increase the speed limits on segments of Los Gamos Drive and Redwood Highway in North San Rafael from 25 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour and pass the ordinance to print. BACKGROUND: The California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 22357 requires posted speed limits along collector and arterial roadways be established and justified by an Engineering and Traffic Survey. Furthermore, per CVC Section 40802, in order for posted speed limits to be enforceable, each Engineering and Traffic Survey needs to be updated every seven (7) years. The update interval of the Speed Survey can be extended to ten (10) years when a registered engineer determines that no significant changes in roadway or traffic conditions have occurred. Posted speed limits that do not have a current Engineering and Traffic Survey are enforceable by the Police Department by pacing, but not by radar. In April 2018, the City entered into an agreement with W -Trans to conduct the Engineering and Traffic Surveys update. As shown in Attachment A, the surveys were conducted for 51 roadway segments during non-holiday weeks in the month of May 2018, on typical weekdays under normal free flowing conditions. ANALYSIS: According to the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD), the posted speed limit established after 2006 must be set at the nearest 5 mile-per- hour (mph) increment of the 85th percentile speed that was surveyed (the average speed of 85 percent of the drivers on the road), with the City Traffic Engineer having the option of lowering it by an additional 5 mph to address traffic safety needs of the community. Under the post-2006 regulations the 85th percentile speed of 28 mph will result in a posted speed limit of 30 mph (the nearest 5 mph increment), with the City Traffic Engineer having the option of lowering it down to 25 mph. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 According to the Engineering and Traffic Survey update results, using the post-2006 regulations, there are two roadway segments where the consultants are recommending an increase in the posted speed limit. The posted speed limits along the remaining roadway segments that were studied will remain unchanged. Roadway Segment Limit Existing Speed Proposed Speed Los Gamos Dr (Lucas Valley Rd to 1401 Los Gamos Dr) 25 mph 30 mph Redwood Highway (4222 Redwood Hwy to Manuel T Freitas Pkwy) 25 mph 30 mph CVC section 22357(a) provides that an ordinance is required to increase the speed limit on these streets: Whenever a local authority determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that a speed greater than 25 miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe upon any street other than a state highway otherwise subject to a prima facie limit of 25 miles per hour, the local authority may by ordinance determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 miles per hour or a maximum speed limit of 65 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and is reasonable and safe. Staff has prepared an ordinance to implement the recommended speed limit increases (Attachment B). Staff has determined that adoption of this ordinance will have no effect on the environment and is therefore exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (14 Cal Code Regs. Section 15061.) FISCAL IMPACT: There will be minimal fiscal impact resulting from speed limit sign replacements and pavement marking changes to be performed by the Streets Maintenance Division staff. PUBLIC CONTACT: Public contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and staff report on the City’s web page, and availability of the agenda and staff report in the City Clerk’s office, and in the Marin Independent Journal (Marin IJ). OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider relating to this matter: 1.Approve the introduction of the ordinance as presented. 2.Do not approve the ordinance. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Conduct a public hearing on the ordinance regarding speed limit increases on Los Gamos Drive and Redwood Highway pursuant to section 22357 of the California Vehicle Code and pass the ordinance to print. ATTACHMENTS: A.Engineering and Traffic Surveys for the City of San Rafael B.Ordinance Regarding Speed Limit Increase on Los Gamos Drive and Redwood Highway pursuant to Section 22357 of the California Vehicle Code Recommendations In accordance with Sections 627, 22357, 22358, and 40802 of the 0/C, Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS) were completed to determine the recommended speed limits along each corridor. The CA-MUTCD was consulted prior to preparation of the E&TS contained in this report. Part 2, Signs, contains the policy for establishing speed limits based on an E&TS, and indicates that the speed limit shall be established at the nearest five mile per hour (mph) increment to the 85'"-percentile speed, except that the posted speed may be reduced by five mph from the nearest five-mph increment of the 85'h percentile speed in compliance with CVC Sections 627 and 22358.5 and justified by an E&TS, including approval by a registered Civil or Traffic Engineer. The CA-MUTCD also includes standards for the preparation of E&TS, specifically noting that each E&TS shall consider prevailing speeds, collision records, and highway or traffic or roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver. Speed limits are recommended for each of the segments studied based on the policies described in the CVC and the CA-MUTCD. The results of the surveys are summarized below, with the existing posted speeds and recommended speeds for all segments tabulated in Table 1. As shown, increases to the speed limit on two of the segments appears to be warranted. Copies of the Engineering and Traffic Survey forms compiled from the field data and subsequent analysis are contained in Appendix B. Street Study Segment 2"c St Marquard Ave-Hayes St 4th St H St-linca/n Ave Ross Valley Dr-Marquard Ave 5th Ave Grand Ave-H St H Sr-West End Andersen Dr Bel/am Blvd-Sanitary Treatment Plant B St Wo odla nd Ave-Second St Balboa St Pt. San Pedro Rd-Lochinvar Rd Average Collision Rates Critical Existing Proposed Speed Speed Speed Segment San State of (85th Limit Limit Rafael CA Percentile) 1.99 3.59 2.22 39 35 35 9.80 4.56 2.21 29 25 25 1.12 1.12 1.48 42 35 35 24.5 4.56 2.21 25 25 1.87 4.56 2.21 32 25 2.15 4.56 2.21 38 35 35 10.01 4.56 2.21 29 25 25 0.00 4.56 2.21 28 25 25 -- Engineering and Traffic Surveys for the City of San Rafael February 8, 2019 n "1 ., !clll I ~•-.··• ••• 11:..i~ ••••• ~ , .. u ~ ,. '-''-'-;'V'~:" ;'.. 'j ,.,~,, Street Average Collision Rates Study Segment Segment San Rafael Civic Center Dr Freitas Pkwy-Ave of the Flags 2.06 2.28 D St Second St-Antonette Ave 6_89 4.56 -Francisco Blvd E Be/Jam Blvd-Grand Ave 2.91 2.28 Irene St-/-580 2.70 4.56 Grand Ave Mountain View Ave-Mission Ave 3.21 4.56 --Hetherton St Mission Ave-Second St 16.55 7.23 Irwin St Second St-Mission Ave 9.43 7.23 ----Kerner Blvd Be/lam Blvd-Canal St 5.95 4.56 Irene St-Be/lam Blvd 2.66 2.66 Las Colindas Ave Las Ovejas Ave-las Pavadas Ave 5.82 4.56 Las Ovejas Ave Montecillo Rd-Las Co/indasAve 3.94 4.56 Lincoln Ave Linden Ln-lrwin St 8.63 4.56 LosGamosRd Lucas Valley Rd-End 1.83 4.56 Manuel T. Freitas Pkwy Montecillo Rd-Redwood Hwy 5.26 3.59 --Mission Ave Embarcadero Wy-Lincoln Ave 9.17 4.56 LJncoln Ave-H St 4.79 4.56 Montecillo Rd Nova Albion Wy-Las Ovejas Ave 3.75 4.56 Mountain View Ave Grand Ave-End 0.00 4.56 Engineering and Traffic Surveys for the City of San Rafael February 8, 2019 State of CA 1.57 2.21 -1.57 2.21 2.21 1.57 -1.57 2.21 2,21 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.22 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 -i,;;.•~· ~~-.. 1_ ~,,f.,•11t r~-t2 _,._, ... --~' . .,.. ,:.._,;.:,-4 •• •• , . .;.. _ ~ \• ..,.-.-~., c,n _,. ~ ;...,.i, .'., . ·I I Critical Existing I Proposed Speed Speed Speed (85th Limit Limit Percentile) 36 30 30 33 30 30 35 30 30 42 35 35 ' 32 25 25 31 I 25 25 ' ' 29 I 25 25 32 25 25 I 37 30 30 32 25 25 24 25 25 32 25 25 33 25 30 38 35 35 28 25 25 31 25 25 31 25 25 32 25 25 ·•·· ... _ .. '· ··~: ~ :, . ,.'4' Fl F.'I ;i . "· . . .. • ~,■1tffl1r.. 1.,.;_ ... _ '"'d'U ' ·~ . ., Street Average Collision Rates Critical I Existing Proposed Study Segment Speed Speed I Speed Segment San State of (85th Limit Limit Rafael CA Percentile) j N San Pedro Rd ' Los Ranchitos Rd-Golf Ave 1.65 2.28 1.57 37 30 30 Northgate Dr Las Gallinas Ave-Los Ranchitos Rd 2.11 4.56 2.21 28 25 25 Professional Center Pkwy Redwood Hwy-Channing Wy 4.33 4.56 2.21 27 25 I 25 Redwood Hwy Smith Ranch Rd-4222 Redwood Hwy 0.99 4.56 2.21 37 30 30 4222 Redwood Hwy-Freitas Pkwy 3.32 4.56 2.21 33 25 30 J Riviera Dr Pt. San Pedro Rd-Biscayne Dr 4.06 4.56 2.21 29 I 25 25 Smith Ranch Rd Redwaod Hwy-End 1.69 3.59 2.22 39 35 I 35 Notes: Collision rates are shown in collisions per million vehicle miles; Speed is shown in miles per hour; Bold text indicates an increase in the recommended speed limit Changes to Posted Speed Limits I The two segments with recommendations for increased speed limits are discussed below. Each segment currently has a posted speed of 25 mph and a recommendation to increase the speed limit to 30 mph, based on the analytical findings of this survey combined with engineering judgement. Los Ga mos Road -Lucas Valley Road to End This roadway had an 85th percentile speed of 33 mph, which is eight mph higher than the existing posted speed limit. However, the apparent speed limit of 35 mph is at the top end of the pace of 25 to 35 mph, and so the proposed speed limit is 30 mph, an increase of S mph. Redwood Highway-4222 Redwood Highwayto Manuel T. Freitas Parkway Though the critical speed was measured at 33 mph, given the above-average collision rate of 3.32 c/mvm and pace of 23 to 33 mph, it is recommended that the speed limit be raised to 30 mph, an increase of 5 mph. '{(s Engineering and Traffic Surveys for the City of San Rafael February 8, 2019 1 ORDINANCE NO. 1969 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL REGARDING SPEED LIMIT INCREASE ON LOS GAMOS DRIVE AND REDWOOD HIGHWAY PURSUANT TO SECTION 22357 OF THE CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE ______________________________________________________________________ THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: DIVISION 1. FINDINGS. WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 22357 of the California Vehicle Code, the City of San Rafael has the right to determine that a speed limit greater than 25 miles per hour (mph) on certain streets would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe; and WHEREAS, the speed limit on Los Gamos Drive is now 25 mph and the speed limit on Redwood Highway is 25 mph; and WHEREAS, engineering and traffic studies have been prepared for Los Gamos Drive and Redwood Highway consistent with Section 627 of the California Vehicle Code that identifies recommended maximum speed limits, and based thereon, the City’s Traffic Engineer has determined and recommended that the maximum speed limit on both streets should be increased to 30 mph to facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic, and would be reasonable and safe; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: DIVISION 2. SPEED LIMIT ESTABLISHED. The prima facie speed limit on Los Gamos Drive from Lucas Valley Road to the end of Los Gamos Drive (1401 Los Gamos Drive) is hereby increased to 30 mph and shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the street. DIVISION 3. S PEED LIMIT ESTABLISHED. The prima facie speed limit on Redwood Highway from 4222 Redwood Highway to Manuel T. Freitas Parkway is hereby increased to 30 mph and shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the street. DIVISION 4. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. This Ordinance is exempt from environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental 2 Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 14 Cal. Code Regs. Section 15061(b)(3) as it can be seen with certainty that it will not have a significant effect on the environment. DIVISION 5. PUBLICATION. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be published once, in full or in summary form, before its final passage, in a newspaper of general circulation, published, and circulated in the City of San Rafael, and shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its final passage. If published in summary form, the summary shall also be published within fifteen (15) days after the adoption, together with the names of those Councilmembers voting for or against same, in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the City of San Rafael, County of Marin, State of California. __________________________ GARY O. PHILLIPS, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk The foregoing Ordinance No.1969 was read and introduced at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on the 4th day of March 2019 and ordered passed to print by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Councilmembers: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin & Mayor Pro Tem McCullough Councilmembers: None Councilmembers: Mayor Phillips and will come up for adoption as an Ordinance of the City of San Rafael at a Regular Meeting of the Council to be held on the 18th day of March, 2019. ______________________________ LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk CITY OF SAN RAFAEL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING You are invited to attend a City Council meeting on the following project: PROJECT: PROPOSED SPEED LIMIT INCREASE FROM 25 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) TO 30 MPH ON LOS GAMOS DRIVE FROM LUCAS VALLEY ROAD TO END (1401 LOS GAMOS DRIVE) AND REDWOOD HIGHWAY FROM 4222 REDWOOD HIGHWAY TO MANUEL T FREITAS PARKWAY The City of San Rafael is updating the Engineering & Traffic Surveys so the San Rafael Police Department can enforce by radar gun and so the speed limits can be upheld in court. State law requires jurisdictions to reverify posted speeds every seven years and up to 10 years if a review is performed by a registered engineer and a determination is made that there have been no significant changes to the roadway or traffic conditions. Of the 33 roadway segments that were updated in this round, two are proposed to have a speed limit increase from 25 mph to 30 mph, namely Los Gamos Drive from Lucas Valley Road to end (1401 Los Gamos Drive) and Redwood Highway from 4222 Redwood Highway to Manuel T. Freitas Parkway It has been determined that there is no possibility that adoption of the proposed ordinance will have a physical impact on the environment, therefore this project is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under the common-sense exemption in 14 Cal Code Regs. Section 15061. MEETING DATE & LOCATION: Monday, March 4, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. San Rafael City Hall – City Council Chambers 1400 Fifth Avenue at "D" Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 WHAT WILL HAPPEN: You can comment on the proposed speed limit increases on Los Gamos Drive and Redwood Highway. The City Council will accept all public testimony and consider whether to adopt the ordinance. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND: You can send written correspondence by email to the address below, or by mail/hand delivery to the Public Works Department, City of San Rafael, Attention: Lauren Davini, 111 Morphew Street, San Rafael, CA 94901. You may also mail a letter to Lindsay Lara, City Clerk of San Rafael, PO Box 151560 San Rafael, CA 94915-156, or hand deliver it to her prior to the meeting. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Lauren Davini at (415) 485-3361 or at lauren.davini@cityofsanrafael.org. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL /s/ Lindsay Lara Lindsay Lara CITY CLERK