HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.A 08/06/2012 A9 wtda'Iteww#4.A
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DATE: August 06;2012
TO: Honorable Mayor and Meas.e= of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Dan St. John, F.ASCE– P - °ir orks & Utilities
Curtis M. Bates,.RE. –City Engineer
SUBJECT: Introduction (First Reading)of an Ordinance to Establish Radar Enforceable
Speed Limitson Certain Sfreets within the City of Petaluma.
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RECOMMENDATION.
It is recommended that the City Council introduce.an ordinance to establish radar enforceable
speed limits on certain streets within,the City of Petaluma.
BACKGROUND
The City must conduct engineering and traffic surveys prior to establishing radar enforceable
speedlimits on an existing,street: Over time, traffic conditions change as a result of street
improvements, development, or changes in traffic and/or-pedestrian-use,which necessitate
reviewing, resetting or establishing-radar enforceable speed limits for the safety of the traveling
public and pedestrians: Existing'Speed zones do not change if there.is nosignificant change to
existing traffic conditions.
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This item was presented to the City Council at its July 2, 2012 meeting. The Council had
enforcement related questions about the segment of Petaluma Boulevardbetween the new
roundabout at Crystal Lane and the southerly City limits. Upon.further'review, the Police
Department has,withdrawn the:request to provide a radar enforceable speed limit for this •
segment. Although not radar enforceable, the Police Department can still enforce speeding on
this segment. Additionally, in consultation with the City Attorney, staff does not believe a
potential liability•iscicreated:bedause this area.is.-currently not subject to speeding'problems nor
does it have a history'of collisions.
DISCUSSION.
The,CalifomiaVenicle;Code'(CVC) and California Manual on Uniform Traffic.Control Devices
(MUTCD),require that an engineering and traffic,survey be.performed to determine and establish
prevailing speeds on,street.segments 40''in width or:greater'and requires;agencies to set posted
limits at•the 85t percentile of speeds obtained during the'speed survey (i':e: 15% of surveyed
vehicles went faster and 85%'went slower).
Agenda.Review:,
City Attorney l y x Finance Director_ City Manacle, t•T\� �./—]
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' • The Traffic Engineering.Division of the Public Works•and•Utilities'Department_and the Traffic
Enforcement.and Safety Division of the-Police_Department;coordinate on a.regular'basis.to make
certain!speed surveys exist and are updated as necessary in accordance with State law and local
regulations: The Traffic Engineering Division has conducted a study to establish posted speed
limits on Redwood Way between North McDowell Boulevard and Old.Redwood Highway, and
on 2"d Street between D Street and G Street. Both street segments exceed,40 feet in width,
measured curb to curb and therefore require a speed survey;to establish posted speed limits. No
previous'speed surveys existon`tliese two,segments. The survey that was just completed
supports-a25 MPH limit for ther2"d Street segment and 30 MPH limit at Redwood Way.
A speed;survey was also performed:on Petaluma Boulevard.South, between McNear Avenue and
the new roundabout at Crystal Lane, to re-establish speeds near the Quarry Heights Subdivision
currently under,construction. The posted speed for this segment has.been re-established at 35
MPH, based on the results of the speed survey. This new posted limit is 10 MPH less than the
previous speed limit of 45 MPH. Although the recommended reduction in the speed limit is
based on current driving practices, when the new speed is implemented the area will be well
posted with change of conditionasignage to alert drivers to the reduced speed limit.
Staff recommends introduction of the ordinance to estal3i sh`the following speed limits:
• CURRENT PROP,OSEp1
STREET FROM. , TO' 'SPEEDILIMIT' °SPEEDJGMIT
...MP,H ., MSH
2nd Street "b" Street "G" Street. 'N/A 25
Petaluma Roundaboutat
Boulevard South McNear Avenue Crystal Lane 45 35
North'McDowell Old Redwood
Redwood Way Boulevard. Highway N/A 30
The proposed action meets City. Council,Goal: "Create:and implement cleardirection or
development and sustainable'objectives."
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
No fiscal irnpact is'.associated with the introduction,ofthis ordinance. Costfor staff time to
complete these speed surveys is approximately $1,000.00, and is included in current approved
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ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance
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• Attachment 1
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ORDINANCE No N.C.S.
EFFECTIVE DATE'
OF ORDINANCE
Introduced by Seconded by
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AN ORDINANCE:TOESTABLISH RADAR ENFORCEABLE:SPEED LIMITS
ON CERTAIN`STREETS`WITHIN THE+CITYOF PETALUMA
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA AS FOLLOWS: •
Section 1 . Pursuant to°California Vehicle Code 22357, 22358;and 22358.3 , as well as
. section 2B.13 of the California Manual on Unified Traffic Control Devices, the radar enforceable
speed zones on the following Petaluma City streets are hereby amended and/or established:
• CURRENT'r. PROPOSED.L.
«STREET - FROM TO SPEED LIMIT" SPEEOLIMIT;
_ • MPH, MPH. ,
2nd Street "D" Street ""G" Street N/A 25
Petaluma Roundabout at
Boulevard South, • McNear Avenue: Crystal Lane 45 35
North.McDowe ll Old"Redwood •
• Redwood Way Boulevard. Highway N/A 30
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Section 2. Previously<established radar enforceable speed zones not re-
established or modified in this-ordinance shall remain approved as previously
adopted for the streets to which.they apply.
Section 3. If any section, subsection,rsenterice, clause or phrase or word of this
Ordinance is foranyreason held:to be unconstitutional, unlawful or otherwise:invalid by
a court.,of competent jurisdiction,such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council of the.City of Petaluma hereby
declares that it would have passed and adopted this Ordinance and each and all
provisions thereof, irrespective of'the fact that any one or more of said provisions be
declared unconstitutional, unlawful or otherwise invalid.
Section 4: The City Clerk is hereby directed to post this Ordinance for the period
and in the manner requited by.the City Charter.
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