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Home My WebLink About13. Speed Limit Amend. - Bellflower & Studebaker AGENDA MEMO DATE: July 12, 2011 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Office of the City Manager By: John Oskoui, P.E., Director of Public Works SUBJECTORDINANCE AMENDINGSPEED LIMITS ON BELLFLOWER : BOULEVARD AND STUDEBAKER ROAD RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council introduce: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING SECTION 3186 OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO SPEED LIMITS ON BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD AND STUDEBAKER ROAD . BACKGROUND: The California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires Engineering and Traffic surveys be conducted periodically for roadway segments in order to post speed limits and allow enforcement by RADAR. Roadway segments that require surveys are non-local streets as defined in the federal-aid system maps administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). There are three basic means by which speed limits are established. First, the CVC identifies speed limits which apply as a maximum, in the event that no other condition is met to establish the speed limit as less than the maximum. The current maximum limits in California are 65 miles per hour (mph) on local routes and 70 mph on State highways. Second, the CVC establishes specific prima facie speed limits for streets when certain conditions are met (such as residential streets set at 25 mph). The prima facie speed limits do not need speed studies or speed limit signs to be posted in order to be enforced. For the purposes of setting prima facie speed limits, all streets must be “local” streets based on functional usage as defined by the FHWA and meet the CVC criterion for the minimum number of residential dwellings per quarter of a mile. Third, in order to post a speed limit which varies from the maximum speed limit or a prima facie speed limit and allow enforcement by RADAR, the speed must be established based on an Engineering and Traffic survey. The purpose of the Engineering and Traffic survey is to determine a speed limit which is both reasonable and safe. CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA Mayor and Members of the City Council Ordinance Amending Speed Limits On Bellflower Boulevard and Studebaker Road July 12, 2011 Page 2 Bellflower Boulevard is a principle arterial for its entire length south of Lakewood Boulevard to Foster Road, whereas Studebaker Road is a minor arterial for its entire length south of Florence Avenue to Cecilia Street (see attached location maps). Both of these streets require the preparation of an Engineering and Traffic survey in order to establish RADAR-enforceable speed limits. DISCUSSION: The Engineering and Traffic surveys have been completed, and the results were presented to the Public Works Committee on June 16, 2011. After a brief discussion of the results of the Engineering and Traffic surveys, the Public Works Committee voted nine out of ten in favor to recommend approval of the proposed speed limits to the City Council as presented below. Bellflower Boulevard and Studebaker Road Proposed Speed Limits Speed (mph) Limits StreetCurrentProposeRemarks Bellflower Blvd.*Foster Rd.Imperial Hwy.4035Decrease Bellflower Blvd.Imperial Hwy.Stewart & Gray Rd.4040No Change Bellflower Blvd.Stewart & Gray Rd.Lakewood Blvd.4040No Change Studebaker RdCecilia StreetFlorence Avenue4040No Change * The speed limit is 25 mph adjacent to school when children are present. It is proposed that a 35 mph speed limit be established for the portion of Bellflower Boulevard between Foster Road and Imperial Highway, whereas the remaining segments under consideration, as well as the length of Studebaker Road, shall remain at 40 mph. FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed ordinance will require the installation of one new speed limit sign at an estimated cost of $150. Sufficient funds are available in the Public Works Department Account 10-3145 (Traffic and Street Maintenance Program). Attachments: Ordinance Bellflower Boulevard Location Map Studebaker Road Location Map S:\AgendaMemosCC2011\07-12-11\Bell Bl, Stud Rd Speed Limits - Introduce Ordinance ORDINANCE NO. 11- AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING SECTION 3186 OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE SPEED LIMITS ON BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD AND STUDEBAKER ROAD. WHEREAS , the California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires Engineering and Traffic surveys to be conducted periodically for streets such as Bellflower Boulevard and Studebaker Road in order to post speed limits and allow enforcement by RADAR; and WHEREAS , the City of Downey has recently completed Engineering and Traffic surveys for the entire length of Bellflower Boulevard and Studebaker Road, respectively; and NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS : SECTION 1. The City Council does hereby approve the Engineering and Traffic surveys for Bellflower Boulevard and Studebaker Road, which were completed on June 3, 2011, and are incorporated herein by this reference. SECTION 2. Subsection c) and subsection j) of Section 3186 of the Downey Municipal Code are hereby amended to read as follows: c“Studebaker Road. The prima facie speed limit shall be forty (40) miles per hour.” j“Bellflower Boulevard. The prima facie speed limit between Foster Road and Imperial Highway shall be thirty-five (35) miles per hour; the prima facie speed limit between Imperial Highway and Lakewood Boulevard shall be forty (40) miles per hour.” SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published or posted as required by law. A certified original of same shall also be forwarded to the City Traffic Engineer. APPROVED AND ADOPTED thisday of , 2011. ___________________________________ LUIS H. MARQUEZ, Mayor ATTEST: JOYCE E. DOYLE, INTERIM City Clerk ORDINANCE NO. 11- PAGE TWO STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss: CITY OF DOWNEY ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance No. 11- was introduced at th a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Downey held on the 12 day of July, 2011, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Downey held on the ___ day of __ , 2011, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Members: NOES: Council Member: ABSENT: Council Member: ABSTAIN: Council Member: I FURTHER CERTIFY that a Summary of the foregoing Ordinance No. , was published in the Downey Patriot, a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Downey, on ________________, 2011 (after introduction), and on ______________, 2011 (after adoption, including the vote thereon). It was also posted in the regular posting places in the City of Downey on the same dates. __________________________________ JOYCE E. DOYLE, INTERIM City Clerk