HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpeed Cherokee DATE: March 13, 2007
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Office
of the City Manager
By: Desi Alvarez, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: SPEED LIMIT FOR CHEROKEE DRIVE
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council introduce:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF DOWNEY AMENDING SECTION 3186 OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE SPEED LIMIT FOR CHEROKEE DRIVE.
INTRODUCTION:
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires Engineering and
Traffic (E&T) surveys be conducted periodically for many 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 limit
is 65 mph in California, but the State may increase the speed limit to 70 miles per hour (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 FHWA and meet the CVC criterion for the minimum
number of residential dwellings per mile.
Third, in order to post a speed limit which varies from the maximum speed or a prima facie speed limit and allow enforcement by RADAR, the
speed must be established based on an E & T survey. The purpose of said survey is to determine a speed limit which is reasonable and safe. Cherokee Drive is a collector street that
requires the preparation of an E&T survey in order to establish RADAR-enforceable speed limits.
Mayor and Members of City Council
Speed Limits for Cherokee Drive
March 13, 2007
Page 2
ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY RESULTS:
The City routinely conducts E&T surveys in conformance with the CVC requirement and in
accordance with Federal and State guidelines. Said surveys are essential for recognizing changing roadway/traffic conditions, and to make appropriate adjustments to complement speed
enforcement. The proposed ordinance is to amend the Downey Municipal Code (DMC) to reflect the results of the E&T survey for Cherokee Drive.
The results of the recently completed E&T
surveys (in conjunction with the current 2004 adopted Federal/State manual procedures) are summarized below. No changes are proposed to the existing posted speed limit of 30 mph between
Downey Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard. After review and discussion of the report at the meeting of March 1, 2007, the Traffic Committee voted unanimously to endorse the proposed speed
limit on Cherokee Drive.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The proposed ordinance would not incur any costs to implement.
Attachments:
Ordinance
E&T Surveys
S:\Agendas & Memos 2007\agda031307\Ch
erokee spd lim - Intro Ord
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING SECTION 3186 OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE SPEED LIMIT FOR CHEROKEE DRIVE.
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle
Code (CVC) requires engineering and traffic (E&T) surveys to be conducted periodically for Cherokee Drive in order to post speed limits and allow enforcement by RADAR; and
WHEREAS,
the City of Downey has recently completed E & T surveys for Cherokee Drive.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Subsection
u) of Section 3186 of the Downey Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Cherokee Drive. Cherokee Drive. Between Downey Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard, the prima facie
speed limit shall be thirty (30) miles per hour.”
SECTION 2. 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 this day of , 2007.
__________________
_________________
, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk
ORDINANCE NO.
PAGE TWO
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss:
CITY OF DOWNEY )
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance No.
was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Downey held on the day of , 2007, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of Downey held on the day of
, 2007, 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 Press-Telegram, a newspaper of general
circulation in the City of Downey, on ________________, 2007 (after introduction), and on ______________, 2007 (after adoption, including the vote thereon). It was also posted in the
regular posting places in the City of Downey on the same dates.
___________________________________
KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk