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ADOPT AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 10, CHAPTER 10.04 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE - VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC SPEED LIMIT UPDATE FOR VARIOUS STREETS
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance amending various sections of Title 10, Chapter 10.04 of the Stockton Municipal Code to update existing speed limits, establish new speed limits, change speed zone boundaries, and make editorial corrections.
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Summary
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) establishes default speed limits on streets based on the number of lanes and location of the street. The CVC section 40802 allows for posting of a different speed limit based on the results of an engineering and traffic survey that must be updated every seven years. If the posted speed limit is not in accordance with a current survey, the speed limit cannot be enforced by radar. This would make the speed limit unenforceable, as the Stockton Police Department determined that radar is the only practical speed enforcement method in our urban area. Based on current engineering and traffic surveys, Traffic Engineering staff recommends updates to the speed limits in the Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) to reflect recent changes in measured speeds, land uses adjacent to speed zones, driver behavior, and roadway characteristics. Pursuant to State and federal guidelines, a safe and reasonable speed limit is set at the nearest 5 mph increment to the speed at which 85 percent of the surveyed traffic is moving (known as the 85th percentile speed).
Traffic Engineering staff prepared 33 updated engineering and traffic surveys (speed surveys). Engineering and traffic surveys were conducted in accordance with the requirements of CVC section 627 and the 2014 California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices which prescribes the formula and does not consider public input. Three were for new zones. Of the remaining 30 zones, the speed survey results require that the speed limit be increased in five zones, decreased in two zones, and remain the same in 23 zones. Additionally, Ijams Road and River Drive will be removed from SMC section 10.04.480, as each roadway configuration has changed and is no longer eligible for radar enforcement.
Staff proposes additional amendments to SMC Title 10, Chapter 10.04 sections 10.04.480 and 10.04.490, to update and correct minor errors and to delete and/or add street segments previously approved by Council. Although these street segments are properly posted on the street with correct signage, the changes were not properly annotated in the appropriate SMC sections. There are 30 such edits to fully update the applicable SMC sections.
It is recommended that Council adopt an ordinance amending SMC Title 10, Chapter 10.04, section 10.04.480, “Speed Limits Reduced on Certain Streets”, and section 10.04.490, “Speed Limits Increased on Certain Streets”, to update existing speed limits, establish new speed limits, change speed zone boundaries, and to make necessary edits and corrections to the current sections of the SMC.
DISCUSSION
Background
Regulations for the establishment of speed limits are contained in the CVC. In general, the default maximum speed limit on any multi-lane divided roadway is 65 mph, 55 mph for two-lane undivided roadways. The CVC also establishes a default maximum speed limit of 25 mph on streets in residential and business districts, and in school zones when children are present. To establish and post a radar enforceable speed limit that is between these two-speed limits on any street, the City must conduct an engineering and traffic survey every seven years to validate that the proposed speed limit is reasonable and safe. Engineering and traffic surveys are conducted in accordance with the requirements of CVC section 627 and the 2014 California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices which prescribes the formula and does not allow for public input. Such a survey includes an analysis of roadway conditions, collision records, and a sampling of the prevailing speed of traffic. Pursuant to State and federal guidelines, a safe and reasonable speed limit is set at the nearest 5 mph increment to the speed at or below which 85 percent of the traffic is moving (known as the 85th percentile speed). Furthermore, the guidelines allow for a 5 mph reduction in the speed limit resulting from the speed survey when roadway conditions and/or collision records support such a reduction. This reduction has been applied to 12 of the 33-speed zones that were surveyed.
The CVC requires that an engineering and traffic survey be conducted every seven years for a non-default speed limit to be enforceable by radar. Not meeting this requirement would make the speed limits unenforceable, as the Stockton Police Department determined that radar is the only practical speed enforcement method in our urban area.
Streets where the speed limit has been reduced in accordance with the CVC regulations are listed in the SMC section 10.04.480, “Speed Limits Reduced on Certain Streets”, which pertains to streets that would be 55 or 65 mph without an established speed limit, and SMC section 10.04.490, “Speed Limits Increased on Certain Streets”, which pertains to streets that would be 25 mph, and where a traffic and engineering survey demonstrated that this speed is lower than necessary for safety and impedes the orderly flow of traffic on a street.
An amendment to these sections of the SMC is required when: 1) a new speed zone is established; 2) the boundaries of an existing speed zone are changed, or 3) an existing speed limit is raised or lowered.
Present Situation
Traffic Engineering staff prepared 33 updated speed surveys in accordance with the requirements of CVC section 627 and the 2014 California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices which prescribes the formula and does not allow for public input. Radar surveys were conducted to collect speed data and determine the 85th percentile speed for each roadway. Other factors such as collision experience, roadway design characteristics, pedestrian/bicycle activities, curves, adjacent development and engineering judgment were also considered in determining the recommended speed limits. Three surveys were for new zones. Of the remaining 30 zones, the speed survey results require that the speed limit be increased in five zones, decreased in two zones, and remain the same in 23 zones. Additionally, Ijams Road and River Drive will be removed from section 10.04.480 of the SMC, as each roadway configuration has changed and is no longer eligible for radar enforcement.
Staff also proposes amendments to SMC sections 10.04.480 and 10.04.490 to correct minor errors and to delete and/or add street segments previously approved by Council. Although these street segments are properly posted on the street with correct signage, the changes were not properly annotated in the SMC. There are 30 such edits and corrections to properly reflect the recommended speed limits that resulted from the engineering and traffic survey.
Attachment A maps the new speed zones, the removed zones, and the existing zones that are either increasing or decreasing (amount of change shown in parentheses).
Staff recommends that Council adopt an ordinance to amend SMC Title 10, Chapter 10.04 section 10.04.480, “Speed Limits Reduced on Certain Streets”, and section 10.04.490, “Speed Limits Increased on Certain Streets”, to update existing speed limits, establish new speed limits, change speed zone boundaries, or make editorial corrections (Attachment B - Redline Version of Ordinance.)
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Following Council approval, the City has 30 days to implement the speed limit changes. An estimated 22 new signs will need to be installed. Most of the new signs will replace existing signs. The signs will be fabricated and installed by Public Works Operations and Maintenance staff. Costs are estimated at $1,650 and will be funded from the Traffic Devices Operating account (030-3064-540).
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or to any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended action.
Attachment A - New or Changed Speed Zones Map
Attachment B - Proposed Ordinance (Redline Version)