TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Marisa Lundstedt, Community Development Director
Erik Zandvliet, City Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Second Reading of Ordinance No. 16-0016 Amending Speed Limits on Ardmore Avenue (Community Development Director Lundstedt).
ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 16-0016
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Ordinance No. 16-0016 amending speed limits on Ardmore Avenue.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action. Sign installation is included in the existing Public Works Department budget.
BACKGROUND:
An Engineering and Traffic Survey (ETS) report is required by the State of California in order to legally enforce the posted speed limits and to enable the Police Department to utilize radar or other electronic speed measuring devices for speed enforcement.
On April 6, 2010, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2133, which re-established a 35 mile per hour (MPH) speed limit speed limit on Ardmore Avenue between Boundary Place and Manhattan Beach Boulevard. On May 7, 2013, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 13-0003, which established a 35 MPH speed limit on Ardmore Avenue between 19th Street and Pacific Avenue.
In June 2016, the City Traffic Engineer conducted speed surveys to determine whether the current speed limits on these two segments are appropriate or should be changed pursuant to City Council direction and recent changes to street conditions. This staff report is a summary of the ETS methodology, analysis and conclusions related to the recommended speed limits on Ardmore Avenue.
On September 4, 2016, the City Council reviewed the staff report and introduced Ordinance No. 16-0016. There was no public testimony.
DISCUSSION:
Engineering and Traffic Surveys (ETS) are intended to serve as the basis for the establishment, revision and enforcement of speed limits for street segments throughout the State of California. Engineering and Traffic Surveys are required by the State to establish intermediate speed limits on local streets and to enforce those limits using radar or other speed measuring devices. These surveys must be updated every five, seven, or ten years to ensure the speeds reflect current conditions as dictated by the California Vehicle Code (CVC). Specifically, an ETS update can be extended to seven years if the enforcing officer is currently certified in the use of the speed measuring device. It can be extended to ten years if the City Traffic Engineer certifies there have been no significant changes to the roadway segment(s). The CVC also requires that the surveys be conducted based on the methodology required by the 2014 California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA-MUTCD).
An ETS is necessary on certain designated streets within the City in order to properly enforce the posted speed limits and to enable the Police Department to utilize radar or other electronic speed measuring devices for speed enforcement. CVC Sections 40801 and 40802 require Engineering and Traffic Surveys that verify the prima facie speed limit before enforcement by such a device is legal.
Methodology
Speed zones are primarily established to protect the public from the unreasonable behavior of reckless or dangerous drivers. Speed limits are generally established at or near the 85th percentile speed, which is defined as the speed at or below which 85 percent of the traffic is moving. Statistically, the 85th percentile speed captures the majority of motorists driving similar speeds, while the remaining 15 percent are distributed well above the mean speed. This value is used in many professional fields to determine the limits of a statistically relevant group of data points. When applied to vehicle speeds, this number represents the upper range of reasonable driving by the majority of motorists. Speed limits established on this basis conform to the general consensus that within a civilized society, most motorists drive on roadways at a reasonable and prudent speed. If speed limits were to be established too low, then it would make violators out of a large percentage of reasonable drivers.
The methodology for establishing speed limits is described in the 2014 CA-MUTCD. It states that the posted speed limit should be established at the nearest five (5) mile an hour increment to the 85th percentile speed of free-flowing traffic. This has the potential effect of raising some recommended speed limits. For example, if the 85th percentile speed is calculated at 33 mph, the recommended speed limit would be 35mph, not 30mph.
Additionally, if there are special factors such as pedestrian or bicycle activity or conditions that are not readily apparent to the typical driver, the California MUTCD allows for a five (5) mile an hour reduction below the baseline recommended speed limit if so determined by engineering judgment in the ETS. For example, if a street segment has an 85th percentile speed of 33 mph, the baseline speed limit would be 35 mph, however, if there are conditions that are not readily apparent, the posted speed could be set at 30 mph. A second permissible method is allowed in which the speed limit can be automatically rounded down to the first five (5) mile increment below the 85th percentile speed, but no further reduction is allowed for special factors. These provisions have been incorporated into the study analysis and recommendations where applicable.
Recommended Speed Limits
The 2016 Engineering and Traffic Survey Report has been completed for two segments on Ardmore Avenue: 1) Boundary Place to Manhattan Beach Boulevard, and 2) 19th Street to Pacific Avenue. The attached report (Attachment 1) indicates that both street segments were found to be justified for a reduction in the posted speed limit to 30 MPH. The remaining portions of Ardmore Avenue are currently posted at 30 MPH.
Traffic Engineer’s Analysis:
The City Traffic Engineer has confirmed the 2016 ETS was conducted in accordance with procedures outlined in the 2014 CA-MUTCD and as required by Section 627 of the CVC. Those speed limits established in compliance with these requirements allow the Police Department to enforce reasonable speeds on City streets with electronic monitoring devices. The Court system also relies on the validity of this document in upholding citations issued by law enforcement. Upon adoption of the Ordinance updating citywide speed limits, posted signs will be revised as necessary and any changes will become effective 30 days after adoption.
POLICY ALTERNATIVES:
ALTERNATIVE #: 1
Maintain the existing speed limits on Ardmore Avenue.
PROS:
The existing speed limit signs would not have to be changed, and fewer speed violations would occur.
CONS:
The existing speed limits on the two street segments are not consistent with 30 MPH speed limits on adjacent street segments. Pedestrian activity has increased along and across Ardmore Avenue due to recent changes in pedestrian connections to Veterans Parkway.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has approved the Ordinance as to form.
Attachment/Attachments:
1. 2016 Engineering and Traffic Survey Report
2. Ordinance No. 16-0016
3. Staff Report-September 6, 2016