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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(E) Date: April 21, 2015 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Melissa L. Tigbao, Engineering Manager / Senior Engineer Yvetteh Ortiz, Public Works Director / City Engineer Subject: Establish Speed Limits for Arlington Boulevard from Cutting Boulevard to Thors Bay Road and Barrett Avenue from West City Limits to Arlington Boulevard ACTION REQUESTED Adopt a resolution establishing the following speed limits in miles per hour (mph) on two speed zones in the City of El Cerrito to allow for enforcement of these limits using radar, laser or other electronic device in conformance with State of California requirements: Arlington Boulevard – Cutting Boulevard to Thors Bay Road 25 Barrett Avenue – West City Limits to Arlington Boulevard 25 BACKGROUND To satisfy requirement of Section 40802 Speed Traps of the California Vehicle Code (CVC), engineering and traffic surveys (“speed surveys”) are required to establish speed limits on collector and arterial streets where speed enforcement involves the use of radar, laser or other electronic speed measuring device. These surveys must be conducted in accordance with applicable laws and standards provided in the CVC and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUCTD). A speed zone is a segment of roadway on which a speed limit has been established as reasonable and safe based on a speed survey. In 2012, the City conducted speed surveys for several speed zones including a few along Arlington Boulevard and Barrett Avenue. The speed survey results indicated that 30 mph speed limit, an increase from the existing speed limit of 25 mph, was appropriate for Arlington Boulevard from Cutting Boulevard to Thors Bay Road and the entire length of Barrett Avenue. Given the geometric and land use characteristics of both of these roadways, Public Works staff recommended deviating from the speed survey results. Public Works staff, in consultation with the Police Department, recommended that a speed limit of 25 mph be applied per CVC Section 22352, which establishes a prima facie speed limit of 25 mph on most of our City’s streets due to their residential character. For streets classified as collectors or arterials, the City may choose to allow the prima facie speed to govern, but only non-electronic methods may be used for ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. (5E) Page 2 conducting speed enforcement such as pacing or enforcement of other regulations such as school speed zones must be applied. Since maintaining the speed limit at 25 mph relied on the CVC Section 22352, no action by the City Council was required to maintain it. Over the last few years, Public Works staff explored implementation of various traffic calming measures along Arlington Boulevard and Barrett Avenue. Several improvements were already planned at Madera Drive and Brewster Drive (North) on Arlington Boulevard as part of the federally funded Arlington Boulevard Safe Routes to School Project. The improvements consisting of curb bulb-outs, flashing crosswalk lights and enhanced traffic signing and striping were completed in 2013. Most recently, as part of the Traffic Safety and Management Program, radar speed feedback signs were installed at four other locations on Arlington Boulevard and Barrett Avenue. Subsequently, Public Works staff engaged Whitlock & Weinberger Transportation, Inc. (W-Trans), one of our on-call transportation engineering firms, to evaluate and prepare new speed surveys for the two subject speed zones. ANALYSIS The speed surveys were performed in accordance with the requirements set forth in the CVC, MUTCD and established traffic engineering practices. The signed and stamped speed surveys are attached as Exhibit A to the Resolution. A summary of the study and recommendations is provided below. The speed surveys must include considerations for prevailing speeds, collision records, and traffic and roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver. Prevailing speeds are determined from the 85th-percentile speed of free-flowing traffic. This is the speed at or below which 85 percent of the observed vehicles are traveling. Experience has shown that 85 percent of drivers operate at speeds that are reasonable and prudent for the specific roadway conditions and regardless of speed limit signs or enforcement. Therefore, the 85th percentile speed is the first indicator of a speed limit that might be imposed subject to other factors of collision experience, traffic volumes, road features and other special situations. The MUTCD allows for establishment of a speed limit that is 5 mph below the nearest 5-mph increment of the 85th percentile speed, based on these factors. W-Trans recommends maintaining the existing 25 mph speed limits on the two surveyed zones. The recommended speed limit for both zones includes the allowed 5-mph reduction as discussed above. The Police Department supports maintaining the existing speed limit of 25 mph on Arlington Boulevard from Cutting Boulevard to Thors Bay Road and Barrett Avenue from west city limits to Arlington Boulevard. Public Works staff recommends that the City Council establish the recommended speed limits to allow for enforcement using radar, laser or other electronic device in conformance with State of California requirements. The use of electronic devices is generally preferred because it provides for more efficient and effective enforcement. ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. (5E) STRATEGIC PLAN CONSIDERATIONS Approval of the proposed speed zones is consistent with El Cerrito Strategic Plan Goal E -Ensure the public's health and safety. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Approval of this resolution will have no financial impact given that the existing speed limit signs do not have to be replaced. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed action and found that legal considerations have been addressed. Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachment: 1. Accompanying Resolution Page 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(E) Attachment 1 RESOLUTION 2015–XX RESOLUTION OF THE EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS FOR ARLINGTON BOULEVARD FROM CUTTING BOULEVARD TO THORS BAY ROAD AND BARRETT AVENUE FROM WEST CITY LIMITS TO ARLINGTON BOULEVARD WHEREAS, engineering and traffic surveys (“speed surveys”) are required to establish speed limits on streets that are functionally classified as collector or arterial streets and where speed enforcement involves the use of radar, laser or other electronic speed measuring device; and WHEREAS, the Public Works Department engaged the services of Whitlock & Weinberger Transportation, Inc. (W-Trans) to evaluate and prepare speed surveys for two zones; and WHEREAS, W-Trans prepared the speed surveys in accordance with the requirements set forth in the California Vehicle Code (CVC), California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and established traffic engineering practices; and WHEREAS, the Public Works and Police Departments have reviewed the speed survey recommendations. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of El Cerrito hereby establishes the following speed limits based on the speed surveys, attached hereto as Exhibit A, to allow for enforcement of these limits using radar, laser or other electronic device in conformance with State of California requirements: Speed Zone Speed Limit (miles per hour) Arlington Boulevard from Cutting Boulevard to Thors Bay Road 25 Barrett Avenue from West City Limits to Arlington Boulevard 25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Public Works Director / City Engineer is authorized to post the speed limits as appropriate in accordance with this resolution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk is directed to file certified copies of this resolution with the El Cerrito Police Department and Contra Costa Superior Court. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. ---PAGE BREAK--- I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on April 21, 2015 the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City of El Cerrito on April XX, 2015. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: Mark Friedman, Mayor Attachment: Exhibit A ---PAGE BREAK--- Resolution No. 2015-XX Exhibit A ---PAGE BREAK---