SR-506-003-03
PCD:SF:LD:F:\PCD\SHARE\2001StRpts\speed limit ord report
City Council Meeting: February 27, 2001 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Attorney
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Adopt an Ordinance Establishing Speed Limits on
Various City Streets
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council introduce for first reading an Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Santa Monica Establishing Speed Limits Pursuant to an
Engineering and Traffic Survey and the California Vehicle Code and Amending the Santa
Monica Municipal Code.
Background
The City of Santa Monica has implemented a comprehensive approach to traffic safety
including engineering, education and enforcement. This ordinance supports the overall
effort by providing a tool to enhance the effectiveness of speed enforcement activity by the
Police Department.
The California Vehicle Code establishes permitted speeds on City streets but allows local
jurisdictions to reduce speeds and enforce reduced speeds based on an Engineering and
Traffic Survey. The Municipal Code (S.M.M.C. 3.12.490) sets forth the streets where
1
speed limits have been modified. The previous Engineering and Traffic Survey was
completed in 1995. The Vehicle Code requires that a new survey be conducted every five
to ten years; as such, a new survey was completed and certified by a registered engineer
from Transtech Corporation in November 2000. It provides justification for Council to
establish speed limits at or below limits currently established in the Municipal Code, as
well as to establish speed limits on all other streets where such a survey is required to
support radar enforcement.
This ordinance reflects speed recommendations made by the survey and strengthens
S.M.M.C. Section 3.12.490 by providing for a) further reducing speeds on some street
segments where the City has already reduced speed and b) authorizing speed reductions
on additional street segments where the City has not previously reduced speed limits.
Since the survey was prepared, the Vehicle Code has been amended to allow Engineering
and Traffic surveys conducted for the purpose of setting speed limits to consider
residential density and pedestrian and bicycle safety. Although this change was not
effective until after the preparation of the City?s survey, the survey considered ?conditions
not readily apparent to a motorist? as provided by law. Accident history was taken into
account in the current survey under this provision.
Analysis
2
Field review has identified certain locations where the posted speed and the speed
established by the Municipal Code are not the same. This ordinance, if adopted, will bring
the Municipal Code into conformance with existing posting at a minimum, and allow for a
reduction in posted speeds at 20 of the 98 locations included in the survey. The Police
Department and the Transportation Management Division support establishing and posting
notice of justifiable speed limits, in order to facilitate effective enforcement.
On Dewey Street the speed currently established in the Municipal Code is 35 miles per
hour, but the posted speed is 25 miles per hour. The speed that is supported by the
Engineering and Traffic Survey and would be established by this ordinance is 30 miles per
hour. The Code limits the extent to which speed limits can be reduced below the
prevailing speed of traffic, and the proposed speed for Dewey Street includes the greatest
reduction allowed by Code. This is the only instance in which the recommended limit
exceeds the currently posted limit.
Attachment A compares existing speed limit posting, speed limits established by Municipal
Code and recommended speed limits (that would be incorporated into the Municipal Code
if this ordinance is adopted).
Financial/Budget Impact
This ordinance is expected to have minimal impact on the City?s enforcement costs or
revenues.
3
Recommendation
It is respectfully recommended that the attached ordinance be introduced for first reading.
Prepared By: Suzanne Frick, Director of Planning & Community Development
Lucy Dyke, Transportation Planning Manager
James T. Butts., Chief of Police
Attachments: A) Ordinance
B) List of Changes from Existing Code Limits
The Engineering and Traffic Survey that supports the recommended speed limits is
available for inspection at the Transportation Management Counter in City Hall.
4
f:\PCD\Share\Council items 2001\speed limit ord-A
City Council Meeting 02-27-01 Santa Monica,
California
ORDINANCE NUMBER ____
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS PURSUANT TO
ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY AND THE CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE
AND AMMENDING THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica is authorized to use radar
enforcement of speed limits on local streets pursuant to prima facie speed limits specified
in the California Vehicle Code and on other streets if the speed limits established by the
City are consistent with the results of an engineering and traffic survey conducted
according to standards set forth in California Vehicle Code.
SECTION 2. An engineering and traffic survey meeting the requirements of
Vehicle Code Section 627 was prepared and certified by a registered engineer in
November 2000.
SECTION 3. The Santa Monica Municipal Code is amended by deleting Section
5
3.12.490 and replacing it with the following:
Section 3.12.490 Speed limits established on the basis of Traffic and Engineering Survey
pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22358.
The following speed limits are established pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section
22358. The City Council finds, on the basis of an Engineering and Traffic Survey meeting
the requirements of California Vehicle Code, that a speed limit of 55 miles per hour is not
applicable on any of the following streets and is therefore establishing the speed limits
specified for each street listed below. The prima facie speed limit for each listed street, or
portion thereof, shall be as follows when signs are erected giving notice thereof:
(1) 45 miles per hour:
th
(a) Olympic Boulevard from 11 Street to Centinela Avenue
(2) 40 miles per hour:
rd
(a) Ocean Park Boulevard from 23 Street to Centinela Avenue
(3) 35 miles per hour:
th
(a) 26 Street from North City Limit to Wilshire Boulevard
(b) San Vicente Boulevard from Ocean Avenue to East City Limit
(c) Wilshire Boulevard from Lincoln Boulevard to Centinela Avenue
thth
(d) Olympic Boulevard From 4 Street to 11 Street
(e) Pico Boulevard from Appian Way to Centinela Avenue
rd
(f) Ocean Park Boulevard From Lincoln Boulevard to 23 Street
6
(4) 30 miles per hour:
(a) Ocean Avenue from North City Limit to Hollister
(b) Barnard Way from Neilson Way to Hollister
(c) Neilson Way from Pico Boulevard to South City Limit
(d) Main Street from Colorado Avenue to South City Limit
th
(e) 4 Street from San Vicente Boulevard to South City Limit
th
(f) 5 Street from Montana Avenue to Olympic Boulevard
th
(g) 7 Street from North City Limit to Montana Avenue
(h) Lincoln Boulevard from San Vicente Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard
th
(i) 11 Street from San Vicente Boulevard to Marine Street
th
(j) 14 Street from San Vicente Boulevard to Ashland Avenue
th
(k) 20 Street from Wilshire Boulevard to Pico Boulevard
(l) Cloverfield Boulevard from Santa Monica Boulevard to Pico Boulevard
th
(m) 26 Street from Wilshire Boulevard to Olympic Boulevard
(n) Stewart Street from Colorado Avenue to Pico Boulevard
(o) Montana Avenue from Ocean Avenue to East City Limit
(p) Wilshire Boulevard from Ocean Avenue to Lincoln Boulevard
(q) Santa Monica Boulevard from Ocean Avenue to Centinela Avenue
(r) Colorado Avenue from Lincoln Boulevard to Centinela Avenue
(s) Exposition Boulevard from Stewart Street to Centinela Avenue
(t) Ocean Park Boulevard from Neilson Way to Lincoln Boulevard
rd
(u) Dewey Street from Robson Avenue to 23 Street
25 miles per hour
(5) :
(a) Appian Way from Santa Monica Freeway to Bay Street
7
nd
(b) 2 Street from Montana Avenue to Colorado Avenue
th
(c) 6 Street from Montana Avenue to Colorado Avenue
(d) Highland Avenue from Ashland Avenue to South City Limit
th
(e) 7 Street from Montana Avenue to Olympic Boulevard
th
(f) 17 Street from San Vicente Boulevard to Pico Boulevard
th
(g) 17 Street from Pearl Street to South City Limit
th
(h) 20 Street from San Vicente Boulevard to Wilshire Boulevard
rd
(i) 23 Street from Pico Boulevard to Ocean Park Boulevard
(j) Cloverfield Boulevard from Pico Boulevard to Ocean Park Boulevard
th
(k) 28 Street from Pico Boulevard to Ocean Park Boulevard
(l) Stanford Street from Montana Avenue to Colorado Boulevard
th
(m) Marguerita Avenue from Ocean Avenue to 7 Street
(n) Washington Street from Ocean Avenue to Stanford Street
th
(o) California Avenue from Ocean Avenue to 4 Street
(p) Arizona Avenue from Ocean Avenue to Centinela Avenue
(q) Broadway from Ocean Avenue to Centinela Avenue
(r) Colorado Avenue from Ocean Avenue to Lincoln Boulevard
(s) Pearl Street from Lincoln Boulevard to Centinela Avenue
rd
(t) Ashland Avenue from Lincoln Boulevard to 23 Street
th
(u) Marine Street from Barnard Way to 17 Street
th
(v) Robson Street from 17 Street to Dewey Street
SECTION 4. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to
8
effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court
of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed
this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official
newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30
days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________
MARSHA JONES MOUTRIE
City Attorney
9
Proposed Speed 25 25 25 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 25 25 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 25
Attachment B
Street Segments and Speed Limit Comparison
NORTH-SOUTH STREETS
Street Segment End Segment End Speed in
Posted Speed
Name Municipal Code
Appian Way Santa Monica Fwy Bay Street 25 -
Ocean N City Limit California 35 35
Avenue Avenue
California Avenue Colorado 30 30
Colorado Pico Blvd. 30 30 (CO-
Bicknell)
Pico Blvd. Hollister 30 35(Bicknell-
Hollister)
Barnard Hollister Neilson Way 30 35
Way
Neilson Pico Blvd. Ocean Park 30 30
Way Blvd.
Ocean Park Blvd. S City Limit 30 30
2nd Street Montana Wilshire None -
Wilshire Colorado None -
Main Colorado Pico Blvd. 35 35
Street
Pico Blvd. Ocean Park 35 35
Blvd.
Ocean Park Blvd. S City Limit 30 30
4th Street San Vicente Montana 30 30
Montana Wilshire 30 30
Wilshire Pico Blvd. 30 30
Pico Blvd. Ocean Park 30 30
Blvd.
Ocean Park Blvd. S City Limit 30 -
th
5 Street Montana Wilshire None -
Wilshire Olympic None -
6th Street Montana Wilshire 25 -
Wilshire Colorado None -
Highland Ashland S City Limit None -
10
30 35 25 30 30 25 30 25 25 25 25 25 25 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 25 25
Avenue
7th Street N City Limit Montana 30 30
Montana Wilshire 30 30
Wilshire Olympic Blvd. None 30
Lincoln San Vicente Montana 30 30
Blvd.
Montana Wilshire 30 30
Wilshire Santa Monica 30 30
Blvd.
11th Street San Vicente Montana 30 30
Montana Wilshire 30 30
Wilshire Pico Blvd. 30 30
Pico Blvd. Ocean Park 30 30
Blvd.
Ocean Park Blvd. Marine 30 30
14th Street San Vicente Montana 30 30
Montana Wilshire 30 30
Wilshire Pico Blvd. 30 30
Pico Blvd. Ashland 30 30
17th Street San Vicente Montana 25 -
Montana Wilshire None 30
Wilshire Pico Blvd. 30 30
Pearl S City Limit 25 -
20th Street San Vicente Montana 25 -
Montana Wilshire 30 30
Wilshire Pico Blvd. 30 30(Wilshire-
OP)
23rd Street Pico Blvd. Ocean Park 30 30(Pico-Navy)
Blvd.
Cloverfield Santa Monica Blvd. Olympic Blvd. 30 30
Olympic Blvd. Pico Blvd. 30 30
Pico Blvd. Ocean Park 25 -
Blvd.
26th Street N City Limit Montana 35 35(SanVicente-
Montana)
11
35 25 25 25 30 30
Montana Wilshire 35 35
Wilshire Olympic Blvd. 30 30
th
26 Street Cloverfield Olympic Blvd. Not studied 30
Stewart Colorado Pico Blvd. 30 30(CO-Olympic)
Street
28th St. Pico Blvd. Ocean Park 25 -
Blvd.
Stanford Montana Wilshire 25 -
Wilshire Colorado None -
12
Proposed Speed 30 30 25 25 25 25 30 30 30 25 25 25 35 35 30 25 25 25 25 30 30 30 25 35 35 35
EAST-WEST STREETS
Street Name Segment End Segment End Speed in
Posted Speed
Municipal Code
San Vicente Ocean Ave 7th St. 35 35
Blvd.
7th St. 17th St. 35 35
17th St. E City Limit 35 35
Marguerita Ocean Ave 7th St. None -
Avenue
Montana Avenue Ocean Ave 7th St. 30 30
7th St. 17th St. 30 30
17th St. E City Limit 30 30
Washington Ocean Ave Lincoln Blvd. None -
Lincoln Blvd. 20th St. None -
20th St. Stanford 25 -
California Ocean Ave. 4th St. None -
Avenue
Wilshire Blvd. Ocean Ave. Lincoln Blvd. 30 30
Lincoln Blvd. 17th St. 35 35
th
17 St. Centinela 35 35
Arizona Avenue Ocean Ave Lincoln Blvd. 30 30
Lincoln Blvd. 26th St. 30 30
th
26 St. Centinela 30 30
Santa Monica Ocean Ave Lincoln Blvd. 30 30
Blvd.
Lincoln Blvd. 17th St. 30 -
th
17 St. Centinela 30 -
Broadway Ocean Ave Lincoln Blvd. 30 30
Lincoln Blvd. 20th St. 30 30
th
20 St. Centinela 30 30
Colorado Ocean Ave Lincoln Blvd. 30 30
Avenue
Lincoln Blvd. 20th St. 35 35
20th St. Centinela 35 35
13
35 30 25 25 25 25 40 35 30 25 25 35 35 35 30 45 45
Olympic Blvd. 4th St. 11th St. 35 -
11th St. Cloverfield 45 45
Cloverfield Centinela 45 45
Exposition Stewart Centinela None -
Pico Blvd. Appian Way Lincoln Blvd. 35 35 (Ocean-
Lincoln)
th
Lincoln Blvd. 20 St. 35 35
20th St. Centinela 35 35
Pearl Street Lincoln Blvd. 17th St. 25 -
17th St. Centinela 25 -
Ocean Park Neilson Way Lincoln Blvd. 30 30 (Barnard-
Blvd. Lincoln)
Lincoln Blvd. 23rd St. 35 35(Lincoln-
th
25)
th
23rd St. Centinela 40 40 (25-
Centinela)
Ashland Avenue Lincoln Blvd. 23rd St. None -
Marine Street Barnard Lincoln Blvd. 25 -
Lincoln Blvd. 17th St. 30 30
Robson 17th St. Dewey St. 25 30
Dewey Street Robson 23rd St. 25 30
14