DATE: February 6, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Ordinance to Amend Sections 11.24.010 through 11.24.100 of Chapter 11.24 of Title 11 of the Fresno County Ordinance Code to Reflect Changes for Speed Limits
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
TITLE
1. Conduct first hearing of proposed ordinance to amend Sections 11.24.010 through 11.24.100 of Chapter 11.24 of the Fresno County Ordinance Code to reflect changes for speed limits as listed on the Ordinance Summary Attachment, waive the reading of the Ordinance in its entirety; and set second hearing for March 6, 2018.
2. Designate County Counsel to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed ordinance, and direct the Clerk to the Board to post and publish the required summary in accordance with Government Code Section 25124(b)(1).
REPORT
Staff has identified thirteen speed limit changes that will reduce seven, increase four and establish two new speed limits on specific sections of roadway as allowed by the California Vehicle Code (CVC). Those recommended changes are shown on the attached maps. The recommended changes are expected to improve traffic safety and service by making speed limits consistent with existing conditions and allow the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to use radar for the enforcement of the speed limits.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
If the recommendation action is not approved by your Board, the existing speed limits may not be enforceable by the CHP.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The estimated cost for placing or relocating speed limit signs is $1,450 for materials and $1,750 for labor and equipment for a total estimated cost of $3,200. Appropriations and funds for this work are included in the FY 2017-18 Public Works and Planning - Roads Org 4510 Adopted Budget. County personnel will perform the work.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of a speed limit is to regulate traffic so that reasonable driving speeds are maintained. National and State guidelines recommend speed limits be set so that the fifteenth percentile of the fastest motorists are subject to citation with the burden to prove their driving was safe at the time of citation. Arbitrarily low and restrictive limits set by local authorities on classified County roads are defined in the CVC Section 40802 as speed traps, and are not enforceable by radar.
Sections 22357 and 22358 of the CVC allow a local authority to determine, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey, a prima facie speed limit upon any street, other than a State highway, to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic that is reasonable and safe.
Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS) are required as the basis for local authorities to establish speed limits higher or lower than those prescribed in the CVC. These include radar measurement of operating speeds, analysis of accident records, and field reviews to inventory road conditions and roadside conditions not readily apparent to drivers. An appropriate speed limit is recommended based upon analysis of the acquired data and actual road and traffic conditions. According to the CVC, only those prima facie speed limits based on E&TS are enforced by radar.
Thirteen speed limit changes (seven increases, four decreases, two new) are summarized in the Ordinance Summary Attachment and are changes to existing speed limits based on engineering and traffic surveys. An additional 54 road sections were evaluated as part of the Department’s on-going responsibilities and were found to be currently designated at appropriate speeds.
The public, other agencies and County staff initiate requests for changes to existing speed limits. Changes to a speed limit require that the Speed Limit Ordinance be updated prior to any changes being made. A notice that the Fresno County Speed Limit Ordinance proposed for change will be published in a local newspaper before the second reading of the proposed Ordinance changes. The Ordinance changes will take effect thirty days after the second reading, and signs will be posted shortly thereafter.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The CHP provides traffic enforcement on County roads. They have reviewed the proposal and concur with the Department’s recommendations. Representatives from the City of Fresno, City of Clovis, and City of Parlier have been notified of the locations that affect their jurisdiction. Both Clovis and Fresno concur with the recommendations. The Parlier city engineer concurs, and has forwarded the recommendation to the Parlier City Council for their review and concurrence.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Vicinity Maps
Speed Zone Ordinance (Redline)
Speed Zone Ordinance
On File with Clerk - Speed Zone Ordinance Summary
CAO ANALYST:
John Hays