DATE: March 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
Conduct second hearing and adopt 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 Speed Zone Ordinance Summary; and waive the reading of the Ordinance in its entirety.
REPORT
Staff has identified thirteen speed zone changes that will reduce, increase or establish the speed limit on sections of roadway as allowed by the California Vehicle Code (CVC). These changes will 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. The speed changes affect Board of Supervisor Districts 1, 2, 4, and 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
If the recommended 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 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 first hearing of the proposed ordinance was conducted on February 6, 2018. Thirteen speed limit changes are summarized in the Speed Zone Ordinance Summary and are changes to existing speed limits based on Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS).
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 E&TS, 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.
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 enforceable by radar.
The public, other agencies and County staff initiate requests for changes to existing speed limits. Changes to a speed limit require an update to the Speed Limit Ordinance prior to any changes. A notice of the Speed Limit Ordinance proposed for change was 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, and they concur with the Department’s recommendations.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #9 - February 6, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Vicinity Maps
On file with Clerk - Speed Zone Ordinance
CAO ANALYST:
John Hays