HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4.4 Speed Limits Various Roads~~~~ Off' nU~~~
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DATE:
TO:
FROM:
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
CITY CLERK
File #590-20
May 15, 2012
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
~~
Joni Pattillo, City Manager ° ~'
SUBJECT: Review of Engineering Survey Results and Establishment of Speed Limits for
Various Roadways
Prepared by Jaimee Bourgeois, Transportation & Operations Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This is the second reading of an ordinance introduced at the regularly scheduled City Council
meeting of May 1, 2012. The ordinance will establish, based on the findings of engineering and
traffic surveys, new speed limits of 40 mph on Dublin Boulevard between Schaefer Ranch Road
and Inspiration Drive, 35 mph on Schaefer Ranch Road between Dublin Boulevard and the City
Limit at Interstate 580, 40 mph on Fallon Road between Signal Hill Drive and Tassajara Road,
and 35 mph on Positano Parkway between Fallon Road and La Strada Drive.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost to install new speed limit signs on the four roadways is approximately $2,200. This
can be covered by the FY 2011/2012 Street Maintenance Operating Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council waive the reading and ADOPT the ordinance amending
the Dublin Traffic Code to establish a new speed limit on portions of Dublin Boulevard (Schaefer
Ranch Road to Inspiration Drive), Schaefer Ranch Road (Dublin Boulevard to City Limit), Fallon
Road (Signal Hill Drive to Tassajara Road), and Positano Parkway (Fallon Road to La Strada
Drive).
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Submitted By
Director of Public Works
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Reviewed By
Assistant City Manager
Page 1 of 3 ITEM NO. 4.4
DESCRIPTION:
Background
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) provides that police may use radar for speed enforcement
as long as certain criteria are met. For roadways that are defined as local roads on the federal
roadway classification map or, if not shown on that map, roads that are (1) not more than 40 feet
in width, (2) not more than one half mile of uninterrupted length, and (3) not more than one
traffic lane in each direction, a prima facie 25 mph speed limit may be used without performing a
survey. For all other roadways, an engineering and traffic survey (E&TS) is required to establish
a speed limit that can be enforced by means of radar.
The four roadways under consideration include Dublin Boulevard between Schaefer Ranch
Road and Inspiration Drive, Schaefer Ranch Road between Dublin Boulevard and the City Limit
at Interstate 580, Fallon Road between Signal Hill Drive and Tassajara Road, and Positano
Parkway between Fallon Road and La Strada Drive. These roadway segments are relatively
new for which the federal roadway classification map has not yet been updated to reflect the
appropriate classification. Each should be classified as either Collector or Arterial; therefore, an
E&TS is required for each to establish an appropriate speed limit that is enforceable by means
of radar.
Procedure for Establishing a Speed Limit
The operative criterion determined by an E&TS is the "85t" percentile" or "critical" speed. This
figure is based on the belief that most drivers will drive at a speed that is safe and reasonable
for conditions. In a sampling of speeds that are taken by radar, 85% of drivers are traveling at
the 85t" percentile speed or lower. Speed limits are to be set at the nearest 5 mph increment to
the critical speed. The second part of the E&TS includes an analysis of the roadway to
determine whether there are any offsetting factors such as residential density, pedestrian and
bicycle features, intersecting driveways, accident history, schools, and so forth, which would
cause the recommended speed limit to be reduced by 5 mph. Alternatively, as of January 1,
2012, the speed limit may be set by rounding the 85t" percentile speed down when it would
otherwise have been rounded up to the nearest 5 mph increment; however, under this
circumstance, the additional 5 mph reduction cannot be applied.
Proposed Action
This ordinance (Attachment 1) will amend the City of Dublin Traffic Code to establish new speed
limits of 40 mph on Dublin Boulevard between Schaefer Ranch Road and Inspiration Drive, 35
mph on Schaefer Ranch Road between Dublin Boulevard and the City Limit at Interstate 580, 40
mph on Fallon Road between Signal Hill Drive and Tassajara Road, and 35 mph on Positano
Parkway between Fallon Road and La Strada Drive.
The City Council considered this matter on May 1, 2012 (Attachment 2). During the public
hearing, one comment was received requesting that the Dublin Boulevard speed limit be
reduced by an additional 5 mph. A response was provided to clarify that the optional 5 mph
reduction could not be applied because the recommended speed limit was based on rounding
down the critical speed when it otherwise would have been rounded up to the nearest 5 mph.
The City Council ultimately waived the reading and introduced the ordinance establishing the
new speed limits. The new speed limits will go into effect 30 days following adoption of the
ordinance once signs are posted to give notice thereof.
Page 2 of 3
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
No notices were mailed as part of the second reading.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Ordinance Amending the Dublin Traffic Code to Establish New
Speed Limits on Portions of Dublin Boulevard, Schaefer Ranch
Road, Fallon Road and Positano Parkway
2. May 1, 2012, Staff Report (without attachments)
Page 3 of 3
ORDINANCE NO. -12
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
AMENDING THE DUBLIN TRAFFIC CODE TO ESTABLISH A NEW SPEED LIMIT
ON PORTIONS OF DUBLIN BOULEVARD (SCHAEFER RANCH ROAD TO
INSPIRATION DRIVE), SCHAEFER RANCH ROAD (DUBLIN BOULEVARD TO
CITY LIMIT AT I-580), FALCON ROAD (TASSAJARA ROAD TO SIGNAL HILL
DRIVE) AND POSITANO PARKWAY (FALCON ROAD TO LA STRADA DRIVE)
The City Council of the City of Dublin does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1: The following language shall be added to Section 6.60.030 (Thirty-Five Miles per
Hour) of the City of Dublin Traffic Code:
"Schaefer Ranch Road: Dublin Boulevard to City Liniit at I-~80" and
"Positano Parkway: Fallon Road to La ,St~ada Dive."
Section 2: The following language shall be deleted from Section 6.60.040 (Forty Miles per
Hour) of the City of Dublin Traffic Code:
"Dublin Boulevard: ,Silvergate Dive to Westerly City Liniit."
Section 3: The following language shall be added to Section 6.60.040 (Forty Miles per Hour)
of the City of Dublin Traffic Code:
"Dublin Boulevard: ,Schaefer Ranch Road to Inspiration Dive" and
"Dublin Boulevard: Inspiration Dive to Silvergate Dive."
"Fallon Road: Tassaja~a Road to ,Signal Hill Dive."
Section 4. Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance are severable and if any provision,
clause, sentence, word or part thereof is held illegal, invalid, unconstitutional, or inapplicable to
any person or circumstances, such illegality, invalidity, unconstitutionality, or inapplicability shall
not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, clauses, sentences, sections, words or parts
thereof of the ordinance or their applicability to other persons or circumstances.
Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be enforced thirty (30) days
following its adoption and following placement of speed linut signs providing notice thereof.
Section 6. Posting. The City Clerk of the City of Dublin shall cause this Ordinance to be
posted in at least three (3) public places in the City of Dublin in accordance with Section 36933 of
the Government Code of the State of California.
Page 1
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 15ti' day of May, 2012.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Page 2
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DATE: May 1, 2012
TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
~~
Joni Pattillo, City Manager ° ~'
SUBJECT: Review of Engineering Survey Results and Establishment of Speed Limits for
Various Roadways
Prepared by Jaimee Bourgeois, Transportation & Operations Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This item seeks City Council approval to introduce a proposed ordinance which would establish,
based on the findings of engineering and traffic surveys, new speed limits of 40 mph on Dublin
Boulevard between Schaefer Ranch Road and Inspiration Drive, 35 mph on Schaefer Ranch
Road between Dublin Boulevard and the City Limit at Interstate 580, 40 mph on Fallon Road
between Signal Hill Drive and Tassajara Road, and 35 mph on Positano Parkway between
Fallon Road and La Strada Drive.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost to install new speed limit signs on the four roadways is approximately $2,200. This
can be covered by the FY 2011/2012 Street Maintenance Operating Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct a public hearing, deliberate, waive the reading
and introduce the ordinance amending the Dublin Traffic Code to establish a new speed limit on
portions of Dublin Boulevard (Schaefer Ranch Road to Inspiration Drive), Schaefer Ranch Road
(Dublin Boulevard to City Limit), Fallon Road (Signal Hill Drive to Tassajara Road), and Positano
Parkway (Fallon Road to La Strada Drive).
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Submitted By
Director of Public Works
~,
Reviewed By
Assistant City Manager
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
CITY CLERK
File #590-20
Page 1 of 4 ITEM NO. 6.1
DESCRIPTION:
Background
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) provides that police may use radar for speed enforcement
as long as certain criteria are met. For roadways that are defined as local roads on the federal
roadway classification map or, if not shown on that map, roads that are (1) not more than 40 feet
in width, (2) not more than one half mile of uninterrupted length, and (3) not more than one
traffic lane in each direction, a prima facie 25 mph speed limit may be used without performing a
survey. For all other roadways, an engineering and traffic survey (E&TS) is required to establish
a speed limit that can be enforced by means of radar.
The four roadways under consideration include Dublin Boulevard between Schaefer Ranch
Road and Inspiration Drive, Schaefer Ranch Road between Dublin Boulevard and the City Limit
at Interstate 580, Fallon Road between Signal Hill Drive and Tassajara Road, and Positano
Parkway between Fallon Road and La Strada Drive (Attachment 1). These roadway segments
are relatively new for which the federal roadway classification map has not yet been updated to
reflect the appropriate classification. Each should be classified as either Collector or Arterial;
therefore, an E&TS is required for each to establish an appropriate speed limit that is
enforceable by means of radar. This staff report discusses the results of the E&TS and the
recommended new speed limits for each roadway. Because these are relatively new roadways,
prior E&TS have not been completed; therefore, none yet have legal enforceable speed limits.
Procedure for Establishing a Speed Limit
The operative criterion determined by an E&TS is the "85t" percentile" or "critical" speed. This
figure is based on the belief that most drivers will drive at a speed that is safe and reasonable
for conditions. In a sampling of speeds that are taken by radar, 85% of drivers are traveling at
the 85t" percentile speed or lower. Speed limits are to be set at the nearest 5 mph increment to
the critical speed. The second part of the E&TS includes an analysis of the roadway to
determine whether there are any offsetting factors such as residential density, pedestrian and
bicycle features, intersecting driveways, accident history, schools, and so forth, which would
cause the recommended speed limit to be reduced by 5 mph. Alternatively, as of January 1,
2012, the speed limit may be set by rounding the 85t" percentile speed down when it would
otherwise have been rounded up to the nearest 5 mph increment; however, under this
circumstance, the additional 5 mph reduction cannot be applied.
Engineering surveys are typically performed during non-commute hours and are not performed
where roadways are still under construction or where there are temporary conditions (such as a
lane closure or inclement weather) that would affect a driver's speed.
Study Findings
The E&TS forms are included with this staff report (Attachments 2, 3, 4 and 5).
Dublin Boulevard (Schaefer Ranch Road to Inspiration Drive): This segment of roadway
contains several 35 mph speed limit signs; however, this limit is not based upon the results of an
E&TS. The posted speeds are therefore not enforceable using radar, and the signs were placed
in an effort to encourage reasonable travel speeds. This section of Dublin Boulevard is a Class
I Collector that runs east-west parallel to and north of I-580. It provides direct access into the
Schaefer Ranch neighborhood but also connects to Dublin Canyon Road, which connects to I-
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580 via the Eden Canyon Interchange to the west. As such, it serves local traffic as well as
some regional and cut-through traffic. The segment is primarily two lanes and undivided but
also contains a short section that is four lanes with a center median. Most of the segment
contains bike lanes, and traffic control includes signal control and stop-sign control. Parking is
prohibited. Due to the topography of the land, the roadway does include a modest slope and
curvature. The adjacent land use is primarily residential with a private school as well at the
westerly end. The E&TS indicates that the critical speed is 43 mph, and includes a
recommendation to round down for a posted speed limit of 40 mph. Staff recommends that the
posted speed limit be established at 40 mph so that enforcement by use of radar may
commence (Attachment 2).
To the east, Dublin Boulevard has a posted speed limit of 40 mph to Silvergate Drive; therefore,
the recommended speed limit would be consistent with the surrounding area.
Schaefer Ranch Road (Dublin Boulevard to City Limit at I-580): There is no posted speed limit
on this section of roadway. This segment of roadway is less than '/ mile long and runs north-
south with two travel lanes and a center median. Operating as a Class II Collector, it provides a
direction connection between Dublin Canyon Road and Dublin Boulevard. Signal control is
located on the north end and stop-control is located on the south end. Parking is prohibited, and
a bike lane is provided along the entire length within the City of Dublin limits. The roadway
includes a modest slope and curvature. The adjacent land is vacant. The E&TS indicates that
the critical speed is 35 mph in both the northbound and southbound directions; therefore, staff
recommends that the posted speed limit be established at 35 mph (Attachment 3).
Fallon Road (Signal Hill Drive to Tassajara Road): This segment of roadway contains a 40 mph
sign at the southern end; however, this limit is not based upon the results of an E&TS. The
posted speed is therefore not enforceable using radar, and the sign was placed in an effort to
encourage reasonable travel speeds when the roadway opened in November 2011. Fallon
Road is an arterial roadway that generally runs north-south between Tassajara Road and I-580.
The segment under study is between Tassajara Road and Signal Hill Drive and generally
includes four travel lanes with a center median with bike lanes. A portion between Tassajara
Road to just east of Cydonia Court includes only two travel lanes and has not yet been accepted
by the City. The roadway includes a moderate slope and curvature. A Class I multi-use trail
runs parallel and south of the roadway. Fallon Road contains signalized traffic controls with
separate turn lanes at major intersections. Parking is prohibited. The adjacent land use is
residential or undeveloped. The E&TS indicates that the critical speed is 44 mph in both the
northbound and southbound directions, and includes a recommendation to round down for a
posted speed limit of 40 mph. Staff recommends that the posted speed limit be established at
40 mph so that enforcement by use of radar may commence (Attachment 4).
To the north, Fallon Road turns into Tassajara Road, which has a posted speed limit of 45 mph
within a rural setting. To the south, Fallon Road has a posted speed limit of 40 mph within a
residentially developed setting. As such, the recommended speed limit would be consistent with
the surrounding area. The maximum speed limit of 40 mph would not be enforceable using
radar along the portion that has not yet been accepted by the City between Tassajara Road to
just east of Cydonia Court.
Positano Parkway (Fallon Road to La Strada Drive): This segment of roadway contains several
35 mph speed limit signs; however, this limit is not based upon the results of an E&TS. The
posted speeds are therefore not enforceable using radar, and the signs were placed in an effort
to encourage reasonable travel speeds. Positano Parkway is a Class II Collector that generally
Page 3 of 4
runs east-west between Fallon Road to its current terminus at La Strada Drive. Plans are
underway to open the roadway further east to provide access to additional homes to be built.
The roadway consists of two travel lanes with a center median and bike lanes, and parking is
prohibited. A Class I multi-use trail runs parallel and north of the roadway. Signalized traffic
control exists at the intersecting streets, with a signal planned for activation at La Strada in the
near future. The roadway includes a mild grade and curvature. Adjacent land use is residential.
The E&TS indicates that the critical speed is 38 and 39 mph in the westbound and eastbound
directions, respectively, and includes a recommendation to round down for a posted speed limit
of 35 mph. Staff recommends that the posted speed limit be established at 35 mph so that
enforcement by use of radar may commence (Attachment 5).
A draft ordinance is attached (Attachment 6) that would amend the City of Dublin Traffic Code to
establish a new speed limit of 40 mph on Dublin Boulevard between Schaefer Ranch Road and
Inspiration Drive, 35 mph on Schaefer Ranch Road between Dublin Boulevard and the City Limit
at Interstate 580, 40 mph on Fallon Road between Signal Hill Drive and Tassajara Road, and 35
mph on Positano Parkway between Fallon Road and La Strada Drive.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
A notice was mailed to the homeowners of California Highlands, Discovery Homes, and School
of Imagination regarding the Dublin Boulevard study segment (Attachment 7). Notices were not
mailed regarding the other segments because there are no direct residential driveways fronting
the other study roadways.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Location Map
2. Engineering and Traffic Survey -Dublin Boulevard
3. Engineering and Traffic Survey -Schaefer Ranch Road
4. Engineering and Traffic Survey -Fallon Road
5. Engineering and Traffic Survey -Positano Parkway
6. Ordinance Amending the Dublin Traffic Code to Establish New
Speed Limits on Portions of Dublin Boulevard, Schaefer Ranch
Road, Fallon Road and Positano Parkway
7. Notice regarding Dublin Boulevard
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