COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

November 6, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 27, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None, 2^nd Reading Required

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James C. Porter, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Revisions to the Ordinances Designating Prima Facie Speed Limits in Public Rights-of-Way

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt an Ordinance revising Prima Facie Speed Limits in Public Rights-of-Ways.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Goal 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

Your Board’s adoption of the proposed regulations will allow us to provide for the orderly movement of traffic on public rights-of-ways.

BACKGROUND:

Adopted similar ordinances designating Time Limited Parking, Disabled Parking and No Parking Zones.

Sections 22357 and 22358 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) provide that local authorities may establish speed limits other than the prima facie speed limits as listed in the CVC, if said speed limits are based on an engineering and traffic survey, will facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic, and would be reasonable and safe upon said street.

DISCUSSION:

We are recommending that prima facie speed limits on the following County roads be revised:

1.

Reduce the speed limit on Alpine Road between Junipero Serra Boulevard and La Cuesta Drive from 45 Miles Per Hour (MPH) to 40 MPH.

2.

Reduce the speed limit on Edgewood Road between Canada Road and I-280 reduced from 45 MPH to 40 MPH.

3.

Reduce the speed limit on Pescadero Creek Road between its intersections with Wurr Road from 30 MPH to 25 MPH.

4.

Reduce the speed limit on Sand Hill Road between Whiskey Hill and the Menlo Park City Limits at I-280 from 55 MPH to 50 MPH.

5.

Reduce the speed limit on Skyline Boulevard between Crystal Springs Dam Bridge and Crystal Springs Road from 40 MPH to 35 MPH.

The prima facie speed limits on these roads are recommended for reduction in accordance with Engineering and Traffic Surveys conducted by the Department, and with the procedures set forth by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The California Highway Patrol has reviewed and concurs with our recommendations.

In addition to the revisions listed above, we are recommending that speed limits posted along Polhemus Road between Highway 92 and Tower Road (45 MPH) and along Ralston Avenue between Christian Drive and Highway 92 (35 MPH) be added to the County Ordinance Code to complete the listing. We are also recommending that Section 7.04.020 be repealed as it is redundant to Section 7.04.035 listing the speed limit along Edgewood Road between Alameda de las Pulgas and the northeasterly end of Cordilleras Road, and that Section 7.04.055 be repealed as it will no longer have any roads listed in it with the recommended reduction to the speed limit on Sand Hill Road from 55 MPH to 50 MPH.

Ordinances have been approved as to form by County Counsel.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The estimated cost of changing speed limit signs is $100 per location. The installation will be funded with Road Funds that have been appropriated this fiscal year to finance small road related improvements or traffic related installations.

There is no impact to the General Fund.