Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ann M. Stillman, Interim Director of Public Works
Subject: Amend Ordinance to Establish a Speed Limit of 35 Miles per Hour on Sections of Pescadero Creek Road in Pescadero
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt an ordinance amending Section 7.04.035 of Chapter 7.04 of Title 7 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code for Prima Facie Speed Limits to establish a speed limit of 35 miles per hour on sections of Pescadero Creek Road in Pescadero, previously introduced on November 16, 2021, and waive the reading of the ordinance in its entirety.
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BACKGROUND:
This Board has adopted similar Ordinances designating prima facie speed limits in the unincorporated areas of the County.
Sections 627 and 40802 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) provide that an engineering and traffic survey (ETS) is required to establish a prima facie speed limit. Section 627 states an ETS consists of engineering measurements of the prevailing free flow speeds in the proposed roadway segment, a review of the collision history, and a review of roadside conditions. Residential and business density as well as pedestrian and bicyclist safety should also be considered as part of the analysis. Section 40802 requires a prima facie speed limit be justified by a valid ETS before enforcement of a prima facie speed limit using radar or other speed measuring devices.
The current speed limit on Pescadero Creek Road, from Cloverdale Road to Butano Cut-Off is not posted and; therefore, set at the prima facie speed. The land-use adjacent to and in the vicinity of this segment of Pescadero Creek Road is agricultural.
DISCUSSION:
A resident applied for a speed study on this segment of Pescadero Creek Road.
The study found an 85th percentile vehicle speed of 41 miles per hour. Per the guidelines under the current Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Section 2B.13 requires:
Standard: When a speed limit is to be posted, it shall be established at the nearest 5 mph increment of the 85th percentile speed of free-flowing traffic except as shown in the two options below:
Option: 1. The posted speed may be reduced by 5 mph from the nearest 5 mph increment of the 85th percentile speed in compliance with CVC Sections 627 and 22358.5.
Option 2. For cases in which the nearest 5 mph increment of the 85th-percentile speed would require a rounding up, then the speed limit may be rounded down to the nearest 5 mph increment below the 85th percentile speed, if no further reduction is used.
If the speed limit to be posted has had the 5 mph reduction applied, then an [engineering and traffic survey] shall document in writing the conditions and justification for the lower speed limit and be approved by a registered Civil or Traffic Engineer.
The ETS determined that Option 1 was applicable due to the limited sight distance along a curve of the road, use of slow-moving farm equipment in this area, and bicycle and pedestrian traffic due to the proximity to the Pescadero Middle/High Schools.
The Department of Public Works (Department) recommends amending Chapter 7.04.035 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code regarding locations with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour (mph) along Pescadero Creek Road. This amendment would extend the existing 35 mph speed limit that currently ends at Cloverdale Road to end at Butano Cut-Off. The resulting continuous 35 mph speed limit zone on Pescadero Creek Road in this vicinity would be from 675 easterly of Bean Hollow Road to Butano Cut-Off. The amendment will result in adding approximately 5,000 feet of 35 mph speed limit zone from Cloverdale Road to Butano Cut Off.
Property owners within 300 feet of the proposed speed limit reduction locations have been notified of the date and time of this Board’s meeting when this item will be considered. The California Highway Patrol has reviewed and concurs with the Department’s recommendations. Comments received to date are in favor of this change and are summarized in Attachment A.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the amended Ordinance as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost of changing speed limit signs is $500 per location. Funding for the installation of traffic signage is included in the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Adopted Budget.
There is no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments: A: Public Input and Summary
B: Map of the Existing and Proposed Speed Limit