TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Bob Moehling, Director of Public Works
PREPARED BY: Jeff Hitch, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Speed Zone Ordinance Update
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RECOMMENDATION
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Conduct the second reading and Ordinance No. 593-23 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Amending Chapter 10.16 of Title 10 of the Murrieta Municipal Code Regarding Changes to Speed Limits on Certain Streets in the City of Murrieta, Pursuant to State Law.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On September 21, 2021, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 566-21, updating the Murrieta Municipal Code Section 10.16.020 Prima Facie speed limits (Vote: 5-0).
On August 1, 2023, the City Council conducted a Public Hearing and conducted the first reading of the Speed Zone Ordinance Update, Ordinance No. 593-23, which was approved with no changes (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Provide a high level of innovative public safety.
BACKGROUND
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires that local agencies review changes in local speed limits on a periodic basis to determine if the speed limits require updating due to the age of the engineering and traffic survey, or due to changes in roadway conditions. Updated engineering and traffic surveys were completed between January 17, 2023, and April 11, 2023, on a total of 28 street segments.
• Two segments, previously included in Ordinance No. 543-19, have been updated due to the age of the previous surveys or changes in roadway conditions.
• Twenty-one segments, previously included in Ordinance No. 543-19, have been extended to be valid for fourteen years as allowed under recent Assembly Bill 43 which updates the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
• Five segments, based on the surveys, can now have speed limits established pursuant to state law as they were not previously included in the ordinance.
Pursuant to the California MUTCD and the CVC, posted speed limits shall be established at the nearest five-mile per hour (mph) increment of the 85th-percentile speed of free-flowing traffic. One five-mph reduction can be applied if appropriate justification is provided. All of the updated and new speed zones along with speed reduction justification, if applicable, are highlighted in Attachment 2, Speed Survey Analysis Table. All other speed zones contained in the table have been reviewed and do not require updating at this time. The following are the segments and speeds included in this update.
Existing segments to decrease (2 locations):
Old New
Street Location of New Speed Limits Limit Limit
Holsted Ave. Adams Ave. to Jefferson Ave. 30 25
Lemon St. Washington Ave. to Jefferson Ave. 35 30
Existing segments not in previous Ordinance to now be posted (5 locations):
Old New
Street Location of New Speed Limits Limit Limit
Hunter Rd. Golden Eagle Ave. to Calle de Amor NP 35
Meadowlark Ln. Keller Rd. to Whitewood Rd. NP 35
New Clay St. B St. to Ivy St. NP 30
Whitewood Rd. Isaac St. to Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. NP 30
Whitewood Rd. Calle Real to Isaac St. NP 30
NP = not posted previously
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $7,250 for sign installations is available from General Fund: Facilities Supplies - Maintenance.
ATTACHMENTS
1) Ordinance No. 593-23
2) Speed Survey Analysis Table