CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The second reading of an ordinance that will result in increased speed limits in areas of the city of Clearlake is scheduled to go before the Clearlake City Council on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Speed limit increases are based upon the 2013 Speed Zone Study performed by Traffic Engineer Phil Dow of the Lake County/City Area Planning Council, or APC.
The study is required every five years in accordance with the California Vehicle Code and is mandatory to support the proper traffic enforcement of speed limits within the city.
“It is absolutely with no choice that we have to follow these requirements and increase speed limits as required by law,” Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson said.
The study specifically includes consideration of prevailing speeds as determined by traffic engineering measurements; accident records; and highway, traffic and roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver.
Prevailing speed is considered to be that speed at and below which 85-percent of sampled vehicles travel.
According to Dow, this is typically the speed limit that is selected unless records indicate that the speed limit should be adjusted downward or unless there are roadway conditions that indicate otherwise.
Concern for the possible use of “speed traps” to generate city revenues led to a statewide committee review that resulted in the implementation of new guidelines in 2009.
Dow said the effect of the guidelines' adjustment is a reduction in latitude afforded professional judgment.
He said in some instances the implementation of the new guidance can result in a 10 mile per hour increase in the recommended speed limit given the same data under old guidance.
There is now more reliance on the 85th percentile speed and the recommended speed cannot be less than 5 miles per hour of the monitored 85th percentile speed, he said.
Dow said because of the five-year cycle, the 2013 Speed Zone Study is the first one completed after issuance of the new guidelines.
As a result, he said, several city streets are recommended for speed increases as follows:
– 40th Avenue from Highway 53 to Wilkinson Avenue: current, 30 miles per hour; recommended, 35 miles per hour.
– Austin Road from Redwood Street to Old Highway 53: current, 30 miles per hour; recommended, 35 miles per hour.
– Burns Valley Road from Rumsey Road to Arrowhead Road: current, 30 miles per hour; recommended, 35 miles per hour.
– Dam Road from Dam Road Extension to Lake Street: current, 35 miles per hour; recommended, 40 miles per hour.
– Lakeshore Drive from Olympic Drive to Old Highway 53: current, 25 miles per hour; recommended, 30 miles per hour, with the exception of city park areas.
– Moss Avenue from 40th Avenue to Davis Avenue: current, 30 miles per hour; recommended, 35 miles per hour.
According to Dow, speed zones established by local governments that are not in compliance with the adopted guidance or that have not been resurveyed within five years of speed zone establishment are not enforceable.
City Manager Joan Phillipe said the speed zone study was funded through the APC and the action does not have any fiscal impact on the city.
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Clearlake City Council to consider ordinance to implement new speed limits on some city streets
- Denise Rockenstein
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