HomeMy WebLinkAbout0207.0911
KArCh 28, 19511
IIOIIOJU\BLE CITY COOIlCIL
Palo Alto, California
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I\?IpATXOR OF SPIEP LDfITS ON CHARLESTON ANP EMBARCApERQ ROAps
M_rll of the COuncil:
REPORT XW BRIEF
'l'h1. report responds to a Council a&SiglUDent reqard.ing speed limits
and use of radar for speed ent'orcement on Charleston Road and
bi>arc .. d.ro Road. Staff .... commends Council adept the attached
ordinance which will ralae the speed limit along Embarcadero Rood .s follow.:
• 30 aph fro. AI .. street to Middlefield Road,
• 35 .ph fro. Middlefield Road to Walnut Drive, and to St.
Francia Drive.
If the COUncil decides to adopt the attached ordinance raising the
speed limits along Embarcadero Road, staff will monitor actual
apee"s on a periodic basis and will report back to the Council
following an initial six month period.
Staff does not recommend extension ot the existing school zone or
.stablishment of a senior Eone along Charleston Road.
BACKGI!O!1!!D
At its -.eetinql of October 9, 1990, Council considerecS a staff
report entitled "1990 Speed surveys-(CMR:SO],O} and adopted an
ordinance .atabliahinq spe8'J Halts on 17 street 8e<J111ents based
upon Enqineerinq and Traffic Survey results. In addition, Council
directad staff to,
(1) Analyz. Charl •• ton Road batween Louis Road and Alma Street to
fully 6veluate .pecial cir~stanees for the use of radar in
• adlool zone tor the ant, ire aegment, and
(Z) Report back with further analysis of a lI04est speed limit
increase on the three segments of Embarcadero Road from Alma
Street to St. Francia Drive.
CIIR:2a7:91
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Charl •• ton Road, ira. £1 camino Real to the .outhern city If.it,
and bbarcadero JtoacS, f'roa 21 casino Real to 2t~ Francis Drive, are
currently po"ted with. epead. lillft ot 25 "Ph. The current apeed
l1a1ta are eon.iatent with california Vehicle Code (CVC) Section
22352, vhic:h allova local authcrit1ea tc poat a 25 IIPh apeed Hait
on any .treet other than a stat. hiqhway, in any business or
r .. ldential dlatrict. However, a posted .peed Halt of 25 mph on
both .tre.t. (.~cept Eabarcad.ero Road frca El eealno Real to Alma
streett 1. not consistent with the result. of current Engineering
and Traffic Survey. and, therefora, radar cannot be used tor speed
enforc..ant.
Tbe california VehIcle Coda require. that, in order to use radar
tor ~ed enforcement, posted speed li.ita .uat be in accordance
with pr .. cribe4 Engin •• rinq ar~ Traffic Surv.ys which ar. required
to be updated every five year. (CVC, section 40802). Failure to
have a valid surveyor failure to have post .. d .peed li.its that
confara to the survey results, prevent. the u •• of radar tor speed
enforceaent.. Without the use of radar, the police are limited to
vehicle paci"9 (traill"9), vhic:h 1a e lea. efficient, and aometiaes
.IlOr8 hazardous, aeana cf speed enforcelllent.
The. Police Departsent can, however, use radar to entorce a 25 _ph
apeed Ii.it in .chool zon •• (only during th. time that children are
present), becauae school zane. are exempt from the provia1ons Qf
eve section 40802. School _ene signing i. qoverned by evc, Section
21372 and the caltran. Traffic Jlanue.l. School zone siqna are used
to define the Deq'inning and end of a achool z-ono on .treAts
contiquoull to .choole serving students in kindergarten thro"qh
tv.llth 9rades.. They are r..orsally posted at school boundaries, but
.. y be posted up to 500 teet in advance, <lepending upon prevailing
~.
QlUTI'$TO" BOA!)
Sobool Zone.
staff has reviewed the type of development and conditions along
Charluton Road, from: AlBa Street to LouIs Road,. in order to
detaraine whether there are specIal circu.stances that WOuld pena.it
the u •• cf radar tor speed enforceaent on thl. section of roadway ..
DeVelopaent alonq ebarleston Road 18 prlaarily residential in
natur., with the exception of the north _ide from Carl.on Circle to
JUddl.tield Read. Thb particular area fa occupied by the J.
xartln Spangler School, the eberleston community School, tile
c:o..unity "" .. oclation for the Retarded (C.A.R.), the Unitarian
eburc:h, stevenson Houae (a dedgnated facility tor Seniora), the
ObIon. Sc:hool dte, and a driveway 1.ad1"9 to Jane Lathrop Stanferd
Ilid<ll. School located on Eaat Ku.do" Drive (AttachJlent 2).
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The Ohlone School .it. .. although no longer a public .chool, houses
a privata .chool with approxiAataly 100 otudent. in kindergarten
through 8irth grad.. Th. Cl>arleoton CoJomunity School 10 an
alternative .choa1 that provide. hIgh ochool level education to
otudenta referred frOJl pul>lic ochool., and the J. Hartin Spangler
School provides kindergarten through high "cbool level education to
.antally and phyoically disabled children. School &onea can be
•• tabUobed and dgned and • 2S _ph .peed liait c2ln be enforced
yith the use of rsc1ar for all three of theae school Bites.1 only
when cbildren are pre.ent ..
Field ebservationa indicate that appropriate scbool zone signs and
the ... oceloted 2S ~ .. peed Holt sign. already exist on Charleston
Road, creatinq 1n .~fect, one long continuous school zone bet~een
carlson circle and Middlefield Road. The existence of the school
zone pet1lit. the Pollee Depart.ent to use radar to enforce the
2S ~ speed Uait durl"9 the tille that children are present. The
established school zone cannot be extended to other sections of
Charleston Read because the existing development cannot be defined
.s scbools ..
on • dUferent but ..,...wbat related .atter, AS 2883 (Speier) and S8
1860 (ltoPP) .. ere aigned into lav late la"t year, and became
.ffective as of JanU21ry 1, 1991. The •• two bills are identical in
lenguaqe and establish a priaa tacie speed limit of 25 mph wben
pa •• .f.:ng a .enior center or other t'&cility prilllarily used tor senior
acfulu, which is contiguous to a street other than a state highway
and posted vith a ·senior Citizen Facility' va~ing sign.
The implications of the above law are similar to that tor school
zones, i.e. ceqmenta of atreets contiquous to senior facilltles~
when posted with a ·Senior citizen FacUity· 6ign and a 25 -Ph
.lgnol' are exe~t trOll the provisions of eve Section 40802 and,
therefore, the police can us. rad.ar to enforce the. speed limit. The
new law differs, however, fra. the one for school zones in that ..
unlike the school zones where police can use radar only When
children are present, the .enior zone speed limit can apparently be
radar enforced anytime, with or without the presence of seniors.
'!'he senior zone law i. new; anc2 no detail. are available regarding
it. appllcation, (.specially """cerning the definition of the tarms
·Facility· and ·Senior·). In order to better understand the law
and its application, ataff contacted the off!c •• of Senator Itopp
and Asseablywoaan Speier, and al.o di8C1J8Sed the ia8ue with Mr.
Frenk Hedley, ChIef of Police, City of San Bruno, as "uqgested by
Senator JCopp'. ot1'ice .. The .ituatlon at a .peclfic .enior facility
111 San Bruno v •• the p21rticular insten.,. that precipitated the
efforte of local repre.entatives to oponsor the billo resulting in
thi. new law. It 1a staff'. undaratanding t:hat the legislature
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purpo •• ly 414 not 4eflne .everal kay vorda 8ucb aa -Facility· and
·ssn1orw • However, tbe intent 1. t.o u •• the ·Senter Pacility"
ai9NI 1n a liaited aanner and only at .elected location .. where the
facility 1. designated for .enior usa, and the usage by aenior. is
111gb.
Given the limited current level of under.taMing regarding the
intention and impluoentation of thia ne" law, .tart developed a
11.t of facilities us.d by •• niore and organized them into similar
categorl •• , ror the purpose of consideration for potential
t.pl .. entation of .enior zone .peed limit legislation.
Atta~ent 3 provide. a 11.t of facilIties used by .enlors~
organiZed into several cate90rle.~
Staff believes that it would be appropriate to consider the
e.tabli.luoent of .enior Eone8, with a corresponding 25 aph speed
HlI1t, only for category A (Senior center) and category B (Senior
Rousing) type senior faciHties, .... pr ..... nted in Attachment 3.
SUch consideration would be to elitabli.h senior zones and a related
25 >mph .peed. li1ilit when conditions are shown to warrant corrective
action, and the establishment of a senior zone would be expected to
provide .cae real benefit.
other facilit.ies, Buch as housinq with subsidilied unit. far seniors
(category C). nursing homes (Cateqory 0), centers vi th programs tor
seniore (category E and category F). aM condominiwa or rental
residential complexes with a 8ignificant number of senior
r •• ldent8 1 would not be considered for potential implementation of
aenlor Eonea, becau •• they are not dealqnated. specifically ~or
.eniora, or vehicular access and/or pedestrian activity ~y seniors
b a1niJlal.
stevenson HQU"
st.evenaon Bouse Is located on Charlestcn Road between Carlson
Circle and Middlefield Road ~ has 120 units. Since it i. "
designated facility tor seniora, ·Senior Citizen Facility· signs
IlUpplementecl vith 2S .. ph siqns could be posted on Charleston Road
in thi. vicinity. This would then allow the police to use radar
tor speed .. ,torcement purpo8e.1 24 hour. a day ..
Staft ... however, advIses against postlnq the subject sl9nl119 because
there 1. no apparent probl_ at this site; reported accident
history does not indic .. te any .afety problems, and fiel~
observations in4ic:ate 4 .ini .. l nUlllber of .enior ped.estrians
v .. lJc.ill9 in the area or croaairl9 the stre.t. Furthenlore, the
algn1ng MY provi~e a fal.. aen... of .. curity when .otorists
perceive higher opeeds to be .. fa and ignore 25 mph ~sted speed luiu. In addition l stevenson Bouse i •• lr8ady included within an
•• tablished school ~on. for which a 25 mph apeell l.t.lt can be radar
enforced during the ti_ that children are preaent.
CIIR:207:tl
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3/29/91
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Gont; lu .ion
.. -.4 upon (a) the re.ulta of the En~in •• ring and Traffic surv~y,
(b) the existence ot an •• tablished continuous school Eone from
car180n Circle to lIiddhfidd Road, and (e) the lack of a
d...,n.trated .afety problo related to aeeu. to and at the
Stevenson Hou ..... tatf does not believe any chanqes are appropriate
along Charleston Roa~, unless Council wishes to con.ld~r raising
the _peed li.it to that which would be entcrceable by usa of radar
at any tt...
I:n view of the Council directive to further evaluate a -=odest
incre •• e in the .peed H.lt alonq Embart:adaro Road, staff has
COlIIIpleted further evaluation of the Enqineerinq and Traffic Surveys
for the three •• ctions of Embarcac!ero Road, froll Alma Street to st.
Franci. Drive. A aurvey for Sect.loT! 1, from 21 camino Real to Alma
Street, was completed in OCtober 1990: and a speed luit of 25 mph
va. established at that time. Attachment 4 presents a aummary of
the Enqineerinq and Traffic Survey results.
Based on the current survey results, the following speed limits
need to be posted in order to perait the use of radar for speed
entorceaent:
legion 9t Embarcadero Rood
1. El Coino.Real to Al.a Street
2. Alma street to Middlefield Roa~
3. lIiddlefield Roa~ to Walnut Drive
4. Walnut Drive to st. Francis Ave.
CUrrent
Speed
Limit
25 &ph
25 IIPh
25l1ph
25 mpb
Speed Lbcit
for Radar Use
2S mph
30 &ph
35 lIIph
35 IIph
Based on the current survey results, radar can now be llsed for
speed enforcement only on Section 1 (El Camino Real to Alma
Street). Prior to tbe expir~tlon of the previou~ surveys, radar
could also be used tor .peed enforcement on Section 2 (Alma Street
to 1I1ddletleld Roa"l. due to the fact tbat the posted speed limit
of 25 _ph bad been in conforaance with the previous survey results.
Radar bas not been permitted tor enforcement of the 25 mph speed
Hait on Section ) or Section 4.
In view of the public'. concerns about raising speed Ii_its and
inter.st 1n speed enforcement, .tatt identifie~ four alternatives
and .olicited resIelenu' opinions concerning the possibility of
ra1ainq the current "pee~ lilllit along Embarcaelero Roael. The four
alternativ .. are as follows:
aIR.207.91 3/2B/91
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lUhnoathe & •
• atablish ape~ U-.1ta 1n confo ..... nee with the n.... Burvey
nwlta tor all •• etions of Embarcadero Road. The po_ted _peed
liJoit ........ in. th ... ame for Section 1, increase. by 5 "Ph tor
Section 2, and 1ncre •••• by 10 .ph tor sections 3 and 4. As.
nault, the Police wou.ld be 8bl. to Wle radar f:>r speed
entorceaent througbout all tour aectlon5 of Embarcadero Road~
Paat review of teChnical Dtudiea and di.cussion8 with Traffic
Engin.ers in other Bay Area communitIes indicate that ralslnq
posted. _peed liJoita, to cantor. with the results of prescribed
Eng'ineerill9 and Traftic surveye, do... not res"l t in Il
oorr •• pon41nt; incr.,,-se 1n overall speed.. Major factors in
deten.ining .. driver'. perception of what i. a safe speed
include width and. numl>ar of travel lanes, volume of traffic,
psrkill9 conditions, and roadway conditions (wet or dry, slope
and grade, curvature, _te.) anc5 have relatively little to do
with posted speed liait ••
lUten.ative B.
Est.ablish llpeeeS It-its in confoI""ll&nce with the ne'" survey
%'anlt.a for Secti.ona 1 and. 2: only, ancl post a speed limit of
30 IIph em Section. 3 and " based upon the premise that e soda5t
increase of 5:apb i. acceptable and a 10 mph incru:ent is
una=-ptable. The posteeS .. peeeS limit reJOains the same for
Section 1 and increases by 5 :JI.ph for Sections 2,3 I and 4. As a
T~aul't, the Police. wou.ld. be abl. to use. ra.dar for speed
enforcement on Sections 1 and 2 only, and not on Sections
3 and 4.
Altum.tlve C.
Establish speed liBfts in confoI""ll&nce vith Ule n." survey
re.ul ta for Sections 1 and 2 only, vi th no change from the
exiatinq posted speed Ii.it tor S~ction& 3 and 4. The posted
~ luit r .. ains the same tor Section ~, increases by 5 mph
for Section 2, and r .. ains the aa1rae for Sections 3 and. ... As a
X'Uult, the Police would be able to UBe radar tor speed
enforce.ent on Sect.iOl18 1 and 2 only, and not on Sections
3 and 4.
Such • variation in po&teeS apeM li:mit& alon9 a relatively
Mort, contlnuou. route would be unorthodox and inconsistent
with driver expectation, and would seem unnatural and confusing.
Such co~.ld.ratlons would provide some besi. tor violators to
~~ta=t _peed enforcement citationa in a court of law. Also,
.uch a speecS c5ifferential (25 mph versus the 85th percentile
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-.peed of 35 _ph) cr .. t •• a difficult aituation for law-abiding
ciU ..... by .atablillhing dtuatlona Whare norm.l driver behavior
1. likely to ..... ul t in breaking the law.
Alt ...... U .... I).
Make no change fro. the present situation.. The posted spee.d
It.it re.aine the aa .. a. it 1. today for all four •• ctions of
Embarcadero Road. .... result, the PolIce 'Would be able to use
radar tor speed enfDrce.Bient on Se:ction 1 only, and. not en
Sections 2,3, hnd 4.
Th. above four alternatives are illustrated in Attaeh&ent 5, and
aummarized in Table 1.
Table 1. SPEED LDUT ALTERNATIVES
CUrrent
Speed Alternatives
SectIon ot !mhDreodero Rood Limit ..A....IL ~...IL
1. El c..-ino Real to Alaa street. 25 .. ph 25 25 25 25
2. Alma Str.et to Xiddlefield Rd 25 '"Ph 30 30 30 25
3. Xicl4lefield Road to Walnut Dr 25 "'Ph 35 30 25 25
4. Walnut Driv. to st Franci. Avo 25 ..ph 35 30 25 25
a..id.nt ~1Dl2D IYtXlX
In oreler to seelt resident input r"'1arding the possibility of
rai.inc;! the apeed liait on Embarcadero Road, an opinion survey was
conducted by •• 11. A letter (Attachll!ent 6) explaining the
baclt9round., describing all tour alternatives and requnting the
completion of a .ell-addre.aed l pre-stamped opinion response post
card V9re -.ailed to all resident. and. owners of propertie.s located
along Embarcadero Road, and within approximatelY 200 teet of it.
~. resident. were requ •• ted t.o indicate theIr preferenc::e reqardinq
each alternatiVe by putting an ·X· In one of three boxes indicating
-StrPPORT-JJEU1'RAL-or ·OPPOSE-as ao.t appropriately r.flec:tlnq
their opinion reqarding .ach of the four Illternativt!S. A total of
475 aurvey letter8 ware .. iled and 252 responses were received.
!'be r .. ul ta of the opinion .urvey are summarized 1n I'able 2:.
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Table 2: RESIDEIIT CPIIIION SURVEY
tItcm·tfy. Support: NeutrDl ~
Batabli.h _peed li.it_ In contora-117 10 99
&nee with the new aurvey result.
tor all ".ction. ot Embarce,~.ro
Road.
B. Eatablish apeed 11.i t. In confono-77 II 94
ance with the new aurvey results
for Sections 1 and 2 only, .nd
po"t • ape""-I1.lt of 30 ~h on
~ Sections 3 and 4.
c. Batab11ah speed I1.its in oonfo ... -1& 26 141
ance with the new aurvey relSul ta
tor section. 1 and 2 only, 'With not)
change froll the _bUng apeed liait
tor Sections 3 and 4.
Make no change .fro. the present 81 26 87
dtuatJ.on.
Pro. the aurvey rasults l it 1. apparent that scat residents do not
support alternative C, and there i. some support fer raising the
speed liIit. Most of the r .. ident.. who supported raising' the apef'!d
Ii.it to be in conforaance with the result. of the Engineering and
Traffic Survey. (Alternative Al aleo supported Alternative Band
oppoaed AlternaUves C and D. Their collaent" in support of
Alternative A include. the tact that drivers are already traveling
el08e to 3S mph, and raising t:h.e posted .peed to 35 would allow use
of' radar for entorceJDent.. Many residents who supported r.s.ls1119 the
8peed liait suggested raising it to 35 ~h throuqhout the entire
length of _readero Road.
On the other hand, .ost o~ t~e residents who .upported ~aintaininq
the current 2S mph speed liait vere qenerally opposed to the other
thre. alternatives. Their comments supporting the 2S -aph speed
It.1t include<!: (0) Embarcadero Road is a residential street and,
therefore, the speed 1iait should be 25 mph, and (b) drivers are
already 90ing too fast and raising the "peed limit would encourage
drivers to 90 even faster, thereby aaking it less safe.
c;ontoet. vi th Schogl Bcprelento1;ly,.
staff bas alao had amae discussion with Hr. JaDes R.. Brown,
SUperintendent ot the Palo Alto Unified School District, and the
City/school Traffic Safety co.aittee regarding the possihility of
rei sing the speed limit along !abareadero Road. Both the District
a.nc.t Co_itt.e oppose any increa .. in the existinq speed li.1 t along:
!abareadero Road.
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conc1pl'pD
.... ed "POn (a) tile na.,lt. of tile En9iMar1ng and rraUic Survey,
(b) the iJoporte.nce of the u.e of radar for effective opeed
enforceaent, end (e) the level of oupport for incr ... olng the apeed
11ait to achieve acn etrective opead Uait enforceaent, staU
baliev.. the speed l~t a1009 z.barca~.ro Road ahould be set in
accordanca with Alternative A.
• retain the 25 IIPh frOll 1:1 Camino Real to Al .... Street,
• reba the apeed 11.1t frca 25 IIPh ·to 30 .,ph frOll Al ....
Street to Middlefield Roa~,
e rabe the .peed lbit frca 25 mph to 3S mph from
Middlefield Road to Walnut Drive, and
• raise the apeed liait fro. 25 .ph to 35 mph from Walnut
Drive to st. Francis Drive.
'lbe attaC'lled ordinance (Attachaent 1), if adopted by Council, would
raise the speed liait on Embarcadero Road .s specified above, and
peZ1l1t the. use of radar for IlpeSe! entorc_ent aloZ19 the entire
length of Eabareadero Road from Alaa street to St. Francis Drive.
U the council decid .. to adopt the attached ordinance raising the
_d llaita along Ezbarcadero Road, .taff proposes to .. onitor
actual __ on a periodic basis arid will report back to the
council following an initial .Ix aontl> period.
COUNCIL MEETING MOTI CE
••• idents and property ownera along ~rcadero Road, and within
approxiaately 200 teet of it, were informed on Pebruary 12, 1991
that the Council would discu .. thi •• ubject •• tter on April 1, 1991
(Atta""""'nt 7). An additional follow-up letter (Attacluoent 8}
reaffir.lng the April 1.t date and .umaa~izinq staft's recommen
dation va. sent to the reaidenta and property owners on March 28, a91.
PHOT9 RADAR
DUrin<; the Council .eeting on octob<>r 9, 199Cl, several Council
Beaber. raised the 1.sue of the potential use of photo radar for
~ed enforcement. Photo radar i. a 5ystem of speed enforcement
using a ca.era and computer In eonjunction with a radar unit.
Speedin<; vehicles are photographed and a citation is generated by
the coaputer an~ mailed to the violator. The procedure bas been
upheld a. leg&l in california.
Staff believes that photo radar ... y be • useful tool In speed
entorceaent on .ome Palo Alto street.. There remain., however,
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__ Uons about iu utility. efficiency and pul>lic acceptance.
Photo ra.:!ar baa been 1n u.. in california over two years. Mowever,
.. yet. only two ciU .. (C~ll and Pa .. dens) ere ... i1>9 it.
CgnQlnaion
At p ........ t. ateff 18 not prepared to make a recomaendaUon on the
uae o~ photo radar. The Police Deparuant viII continue further
study of thi. lasua ever the next six aonths to one year to
det.exwine the pro. and cone of .uch a .fatUl, includinq aonitoring
other &genci_1 experience., and can, upon Council's dire.ction,
return ,with. recolllllAmdation on the uae at photo rad:ar.
_11>9 ~ lillite is not considered a project under the
california Enviro .... ntal Quality Act. and no environmental finding
1. necessary ror council action on this .attar.
no'rqwpATIOllS
Staff reccmaends that council adopt the attached ordinance Which
vill rei •• the speed lillit along Embarcadero Road a. follows:
• 30 10pb trOll Ai ... straet to Middlefield Road,
• 35 .pb fro. MiddlefIeld Road to Walnut Drive, and
• 35 10pb from Walnut Drive to st. Franci. Drive.
It the council decid". to adept the attached ordinance raisinq the
-" lilaiu a101>9 Ellbarcadero Road. ataff will monitor actual
~ •• IfB on a periodic aBI. and vill report back to the Council
follovlnq an in1 Ual IIIx IIOnth period.
Staff doell not raCOlUllend extension of the existing Bcheel .one or
astabll.hment of a .enior zone along CharlestDn RDad.
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ItENNETH R. 5C/IRElBER /' _It AGGAIIWAL
City Traffic Engineer Director of Planning
and Community Environment
Atta __ , 1. ordinance
2. Map &hewing school .ite~ on Charleston Road
3. senior Facilities
4. Engineering' Traffic Surveys
5. Eabarcadero Road Alternatives
6. Oplnicm survey
7. council Meeting Notice
S. Motice Containing SWIIIII4ry of Reco .... endatlon
cc: iJ~ R. Brown, Supe:rintendent, PAUSO
City/School Traffic Sarety ca..itt ..
Sandra Pearson, Pri~lpal, Palo Alto High School
Harold Jones, Principal, Walter Bayes School
Jaaes MCManus, Principal, castilleja school
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ATTACHKENl 1
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF TIlE COUNCIL OF TIlE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMEIIDING ClIAPl'ER 10. 5~ OF THE PALO ALTO lIUNICIPAL
CODE TO ESTABLISH AND ClUL~GE SPECIAL SPEED ZONES
FOR CERTAIN STREETS OR PORTIONS OF STREETS
The Council of the city of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
follows:
SECTION 1. Secti~n 10.56.025 of the palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follow5:
10.5 •• 025 Stat. apeed liait lucre •• ed (thirtyaph).
It i. determined and justified upon the ~sis of enqinear
inq and traffio surveys conducted by the city, as required
by state law, and completed on the dates shown below, that
a speed qreater than that provided by state law would
facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and would be
reasona~!e and safe upon the followinq streets or portions
of streets, and it is declared that the prima facie speed
l.imit shall be as set forth in this section except tor
school zones, on the streets or parts of streets desiqnated
in this section when siqns are erected giving notice
thereof:
30 tIPS DECLllRED PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIXIT
street or Portion ~er.of Affected
West Bayshore Frontage Road fro.
Oregon ~xpressway to Amarill~
Avenue • . .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. • ..
"'''''l'#iid''' -'Jt~Ttriiil;;"'1d'SJ;i1i~'e ~bJ!d '!!~~iiio\H~'Jii~tiifie.1d'~oaifl'i~ "'. ,,' .. ,-J'f,~if.:.".".,,,,,;~;,.'. .. ~~.~.,., ",.",.",.,.,j .. "".'0",'." . , ...... "." :. ,,'.'''''':' , ,
Engin •• ring and
Traf'f'ic Survey
Coapi.tioD Date
September 2~, 1990
SECTION 2. section 10.56.030 of the Palo Alto Municipal
COde is hereby amended to read as follows:
10 .• 56.030 state .peed lia1t {Berea •• d.. It i&
determined and justified upon the basis of enqineerinq and
traffic surveys conducted by the city, as required by state
law, and completed on the dates shown below, that a speed
greater than that provided by state lay would facilitate
the orderly lIIovement of traffic and would be reasonable and
safe upon the tollowing streets or portions of streets, and
it is declared that the prilla facie speed liJIit shall be as
aet forth in this section, except for school zones, on the
streets or parts ot streets designated in this l5ection when
signs are erected qiving notice thereo~:
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35 MPH DECLARED PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMIT
str..t or PortloD rh.~.ot Arrecte4
East Baysbore Road trom Embarcader~
Road to northerly city limit ••
Paqe XiII Expre9sway from Alma Street
to Hanover Street . • . • . • •
San Antonio Road from East Bayahore
Road to Alma street .• • • . •
Alma street from Embarcadero Road to
Oregon Expressway . • • . . • .
Alma street fro. Oreqon Expressway to
Meadow Drive • • • . • • • •
AIaa street 'fr01l Me.acSow Or! ve to San
Jl:llgiDecar,!lIq &lid
!'ratfio Burvey
CoapletiOD Date
February 27, 1989
February 27, 1969
February 27, 1990
September 24, 1990
September 24, 1990
September 24, 1990
SECTIOH §. The council finds that this is not e project
for the purposes of the California Environaental Quality Act.
SEctrON 1. This ordinance shall be effective on the
co ... enc ... ent of the thirty-first day after the date of its
adoption.
rN'I'ROIXlCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOBS:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORK:
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CON'FEIIT:
Chief of Police
2
APPROVEO:
Mayor
city Manaqer
Chief Transportation Official
Director of Planning and
Co..unity Environaent
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I SENIOR CITIIEW rACILITIBS IB PALO ALTO
A. BEWIOR Ci5Jii'BU
palo Alto Senior Center 450 Brvant street
B. IIEWIOR .ollsnG
ROUsing Designated tor Seniors:
Lytton Gard ens 656 Lytton Avenue 268
Stevenson House 455 East Charleston Road 120
Channing Bouse 850 Webster Street 200
Palo Alto Gardens 648 San Antonio Road 128
Webster House 401 Webster Street 37
palo ~to Commons 4075 El Camino Way 121
C. 80118II1G WIn SEWIOItS
Qtb~[ bQY&ins ~itb IQ~ §~si4i~~d
unit. designated for seniors:
SherIdan Apa~ent5 360 Sheridan Aver.l.le --
Terman Apartments 4230 Terman Drive 24
Webster Wood 941 Webster Street 4
Arastradero Park 574 Arastradero Road 11
Colorado Park 1141 Colorado Avenue 8
D. RBSIDBW7IAL CARBfVlJRSIBa BOllES
Palo Alto Nursing HODe 911 Bryant Street ---
Case. Olga 180 Hamilton Avenue 14'
Pleasant Manor 1000 Cowper street 5
Hay care 3969 Duncan Place 4
RoSedale Manor 1078 Forest Avenue 8
•• 8EWIOR PROGlIUS
Senior Day Health 701 East Meadow Drive
Senior ClUb at Lucie stern 130~ Middlefield Road
South Bav Se lf HelD center SSS Colleae Avenue
P. CIOIIIIDJiXn CBJI'fBItS
Al b<trt J. Schultz Jewish
coaaunlty Center 655 Arastradero Road
Chinese communi tv Center 470 Anton Court
G. 0'lDII auXDIllftIAL OOIfPLIIDS
Conda.iniums such as 101 Alma 101 Alma Street
SPEED LIMIT
I NIII CA TI 011
Bl.SED 011 CURItEIIT
85TH POSTED
PERCEllTILE SPEED
SPEED LIMIT
3S 25
35 l5
40 2S
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CITY Of PALO ALTO
OI¥ISIOH OF TRANSPORTATION
$'""'! of -[nahreering and Traffic· Surveys
, OF ACCIDENTS APPROI. satOOLS
JtJI. Y 88 • JUNE 90 lANE ALIlII6 liKE
VIDTIIS T1f£ lANES I SPEED 1M FEET SEGIIDIT PATHS TOTAL RELATED
37 5 11 YES YES
24 S 11 YES YES
30 8 II NO YES
SPEED
lIRlT
BASED 411
.ElI&. •
BUS ·TRAFFIC
ROUTES COMIIENTS SURVEYS • ~ f. _ fOlor 1_ City an .. l,t
NO street ~ by I'ICIII& an bottI 30 sidell. TM , .... are ret .... lid plrid".
fs J'tOt .ll~ __ stn.t ... to thI
ratrfctld wldtII. ,. • "-"1oe. reef·
dents "'l"'ICtly drive GUt onto I t,...,..t t_. bt f¥f tN ,I. ItNortS {nt.-
MC:t .t aevt-. .. t_ "'tdl .... tr~CUI
.. ,.n.Hlty. "" IIr)WW 5t.reet 'fthr·
Metl. I. IWwtfly ...t br b;~II.tI
sine. "1")W1t I, 1M 1ft. Iout.....-cl
'IGUtIIo of ~. 1M '~Ian
I. "",,"1 .. lIz". ThIi .,... IUr"'N'( dna..
Nlu-Ictillll Ylililrilfty .t .... Int.,-
MCt:fCIN~ residant, .merl,. ... IJtrwt
dl.-.ctty hna I ~ 1_. _ ~
.a..,.. by lricyctfst. of 1ft w.a1.,..llzed
(ntWMCtJan at 1k'\WIt. JIa' f fr
[~!"II ~ ~' 'I.-It frdtc.tf." of J5 ta!O •
Sepent h • four ,_ City art.,. ...
NO ItrMt. n.. .tr.t I, bot*t--.cf I¥ • 35 Hr. ,"-etlCA" 11 ___ Pm. tIM! "'lo
Alta Culer., C'.m:.,. wwf Wllter kpIt
SdIoal G"I the ftOf'ttI .tdl. InCI by 'hoIIn .. on the sc.utfiI. .1 __ •• artfl"4l I, .11:..1 ~ "" alr-ftt. CarJdhl_ '*' rot .rU to
r~tffy 1,...,.1 ... :: ..... U.-It
Irdf e.t I an of J'5 • ~ s.,.nt 11 • "ow l_ City .-terl,1
NO II-trftt .... I. bonknd by t.-on botJI 35 ,16M. TIM iii"" I'lAIIIr .., oIC:C:f dint, ..
justifies \wer~ .. tM .-1 B_h
indication of 4(1 • tel ]5 -.:it,
April I, 1!I91
SPEED L1NIT
INDICATION
85TH BASED ON CURIIEHT
PERCEII-85TH POSTED
TILE PERCOOILE SPEED
STREET 5EIIIIENT SPEED SPEED LlNIT
cC' "-;;j
Embarcadero Road fro~
Alma to Mlddl@fleld 37 35 25
Em~.rcad.ro Road from
Mlddlefl@ld to Walnut 38 3S 25
Embarcadero Road from
Walnut to St. Fr~ncls 40 40 25
CITY Of PALO AlTO
DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION
~rY or "£nal""rlnq and TCItt1c" SUmys
, OF ACCIDENTS APPIIOX. SCHOOLS
,IUL Y 88 -JUNE 10 lNIE A\.OIIQ BIKE
WIDTHS THE lANES ,
SPEED IN FEET SEGMENT PATHS
TOTAL RELATED
37 5 11 YES YES
24 5 II YES YES
30 8 II NO YES
BUS
ROUTES CONIIOOS
...... t II • , ..... t .... City .rt ... t.l
NO .ttNt ..... r~ W n_ on iottII
., ... ''''' l ... eN f'IIIrrtl.lII ... ,..k.~f18
1111 not .Uwad Oft·,U .... ' M t. 'hili
.... tdetect width. AIfII • , .. ull, , .. 1-
dint. dlrlCtly ... ht. 0I.It. aMO III tlTft\
1_. IMt.t .,t tM ,let. nrfttlll fnter-
AlICt .t ..utIIS' ... , ... ,dI r .. trlct.
vl.lbll tty. The "I'V*M-"'MIt. '''' ....
• ecUon I. helwU.,. UMd W btc~lI.tI
.tAlle lror-"t I. tM Itke .... , __ ",
HUth of £MINK uwduCG. 1M (",t_MOtl_
,. __ 1.,.lIIMt. 1M ...-IMII"WY date,
'ntl'ictllid ytalblltty at 41; .... 1m.,.·
.~tior'llo. r .. ldlftu ._'na: 1M aU' ... t.
dlNCfly Inte III t~l 1_. " h......,
w. .... b¥ bl~llilt. of .. ",*1.,.'111'"
IntetM6H"" .t .",.t. i~ttfy
' .... rl,.. tha epMd U .. h Indla.ciM 01
,:5 "P' to 10 'T".
s.v-nt ,. • tau .. 1M'll City ....... I"l
NO IU .. t. Tt.. It .... t II bordtl'ed b¥ "
fir. _tatlan. III~ P ... l.. ttw P.l ..
Alt. CUI h"..l tent.,. . .rid "altar II.".
lehool m .... _ .. tl'! I'., and by h-.
~ ~". 1tIUt" Ih"~ '.rU", fa .tt'lllld
01\ .'r~. Cnilione dD not IlIflt to
j ... tif.,. !.OWf'i, !:."~ It.tt
Indfellton of n •
l.....nt II • I ..... , ..... Cfty er,.,.'.1
NO Itr .. ' W II bo~ boV ftc.... on bo~
Ih' ... The "'th ~ .t _c:jdlml
jUltff'" lowef't~"1 ~~~.'t imlutlOf' .f 40 to 1'J, ~
SPEED
lINIT
BASEDOH
"£11&. I
"TlW'FIC
'lURVEYS
30
35
3S
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April I, 1991
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Figure 1. Speed Limit Alternatives
• • ;; '" c .. " ., 0 ~ '" "' • .. !;
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11
os .. .. .. :;; '" e ." -' :( i '"
1 2 .3 4 -, , • •
SECTIONS
25
·RADAR'
25 • 25 , 25 ,
Current Posted Speed Limits
25 30 , 35 35
'RADAR' RAO"R RADAR
,
RADAR •
Alterna tive A
25 30 , 30
-RAD"R' RADAR • ,
Alternative B
25 30 , 25 • 25
-RADAR-RAO"R
,
Alterna live C
25
eR:AOAR·
25 , 25 , 25 •
Alternative D
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P,O lOx 10250
...... 0 ,&J.TO. CAU'OitNI" 9<11JC:.)
Transportation Division
P.O. Box 10250
94303-0862
January 7, 1991
Dear Resident:
1" r
250 Ha~ilton Avenue
sirth Floor
(415) 329-2575
The purpose of this letter is ~o advise you of planned city
Council consideration and possible future action reqarding the
posted speed limit along Embarcadero Road. and to see~ your
input regarding variouB options.
The california Vehicle Code requires that. in order to use
radar for speed enforcement, posted speed limits must be in
accordance 'With prescribed. Enqineerill9 and Traffic surveys
which must be updated every five years. Failure to have a
current surveyor failure to have pooted speed limits that
conform to the survey results, precludes the use of radar tor
speed enforcement. Without the use of radar. the Police are
lboited to vehicle pacinq (trailinq). which is a less
effective .eans of speed enforcement.
As part of the five year update cycle, new surveys have
recently been completed for several Palo Alto streets,
including Embarcadero Road which currently has a posted speed
Ii.it of 25 MPH throughout. The results of the survey for
EMbarcadero Road are summarized belov:
CUrrent Speed.
Speed Limit For
section of EmbarcaderQ RoM! Limit Radar Use:
l. EI camino Real to Alma street 25 MPH 25 MPH
2. AllUl Street to Middlefield Road 25 MPH 30 MPH
3. Hicldlefield Road to Walnut Drive 25 MPH 35 MPH
4. Walnut Drive to st. Francis AvenUe 25 !!.PH 35 MPH
Based upon th~se new surveys, radar can now be used for speed
enforcement on Section 1 onl, (£1 camino Real to Alma Street).
Prior to the expiration of the previous surveys. radar could
also be used for speed enforcement on Section l (Alma street
to Middlefield Road), but not on section 3 or Section 4.
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On October 9, 1990, the City Council, in conjunction with its
review of new Engineering and Traffic Surveys and the
•• t.abliIiMent of posted speed limits on .elected roadways,
conaidered. the possibility cf a modest increase in the posted
apeed li.it along one or more .eettons of Embarcadero Road so
that radar CQuid be used for speed enforcement. Past review
of technical studies and: disc'Ussions with Traffic Engineers in
other Bay Area communities indicate that rai&inq posted speed
Ii.its to conform with the results of prescribed Engineering
and Traffic Su.rveys 40.. Dot re6ul t in a correspondinq
increase in overall speed.. Major factors in detenainill9 a
driver's perception of what is a safe speed include width and
nuaber of travel lanes, volume of traffic, parking conditions,
and roadway conditions (vet or dry. slope and qra4e~
curvature. etc.) and have relatively little to do with posted
speed lboits.
The City Council is both very sensitive to the public's
concern~ about raisinq speed limits and interested in
providing effective speed entorceaent~ Therefore, the council
has directed staff to complete an evaluation of various
alternatives and to solicit ~sidents oplniona concerning the
possibility of raisinq tbe current speed limit alonq
Embarcadero Road.
Four alternatives. as lllustrated in Figure I and summarized
in Table 1, have been identified for further consideration.
TABLE 1: SPEED LIMIT ALTERNATIVES
current
Speed Alternatives
&eeti2n Qf EmbaXcad§~g I!oA2 Limti A II £ 11
1-1:1 camino Real
to Al.a Street 25 MPH 25 25 25 25
2. Alma Street
to Middlefield Rd 25 ){PH 30 30 30 25
3. Middlefield Road
to Walnut Orive 25 MPH 35 30 25 25
4. walnut Drive
to St. Francia Ave 25 ){PH 35 30 25 25
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Al ternati ve A:
Establi8h speed limica in conformance with the new survey
results for all sections of Embarcadero Road. ~~e posted
speed limit remains the &~me for Section 1, increases by
5 MPH ~or Sec~ion 2, and increases by 10 MPH tor Sections
3 and 4. As a result, the Police ~ould be able t~ use
rada~ tor speed enforcement throuqhout all four sections
of Eabarcadero Read.
Alternative B:
Establisb speed. limits in conformance 'With the new survey
results for Sections 1 and 2 only, based upon the premise
that a aodest increase of 5 MPH is acceptable and a 10 MPH
increllent is unacceptable. The posted speed liJait remains
the same for Section 1 and increases by S MPH for Sections
2, 3, and 4. As a result, the PolIce would be able to use
radar for speed enforcement on sections 1 ar~ 2 only, and
not on Sections 3 and 4.
Alternative c:
Establish speed limits in conformance with the new su~ey
results for Sections 1 and 2 only, with no cbange from the
existinq posted speed limit for Sections 3 and 4 _ The
posted speed limit remains the same ~or section 1,
increases by 5 MPH tor section 2 # and reaains the salle for
sections :3 an,i 4. As is result, the Police 'Would be able
to use radar for speed enforcement on Sections 1 and 2
only, and not on Sections 3 and 4.
Such a variation in posted speed li.its along a rel~tively
soort, continuous route 'Would be unorthodox: and
inconsistent with driver expectation, and would seem
unnatural and confusing. Such considerations would
provide some basis for violators to contest spee~
enforcement citations in a court of lav. Also, such a
speed differential (25 MPH verses the 85th percentile
s.peed: ot 35 MPH) creates a d.ifficult situation for law
abiding citizens by compelling them to break the law.
Alternative D:
Make no change from the present situation. The posted
speed Ii.it remains the same as it is today for all four
sections of Embarcadero Road. As a result, the police
would be able to USB radar for speed enforcement on
Section 1 only .. and not on Sections 2, l, aDd 4.
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Enclosed tor your use is a self-a.ddressed. postaqe paid
opinion survey response card.. Please indicate your preference
regarding each alternative by putting an ·X· in the box that
.o.t appropriately re.flects your opinion reqardir.q each of the
fOUr alternatives. If you wish to add com.ents. you aay do so
in the space provided at the betto. of the card, or by
subaittinq comments under .eparate cover to the same address.
Th4t city Council is tentatively sc.."lIv.!uled to discuss this
.attar at its aeetinq on Monday, February 25, 1991. The City
council Beet. at 1:30 PM in tha Council Chambers on thQ first
floor of City RaIl at 250 Hamilton Avenue. we vill send
another _eting notice 2lllY if the Council lDeeting date for
thls item is changed. A copy of a staff report to the Council
concerning this item will be av.ilabl~ in the Transportation
Division. sixth floor, City Hall, on February 22, "19Sl..
'life requE'!st that the completed opinion survey response care and
any related comments be returned by January 21, 1991~
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. If you have
any questions, please call me at 329-2575.
Sincerely,
At.(.41f~~
Ashak K. Aggarwal
City Traffic Engineer
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BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
FIA$T WSS MAIl f"fJV.jJrT NO 284 PALO At. TO, CA.
POS"AGE WILl ac PA.tl BV ACOA£SSEE
TRANSPORTATION DIVISION
CIn OF PALO ALTO
POBOX 10250
PALO ALTO CA 94)0)-0862
1I.lu.l. ~Iurr .'I,t'tlfl.'.I"'"'.I,,i,,,M.I,,1I
SPUO \.ll'Ur -u..uCADnO fOiIII)
hlideM: CpI".fDn s..-.y
for .... lt~h"l plfteO dIod. tM _ lIIidi Ibnt
i up; .. its ,... .,tn tft:
NOPOSlAGE
NEC'ESSAAY
Fw..uil
IN '>IE
UNrTED ST,I,TES
Tr~nsportation Oivision
(615) 329-2575
p 0 lor 10t~O
~ .... ~O .... no, C. ... ~!fORNI,., S:43C1J
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ATTACHHI.NT ,
February 12_ 1991
IfOTICI! OP CHAIIGB IN CITY C'OUlICIL JlBETIIIG DATE
SVBJ!IIC'J': Sl'BI!!) LIIIIT Oil Bl!8ARCADBRO ROAD
Tbe pur-pose of tl"Iis notice is to advise you that the proposed
discussion of a possible future action reqarding the posted speed
Ii.it 8110119 hbarcadero Road by the city Council previolJsly
scheduled tor its ~eetinq of Monday, February 25~ 1991 bas been
postponed to lIonday, April 1, 1991.
In our letter of January 7, 1991, we inforDed you th&t the City
COuncil is tentatively scheduled to discuss the issue of possibly
raising -the speed limit on E'IIlbarcadero Road on Xonday., February 25,
1991.. This (iiscussion has now been poetponed to the Council
.eeting of Konday, April I, 1991~ The City council meets at 7:30
PM in the council ChaJlbers on the first floor of the city Hall at
2SO Ba.ilton Avenue. A copy of a st.aff report to the Council
concerning 'this 1 tem will be avai lable in the Transportation
Division, sixth floor, city Hall, on March 28, 1991.
In the mean time, it you bave any q,Jest1ons, please call Ashck
Aqgarwal at 329-2575.
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o Cit!' of 1'alo }lito
,. 0 lOX 101'50
~AlO ALTO, C"UfOl:N:A ,"JO..'
Transportation Division
P.o. 80" 10250
94303-0862
nrch 28, 1991
Dear Resident:
".TTACHMEN'l 8
250 Hamilton Avenue
Sixth Floor
(US) 329-2575
Tbe purpose of this letter is to reaffirm the tact that the
Cit..y Council is scheduled to consider the matte.r of a possible
change in the speed limit along Embarcadero Road at its
regular .eeting on April 1, 1991. The City Council meeting
begins at 7: 30 p.m .. ,. in the Council Chambers .. on the first
floor of City Hall, at 250 Hallilton Avenue. A copy of a staff
report to the Council concerning this item is available in the
Transportation Division$ sixth floor, City Rall~
The sta~~ report Identifies and discusses several
altArnatives, similar to those included in the resident
opinion survey t.hat was sent out in January. The staff report
also includes a staff recommendation (Alternative A on
Figure 1) as follows:
o retain the existing 25 mph speed li~it rrom El
caaino Real to Alra Street,
o raise the speed limit from 25 mph to 30 ZQPh from
Alaa Street to Middlefield Road,
o raise the speed limit troll: 25 !IIph to 35 mph fr-om
Xi~efield Road to Walnut Drive, and
o raise the speed li~it from 25 mph to 35 mph from
Walnut Drive to st. Francis Avenue.
The staff recommendation also includes a provision that if the
council decides to raise the speed limit ,e,.long Embarcadero
Road, staff will monitor actual speeds on a periodic basis and
viii report beck to the Council following an initial six month
period.
If you have any questions~ please call me at 329-2515
Sincerely,
AkM~~
Aaholc iii. lUna ..... al
City Traffic Engineer
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