The Sacramento City Council this week approved updates to speed limits in areas across the city, including reducing limits in 14 zones.

Speed limits in California are governed by California Vehicle Code (CVC) and a section of road is considered a "speed trap," and unenforceable by law enforcement, if the speed limit isn't supported by a recent Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS).

Since the surveys are usually valid for a period of five, seven or 14 years, the City must update them for each existing speed zone prior to their expiration date. In this round staff evaluated a total of 37 zones, reestablishing 20 zones and setting new limits in three zones, in addition to the 14 reductions.

"When conducting these surveys our goal is to get the limits down as low as legally possible," said Megan Carter, supervising engineer with the City's Department of Public Works. "We look beyond the 85thpercentile speed to the context of the street to determine justifications for reducing limits wherever we can."

CVC 22358.6states that a posted speed limit shall be established at the nearest 5 mph increment of the 85thpercentile speed of free-flowing traffic, except for cases in which the nearest 5 mph increment would require rounding up.

In cases that would require a rounding up, the speed limit may instead be rounded down to the nearest 5 mph increment below the 85thpercentile speed. Staff consider factors such as proximity to schools or parks and residential density among others to justify reductions.

One street is Folsom Boulevard from Alhambra Boulevard to Elvas Avenue where the posted speed limit is 35 mph. The 85thpercentile speed shown by four surveys is 35.9 mph which would keep the speed zone posted at 35 mph. Staff instead recommended a reduction to 30 mph due to the additional pedestrian activity and proximity to Phoebe Hearst Elementary School and UC Davis Medical Clinic.

Staff also recommended reductions with justifications on Freeport Boulevard, Fruitridge Road, Greenhaven Drive, Northborough Drive, San Juan Road and Traction Avenue.

The City in 2019 also established a 15-mph speed limit near 115 public, private and charter schools in City limits. CVC grants authority to local jurisdictions to establish a 15-mph speed zone around qualified schools when children are present.

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