2018 COUNCIL STUDY ISSUE
NUMBER
Title
Proposed Study Issue: Lower speed limits on all Arterials and El Camino Real to 30mph or less
BACKGROUND
Lead Department: Department of Public Works - Transportation Division
Support Department(s): [full name, no acronyms or list as N/A]
Sponsor(s):
Board/Commission: Sustainability Commission
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
What are the key elements of the study?
Both North Mathilda and El Camino Real have speed limits of 40 mph. In contrast, neighboring cities of Mountain View and Santa Clara both have a speed limit of 35 mph on El Camino Real. In addition, many other City streets with speed limits of 35 mph are also hazardous.
This Study Issue would examine: (a) the traffic impact of reducing the speed limit to 30 mph or at least by 5mph lower than the 85th percentile speed on City streets (other than expressways); and (b) feasibility and level of effort required to work with CalTrans to lower speed limit to 35 mph, or lower to 30mph if feasible, on El Camino Real (including examining the approach taken by Mountain View and Santa Clara).
What precipitated this study?
The high speeds on El Camino Real and North Mathilda are incompatible with safe pedestrian and bicycle based transportation. Both of these streets are changing into dense residential avenues with a focus on being walkable neighborhoods. If Sunnyvale is to be a more sustainable city, it must adopt policy which discourages automobile transportation. A 40mph speed limit discourages alternative transportation modes while continuing to encourage automobile transportation.
Planned Completion Year: 2018
FISCAL IMPACT
Cost to Conduct Study
Level of staff effort required (opportunity cost): [Major/Moderate/Minor]
Amount of funding above current budget required: $ [or enter $0 if total expected funding is $0]
Funding Source: [(select one) Will seek budget supplement or Will seek grant funding]
Explanation of Cost:
[Briefly explain the cost of study; including impa...
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