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 impact or workload and how any additional dollars will be used. Describe the level of complexity that will be required in order to complete a thorough, professional examination of the study issue and any effect this examination may have on existing workload and service level responsibilities.]
Cost to Implement Study Results
[(Select one) “No cost to implement.”, “Unknown. Study would include assessment of potential costs.”, “Some cost to implement.”]
Explanation of Cost: [If there is some cost to implement, briefly explain potential costs of implementing study results. Note estimated capital and operating costs, as well as revenue/savings, include dollar amounts. If there is no cost to implement, delete this section.]
EXPECTED PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS
Council-approved work plan: [Yes/No]
Council Study Session: [Yes/No]
Reviewed by Boards/Commissions: [identify the B/Cs, full name, no acronyms]
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Position: [Support/Drop/Defer/None]
Explanation: [Explain the staff recommendation position.]
[If additional departments support this paper, include those who need to review below and add to Legistar ATS sequence.]
Prepared By: [Name], [Title]
Reviewed By: [Name], Director, [Department]
Reviewed By: Walter C. Rossmann, Assistant City Manager [or] Walter C. Rossmann, Assistant City Manager
Approved By: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager