TO: TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
FROM: MARIA B. TIPPING, CITY ENGINEER
DATE: MARCH 27, 2025
SUBJECT:
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2025 CITY-WIDE SPEED SURVEY-CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 43 (AB43) IMPLEMENTATION
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SUMMARY
To allow the use of radar speed enforcement on the City’s streets, the California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires that the local authority conduct an Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS), which will remain valid for a seven-to-fourteen-year period, under the new provisions to set enforceable speed limits established by California Assembly Bill 43 (AB43). The CVC still requires that the street segments being considered be re-evaluated seven years from the original survey unless eligible to be extended to fourteen years.
The new legislation requirements from AB43 went into effect on January 1, 2022, and gave the cities throughout the state more control over deciding how speed limits should be set and whether they should be reduced on certain roadway segments and highways. AB43 also contains a provision to extend existing speed surveys to up to fourteen years, deviating from the previous ten-year maximum effective term.
Over the past year, City consultant Advantec Consulting Engineers conducted the required E&TS studies necessary to update the City-wide posted speed limits to meet requirements set forth by AB43. The recommendations resulting from the study and analysis that were conducted in 2024 and early 2025, are now available for Commission review.
At tonight’s meeting, staff is presenting the summary of the new 2025 Citywide Speed Survey, highlighting the proposed changes to the existing posted speed limits, based on the conducted E&TS, using the provisions set forth by AB43. The presentation also includes information on the future steps necessary to implement the new provisions.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Traffic and Transportation Commission review the recommended speed limit modifications and recommend that the City Council adopt, through local ordinance, the updated speed limit zones evaluated on the 2025 Citywide Speed Survey, thereby, maintaining the existing posted speed limits or lowering the speed limits in certain roadways, as recommended.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to prepare this report and administer this contract/project/program is estimated at $1,109 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Development Department. The cost to prepare the 2025 E&TS is approximately $67,100 and is covered by the FY 21-22 Budget.
ANALYSIS
The CVC Section 40802 requires that the local authority conduct a Traffic and Engineering Survey (E&TS), which will remain valid for a seven-to-fourteen-year period, under the new provisions to set enforceable speed limits established by California Assembly Bill 43 (AB43).
The new legislation took effect on January 1, 2022 (AB43), affecting how speed limits are established and updated in the State of California. AB43 made provisions to accommodate necessary updates that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) had to complete to implement the new law, because Caltrans has a role as the agency responsible for implementing standards for setting and updating speed limits. Per AB43, Caltrans was required to update the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) for agencies within the State of California to follow. The CA MUTCD update was completed in January 2023, which created a path forward for local agencies to commence the process to update their speed surveys using the new provisions available through the new AB43 legislation.
To further accommodate the implementation process, AB43 also included interim provisions allowing local authorities to extend existing speed limits up to 14 years (deviating from the previous 10 years term), so local jurisdictions could use these provisions to extend the existing speed surveys, while allowing Caltrans to update the CA MUTCD. These interim provisions helped local agencies to prepare for the completion of new speed surveys.
For the purpose of reviewing this item, the Traffic and Transportation Commission (TTC) is requested to review the attached background information on the establishment of speed limits (Attachment A). Attachment A provides basic explanations on requirements to set speed limits along with an example. This attachment also contains information on the new provisions that allow local governments more flexibility to lower speed limits on certain roadways, and under certain conditions, without strictly following the “85th percentile” rule mandated by state law. For example, under AB43, local jurisdictions can lower speed limits to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists with more flexibility.
Currently, the City has established speed limits, based on several E&TS. The majority of City streets speed limits have been set by E&TS from 2012 and 2015, with E&TS conducted in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 addressing re-surveys for varying purposes. These Speed Surveys were extended using the AB43 provisions to allow for the enforcement of the different street segments being considered.
As stated below, an analysis needs to be conducted based on the CVC criteria provided in section 40802 of the CVC to determine whether a speed survey is required (or could instead be extended for a seven-year period).
• A particular section of a highway or state highway with a prima facie speed limit that is provided by this code or by local ordinance under paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 22352, or established under Section 22354, 22357, 22358, or 22358.3, if that prima facie speed limit is not justified by an engineering and traffic survey conducted within one of the following time periods, prior to the date of the alleged violation, and enforcement of the speed limit involves the use of radar or any other electronic device that measures the speed of moving objects:
(I) Except as specified in subclause (ii), seven years.
(II) If an engineering and traffic survey was conducted more than seven years prior to the date of the alleged violation, and a registered engineer evaluates the section of the highway and determines that no significant changes in roadway or traffic conditions have occurred, including, but not limited to, changes in adjoining property or land use, roadway width, or traffic volume, 14 years.
(ii) This subparagraph does not apply to a local street, road, or school zone, senior zone, business activity district, or speed limit adopted under Section 22358.7 or 22358.8.
Section 22358.7 allows for further speed reduction, and Section 22358.8 allows the agency to retain the existing speed limit. Both are allowed if following applicable law, however the sub-paragraph exclusions are for speed zones that would generally not exceed 25 mph and are not applicable to further reduce the posted speed limit.
The City is moving forward with updating the existing speed limits on City streets, because the term limits are approaching their expiration date. The new E&TS fully incorporates the AB43 new requirements. It should be noted that, the new 2025 Speed Survey will place all roadway segments within the City, under a single E&TS. Modifications to this E&TS will be implemented as necessary following CVC criteria described above.
SPEED SURVEY RESULTS
For a more in-depth look at the results of the 2025 E&TS, please refer to Attachment B.
A brief summary of the results is provided as follows:
• 98 street segments in total were surveyed
• 66 street segments qualify to be described as having a high concentration of pedestrians and bicyclists
• 10 street segments qualify for a mph reduction due to Higher Crash Rates
• 51 street segments retaining the same posted speed limit
• 43 street segments proposed to reduce the existing speed limit by 5 mph
• 4 street segments proposed to reduce the existing speed limit by 10 mph
NEXT STEPS
City staff will be preparing a schedule and budget estimate to implement necessary striping and signage improvements on each roadway segment where the posted speed will be changing as a result of the 2025 E&TS. As previously mentioned, there are a total of 47 roadway segments that propose a modification to reduce the posted speed limit. There are no increases proposed with his E&TS, so the 47 roadway segments will require several new speed limit signs, and some additional striping work to remove the old stencils and install a new one wherever a posted speed limit is signed.
As this is the first E&TS incorporating AB43, a budget to implement these modifications was not reserved, as a result of not being able to identify the necessary changes without a E&TS. The development of a schedule to implement these changes is necessary as it will need to be coordinated with the Claremont Police Department for enforcement purposes.
Once these items are prepared, staff will take an item to the City Council consideration, requesting the adoption of the 2025 Speed Survey and a budget to begin implementation according to the schedule that will be prepared.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, and the 2021-22 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact Commission Secretary, Nadia Ramirez at nramirez@claremontca.gov
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Maria B. Tipping, PE Vincent Ramos
City Engineer Associate Engineer
Maria B. Tipping, PE
City Engineer
Attachments:
A - Background Information
B - Speed Survey Results