TO: JAMIE EARL, ACTING CITY MANAGER
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: MAY 12, 2026
Reviewed by:
Acting City Manager: JE
SUBJECT:
Title
ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2026 CITYWIDE RADAR SPEED SURVEY IMPLEMENTING DECREASED SPEED LIMITS FOR CERTAIN STREETS (FUNDING SOURCES: MEASURE M & PROPOSITION C)
Body
SUMMARY
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires that the local authority conduct a citywide engineering and traffic survey (E&TS) to allow the use of radar speed enforcement on local streets. The E&TS is also known as the speed survey, which is an approved and governing document for speed limit setting citywide. The last citywide speed survey was completed and approved by the City Council in 2005, and since then, interim updates to certain street segments were completed in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.
Since the last speed survey, new legislation has been passed [Assembly Bill 43 (AB43)], modifying the review periods for speed surveys and the criteria for setting speed limits. To meet the new requirements set forth by AB 43, staff engaged the services of a professional traffic engineer consultant, Advantec Consulting Engineers, to prepare a new E&TS.
The new E&TS (Exhibit to the Ordinance - Attachment A) identifies a complete list of surveyed streets containing information on their roadway segment limits, collision rates, posted speed limits, 85th percentile speeds, National Highway designation, consideration of concentration of pedestrians, bicyclists, and higher crash rates, and provide recommendations on retention of prior speed limits and new recommended speed limits. The E&TS provides the basis for the new recommended posted speed limits, and it will become the City’s 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey, once approved by ordinance.
The Traffic and Transportation Commission (TTC) reviewed the draft E&TS at their March 27, 2025, March 26, 2026, and April 13, 2026 meetings. The TTC recommended approval of the speed survey, with a 7-0 vote at the April 13, 2026 special meeting.
Ninety-three street segments were surveyed, with a total of forty-five (45) recommended speed limit changes within the new 2026 speed survey. The speed limit on forty-four (44) segments is proposed to be decreased by 5 mph, with one street segment being recommended to be decreased by 10 mph.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
A. Introduce for first reading, and that reading be by title only, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 10 OF THE CLAREMONT MUNICIPAL CODE TO SECTION 10.48.010 RELATING TO THE SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN STREETS; and
B. Authorize staff to move forward with the implementation of the speed survey, with the preparation of plans and specifications.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Continue the matter for additional information or discussion.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The cost for staff to prepare this report, the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey, and administer this program is estimated $96,882 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Development Department.
The cost of implementing the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey is estimated at $175,000. These costs include preparation of plans and specifications to develop a project to replace the existing speed limit signs and associated roadway stenciling to reflect the modifications of the final recommended speed limits. This figure is an estimate and is expected to change once bids are received to move forward with the implementation plan.
Following City Council adoption of the Ordinance and City Council authorization to move forward with implementation, staff will continue to work with Advantec Consulting Engineers to finalize plans and specifications for advertising a project to complete implementation of the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey. Once bids are received, staff will bring an item to City Council for contract award.
ANALYSIS
Background
Assembly Bill 43 (AB 43)
The new legislative requirements from AB 43 went into effect on January 1, 2022, and gave cities throughout the state greater control over how speed limits are set and whether they should be reduced on certain roadway segments and highways. AB 43 also contains a provision to extend existing speed surveys up to fourteen years, deviating from the previous ten-year maximum effective term. In summary, AB 43 is State Law, and local jurisdictions are required to follow it to set enforceable speed limits. It should be noted that AB 43 no longer adheres to the strict 85th percentile methodology, allowing more flexibility for professionals to recommend lower speeds based on different considerations, such as bicyclist and pedestrian safety.
To complete the preparation of the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey, Claremont engaged traffic consultant Advantec Consulting Engineers to conduct the studies required to update the Citywide posted speed limits to meet AB 43 requirements.
The implementation of AB 43 was a lengthy process, and the new law made provisions to accommodate the necessary updates that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) had to complete to implement the new law statewide, because Caltrans has a role as the agency responsible for implementing standards for setting and updating speed limits.
Per AB 43, 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, creating a path forward for local agencies to commence updating their speed surveys using the new provisions available under AB 43. The most recent CA MUTCD revision 9, effective April 1, 2025, was considered to complete the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey. Under the new provisions, speed surveys are valid for seven years and may be extended to fourteen years (previously ten years) if a traffic engineer/engineer of record certifies that no changes in roadway conditions have occurred per California Vehicle Code (CVC).
In the interim, staff used additional AB 43 provisions, which allowed the extension of existing speed surveys until a new survey could be budgeted and completed.
2026 Speed Survey
The study completed to prepare the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey ultimately evaluated ninety-three street segments citywide, identifying the following recommendations:
• Forty-eight street segments whose posted speed limits will remain the same;
• Forty-four street segments that will be reduced by five miles per hour; and
• One street segment that will be reduced by ten miles per hour.
• There are no street segments required to be increased as part of the 2026 Speed Survey.
|
Revised 2026 Speed Survey-Summary of Changes |
|
Street Segments |
No Change |
-5 MPH |
-10 MPH |
|
93 |
48 |
44 |
1 |
The 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey document identifies a complete list of surveyed streets containing information on their roadway segment limits, collision rates, posted speed limits, 85th percentile speeds, National Highway designation, consideration of concentration of pedestrians, bicyclists, and higher crash rates, and provide recommendations addressing the street segments to retain prior speed limits, and those with recommended lower speed limits.
The following provides information and statistics on the City’s street network that was surveyed:
o Residential/local roads, “prima facie,” streets are not required to be surveyed.
o Approximately 74% of the street network is 25 mph prima facie.
o As part of this survey, approximately 36 miles of the street network were required to be surveyed, out of the total 138 miles of the citywide street network.
o Of those 36 miles surveyed, approximately 18 miles are recommended to be reduced in posted speed limits, which is approximately 13% of the citywide street network.
o The following table summarizes these figures and percentages.
|
City Streets Surveyed |
Center Line Miles |
36 |
|
Total City Street Network |
Center Line Miles |
138 |
|
Percent Streets Surveyed |
|
26% |
|
Roadway Segments Reduced |
Center Line Miles |
18 |
|
Percent Streets Reduced in Speed |
Center Line Miles |
13% |
A complete summary is provided in the Exhibit to the Ordinance (Attachment A), in Table 3-Summary of Recommendations, which identifies the current posted and proposed speed limits.
Traffic and Transportation Commission (TTC) Review
Staff presented the preliminary recommendations of the draft E&TS to TTC on March 27, 2025, while still working on the preparation of the final draft document. Final draft recommendations were presented to the TTC on March 26, 2026. During the presentation, the TTC had questions and comments regarding recommended speed limits for certain street segments, and at the conclusion of the meeting, voted to continue the item, requesting more information.
Staff scheduled a special meeting to provide additional information as requested by the TTC, and at its April 13, 2026 special meeting, the Commission voted to recommend the City Council adopt the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey, with a 7-0 vote. At this meeting, additional information, final recommendations, and revisions were presented to the Commission, seeking a recommendation for the City Council to adopt the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey. The TTC reviewed the additional information and final recommendations and fully supported the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey. The public strongly supported the proposed recommendations through many positive written and in-person comments. Draft TTC Special meeting minutes of April 13, 2026, are provided in Attachment B.
Future Steps
With the first reading of the Ordinance being considered tonight and with City Council approval to move forward with implementation, staff will continue to work with Advantec Consulting Engineers to develop a project to implement the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey. The implementation of this project will provide the necessary signage and striping improvements needed to reflect the new recommended speed limits. This project will need to come back to the City Council for contract award following the adoption of the Ordinance and City Council approval to move forward.
It should be noted that Section 6 of the Ordinance contains provisions for the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey to take effect September 27, 2026, once the necessary improvements (roadway striping and signage installations) are completed. In addition to internal distribution, a copy of the 2026 Radar Speed Survey will also be filed with the El Monte Courthouse, as required by law.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relation to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: General Plan and City Council Priorities.
CEQA REVIEW
This 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 the City Clerk’s Office. Interested parties have also been notified.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Brad Johnson Maria B. Tipping, P.E.
Community Development Director City Engineer
Attachments:
A - Ordinance
B - Draft TTC Special Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2026