Foster City Municipal Code Ch. 10.24 Speed Limits

A. The state of California has asserted broad authority over, and a statewide interest in, the entire field of regulating vehicles and traffic, as set forth in the California Vehicle Code Section 21.

B. The state has established a set of prima facie speed limits applicable to various classes of roadway types, districts and locations (see California Vehicle Code Sections 22348 through 22366). In California Vehicle Code Sections 22357 and 22358, the state has expressly authorized the city to establish declared speed limits that differ from the prima facie speed limits set under state law, if, based on engineering and traffic surveys, the declared speed limit would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicles and traffic, and would be reasonable and safe.

C. The intent of this chapter is to implement the city’s authority to establish declared speed limits when supported by engineering and traffic surveys and to respond to safety and use of the road by people driving, walking, and bicycling. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

A. “Declared speed limit” means the speed limits for individual streets and roadway segments determined and declared by the city council in accordance with this chapter, as authorized by the California Vehicle Code. The term “declared speed limit” (as used in this chapter) shall include the “declared prima facie speed limit” or “maximum speed limit” (as used in California Vehicle Code Section 22357), or the “prima facie speed limit” (as used in California Vehicle Code Sections 22358, 22358.3 and 22358.4).

B. “Director” means the public works director, or a designee of the public works director or the city manager.

C. “Prima facie speed limits” means the default speed limits for streets and highways established under California State Law, as generally set forth in the California Vehicle Code, particularly Sections 22348 et seq., unless amended under this chapter.

D. “School zone” means an area of a city street or highway within five hundred feet of school grounds in any direction, unless otherwise posted, marked with appropriate signs giving notice of the area. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

Pursuant to the authority contained in California Vehicle Code Section 22357 and based upon an engineering and traffic survey conducted by the departments of police, public works and community development, it is determined that a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic, and the council declares that a prima facie speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour would be reasonable and safe upon the portions of the following city streets:

A. Foster City Boulevard, from the intersection of East Hillsdale Boulevard to the intersection of Beach Park Boulevard;

B. Edgewater Boulevard, from the intersection of East Hillsdale Boulevard to the intersection of Biscayne Avenue;

C. Shell Boulevard, from the intersection of East Hillsdale Boulevard to the intersection of Beach Park Boulevard. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

Pursuant to the authority contained in California Vehicle Code Section 22358 and based upon an engineering and traffic survey conducted by the departments of police, public works, and community development, it is determined that the limit of fifty-five miles per hour is more than is reasonable or safe, and the council declares that a prima facie speed limit of forty-five miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and be reasonable and safe upon the portions of the following streets:

A. Third Avenue, from the westerly city limits to the intersection of Foster City Boulevard;

B. East Hillsdale Boulevard, from the westerly city limits to Shell Boulevard. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

Pursuant to the authority contained in California Vehicle Code Section 22358 and based upon an engineering and traffic survey conducted by the departments of police, public works and community development, it is determined that the limit of fifty-five miles per hour is more than is reasonable and safe, and the council declares that a prima facie speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and be reasonable and safe upon the portions of the following streets:

A. Foster City Boulevard, from the intersection of Third Avenue to the intersection of East Hillsdale Boulevard;

B. East Hillsdale Boulevard, from Shell Boulevard to Gull Avenue;

C. Beach Park Boulevard, from the easterly termination of Gull Avenue at East Hillsdale Boulevard to Edgewater Boulevard;

D. Edgewater Boulevard from the northerly city limits line with San Mateo to East Hillsdale Boulevard. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

Pursuant to the authority contained in California Vehicle Code Section 22358 and based upon an engineering and traffic survey conducted by the departments of police, public works and community development, it is determined that the limit of fifty-five miles per hour is more than is reasonable or safe, and the council declares that a prima facie speed limit of twenty-five miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and be reasonable and safe upon the portion of the following street:

A. Shell Boulevard, from the intersection of East Hillsdale Boulevard to the intersection of Bounty Drive. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

Pursuant to the authority contained in California Vehicle Code Section 22358.4 and based upon an engineering and traffic survey conducted by the public works department, it is determined that the limit of twenty-five miles per hour is more than is reasonable or safe, and the council declares that a prima facie speed limit of fifteen miles per hour while children are present would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and be reasonable and safe upon the portions of the following streets within five hundred feet of school grounds:

A. Crane Avenue—Audubon Elementary School.

B. Gull Avenue—Audubon Elementary School.

C. Swordfish Street—Bowditch Middle School.

D. Tarpon Street—Bowditch Middle School.

E. Niantic Drive—Brewer Island Elementary School.

F. Polynesia Drive—Brewer Island Elementary School.

G. Polaris Avenue—Foster City Elementary School. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

Pursuant to the authority contained in California Vehicle Code Section 22358.4 and based upon an engineering and traffic survey conducted by the public works department, it is determined that the limit of thirty miles per hour is more than is reasonable or safe, and the council declares that a prima facie speed limit of twenty-five miles per hour while children are present would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and be reasonable and safe upon the portion of the following streets between five hundred to one thousand feet of school grounds:

A. Gull Avenue—Audubon Elementary School.

B. Polynesia Avenue—Brewer Island Elementary School. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

The prima facie speed limits established in this chapter shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the portions of the streets so designated. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)

The traffic engineer is directed to cause appropriate signs giving notice of the speed limits established in this chapter to be erected and maintained. (Ord. 695 § 3, 2025)