Menlo Park Municipal Code Ch. 13.01 Prima Facie Speed Limits Established by Engineering and Traffic Survey

(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. 1114 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024)

(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 Section 22348 et seq., unless amended under this chapter.

(d)

"Safety corridors"

means streets as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 22358.7.

(e)

"Business activity districts"

means downtown and neighborhood commercial areas as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 22358.9.

(Ord. 1114 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024)

(a) The city council may determine and declare speed limits lower than the prima facie speed limits for any particular street or roadway segment if the city council determines, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey, that the prima facie speed limit is more than is reasonable or safe, and that the declared speed limit is most appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic, and is reasonable and safe.

(b) The city council may determine and declare speed limits lower than the speed limit identified by an engineering and traffic survey by reducing speeds by an additional five (5) miles per hour in areas defined as a "safety corridor" or near land uses that generate a high concentration of pedestrians and bicyclists (California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 22358.7). Accordingly, no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than the declared speed limit for the street segment:

(Ord. 1114 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024)

The city council may determine and declare speed limits of 20 or 25 miles per hour in "business activity districts," as defined by California Vehicle Code (CVC) 22358.9.

Accordingly, no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than the declared speed limit for the street segment:

(Ord. 1114 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024)

The city council hereby determines and declares, in accordance with this chapter, that the declared speed limits for the following streets or roadway segments shall be as set forth in this section. No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than the declared speed limit for the street segment:

(Ord. 1114 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024)

The public works director, or their designee, is hereby authorized and directed to erect signs giving notice of the declared speed limits established under this chapter.

(Ord. 1114 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024)