REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2020
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Interim Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Establish Speed Zone on Quail Springs Road, Joshua Tree
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution that:
1. Establish a 45 miles per hour speed zone on Quail Springs Road from Alta Loma Drive south to Skyline Drive, in the Joshua Tree area, pursuant to County Code Section 52.0123(a).
2. Directs the County Road Commissioner to perform such acts as are necessary to implement the terms of the resolution.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Interim Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the estimated cost of $1,000 to install the appropriate signs, as well as minor administrative costs to update Department of Public Works (Department) records will be funded with Gas Tax revenue. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are available in the Department’s 2019-20 Road Operations budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In response to a request from a local resident, the Department conducted an Engineering and Traffic Survey (ETS) and based on the findings recommends the speed limit on Quail Springs Road, from Alta Loma Drive south to Skyline Drive, to be established at 45 miles per hour (mph).
The existing unposted prima facie speed limit of this portion of Quail Springs Road is 55 mph, as established by the California Vehicle Code and the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD).
State law requires the Department to follow guidelines established in the California Vehicle Code and the CAMUTCD. These guidelines require speed limits to be based on the speed that 85% public is driving, (also referred to as “the 85th percentile”) unless there are conditions present which are not readily apparent to the driver.
A speed survey was conducted and found that 85% of the motorists are traveling at or below 45 mph. Section 2B.13 of the CAMUTCD provides additional guidance for evaluating conditions not readily apparent to the driver. This Section has provisions that allow the speed limit to be reduced from the 85th percentile speed based on the 10 mph pace and pedestrian activity. The 10 mph pace is the ten mile per hour range of speeds at which the largest number of vehicles are observed to travel. The ETS showed the speed survey along with these two aspects (10 mph pace and pedestrian activity) provide sufficient evidence that a speed zone of 45 mph is appropriate based on the State guidelines established in the California Vehicle Code and the CAMUTCD.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 21, 2020; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on April 23, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on May 3, 2020.