REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 14, 2025
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Establish Speed Limit on Mesa Street in the Phelan Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution that:
1. Establishes a 45 mile per hour speed zone on Mesa Street, from White Road to Braceo Street, in the Phelan area, pursuant to County Code Section 52.0123(b).
2. Directs the County Road Commissioner to perform such acts as are necessary to implement the terms of the Resolution.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, 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). The estimated cost of $1,500 to install the appropriate signs, as well as minor administrative costs to update the Department of Public Works (Department) records, will be financed by Gas Tax revenue. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Department’s 2024-25 Road Operations budget (6650002000).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County received requests to establish speed controls on Mesa Street due to the safety concerns regarding speeding. During the Department’s evaluation of traffic control devices, it was found that a speed zone had not been established on Mesa Street from White Road to Braceo Street. Without an established speed zone, the prima facie speed limit would be 55 miles per hour (mph) pursuant to County Resolution 96-22.
The Department conducted an Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS) in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the California Vehicle Code (CVC), Section 627 and the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), Section 2B.13. These guidelines require speed limits to be based on the speed that 85% of the public is driving at or below (also referred to as “the 85th percentile”), unless there are conditions present that are not readily apparent to the driver.
As part of the E&TS, the Department conducted a speed survey on Mesa Street and found that 85% of the motorists travel at or below 47.0 mph. This road segment has a collision rate that exceeds the California state average. Pursuant to the standard in CAMUTCD Section 2B.13, the posted speed may be reduced to the nearest five mph increment of the 85th percentile speed in compliance with Vehicle Code Sections 627 and 22358. Therefore, based on the prevailing speed identified as part of the E&TS, setting the speed limit on Mesa Street to 45 mph is appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic, and is considered reasonable and safe.
The Department, therefore, recommends creating a speed zone on Mesa Street from White Road east to Braceo Street, in the Phelan area, from an un-posted 55 mph to 45 mph pursuant to County Code Section 52.0123(b).
This item aligns with the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives to provide for the safety of the traveling public by lowering the speed limit on this stretch of roadway.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 20, 2024; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on December 18, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on December 26, 2024.