REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 15, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Establish Speed Zone on Beekley Road in the Phelan Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution that:
1. Establishes a 30 mile per hour speed zone on Beekley Road from State Highway 138 south to Silver Ridge Drive, in the Phelan area, pursuant to County Code section 52.0123(b).
2. Directs the County Road Commissioner to perform such acts as necessary to implement the terms of the Resolution.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, 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). Minor administrative costs to update the Department of Public Works (Department) records and post appropriate signage will be financed by Gas Tax revenue. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Department’s 2022-23 Road Operations budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In response to a request from the public, the Department conducted an Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS) and based on the findings of the E&TS recommends the speed limit on Beekley Road, from State Highway 138 south to Silver Ridge Drive (County Road Number 756000-010), be established at 30 miles per hour (mph).
The existing unposted prima facie speed limit for this portion of Beekley 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% of the public is driving (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, a speed survey was conducted by the Department on Beekely Road and found that 85% of the motorists are traveling at or below 36 mph and there are no conditions present that are not readily apparent to the driver. In addition, pursuant to the standard in CAMUTCD Section 2B.13, the posted speed may be reduced by 5 mph from the nearest 5 mph increment of the 85th percentile speed in compliance with Vehicle Code Section 627 and 22358. Therefore, based on the prevailing speed, setting the speed limit within the County portions of Beekley Road to 30 mph is appropriate to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and is reasonable and safe.
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 October 17, 2022; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on October 27, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 28, 2022.