Speed Zoning Study 101
It does not look good for proponents of low-residential speeds through Coronado. Here is why: most drivers are not obeying posted speed laws on Third and Fourth Streets.
Caltrans has completed the speed zoning study for all of State Route (SR) 75 from I-5 to Imperial Beach and SR282, Third and Fourth – west of Orange to North Island.
The City of Coronado has the speed zoning study in hand and are in early discussions with Caltrans.
Caltrans measured the speed of traffic at different locations and at different times of day. Radar surveys on Orange Avenue were taken at locations away from signals to reduce their effect on speed. Caltrans guidelines recommend locations midway between traffic signals or 0.2 miles away from signals. What they found was that 85% of cars traveled the corridor faster than posted 25mph. When that many cars are not observing the law, the law is deemed inappropriate and to keep the 25mph limit could constitute a “speed trap.”
The Speed Trap Law, or “CVC 40802, has established a clear law against the use of speed traps in California. The law states that a current and accurate engineering and traffic survey must be conducted for roads with prima facie speed limits.” (California Vehicle Code (CVC) 22352. Prima facie limits are reasonable speeds set by local authorities under normal conditions).
The results of the study were gathered over several months. According to Mike Powers, Caltrans District 11 Branch Chief of Operations Support, speeds are usually collected at every half-mile point along a roadway. In regards to Third and Fourth Streets, the speeds were collected under higher scrutiny and at closer intervals.
One of the reasons Caltrans checked and rechecked their findings is because South County Traffic Court Judges have used speed variances from the previous speed study for SR75 and SR282 to dismiss tickets. The former study showed cars going faster on some parts of the corridor than on others. For example, the speed study showed traffic going faster at Fourth and B Avenue and slower on Fourth and D. Judges then sited that higher speed as reasonable and ruled against our officers.
The frequency with which Judges dismiss traffic tickets has frustrated Coronado Police Officers. To make a stronger case to judges, the police have been issuing warnings in an effort to establish a pattern for a ‘habitual speeder’ in hopes that an eventual ticket will be upheld. The cost of the officers being taken off the streets to attend court to defend their tickets is a disincentive.
The lack of posted speed enforcement is a longstanding complaint of residents living along or having to cross the corridor for school and daily activities.
Under the Speed Law, police officers are “prohibited from using radar to issue speeding citations to motorists in speed zones that are not supported by a speed study” and “encourages prevention through patrolling rather than punishment by radar.” Furthermore, the law limits the City’s flexibility in posting and enforcing low speed limits. Most posted speed limits in the City are radar enforceable.
What may be a hopeful argument is that the law exempts “residential areas and school zones” from speed study findings, and in those locations, radar enforcement is allowed without the support of a speed study. TAF is hoping the city can argue against the speed increase based on the newly designated Avenue of Heroes “neighborhood.”
“According to a Federal Highway Administration study, all states and most local agencies use the 85th percentile speed of free flowing traffic as the basic factor in establishing speed limits. Radar, laser, and other methods are used to collect speed data from random vehicles on a given roadway. This speed is subject to revision based upon such factors as: crash experience, roadway geometrics, parking, pedestrians, curves, adjacent development and engineering judgment.”
Mr. Powers stated that in the current study the speeds are consistent throughout the length of the corridor which will ensure judges honor tickets at those increased speeds. Here is what they found. 85% of traffic on SR75 was going 35mph. Therefore, Caltrans is discussing 35mph for the posted speed on Third and Fourth between Glorietta and Orange Avenue. Along SR282, 85% of the traffic was going 30mph. Caltrans is discussing raising the speed on SR282 to 30mph.
TAF has written to South County Traffic Court Commissioner, Francisco Marty, in Department 5, to request attendance at our TAF meeting. TAF members cited the “Basic Speed Law” for all 50 states that says, “when traffic, roadway, or weather conditions are not ideal, you may not drive faster than is safe and prudent for existing conditions, regardless of posted speed limit.” Our argument to the Court was that this is a residential zone and the volume of cars coming at high speeds into our quiet neighborhood makes it ‘unsafe’ for pedestrians or residents. This may be a moot point if the “residential designation” is not supported by Caltrans and argued by the city.
Since we all know that very few drivers go the 50mph posted speed limit on the Bridge, I asked Mr. Powers why speeds were not increased on that portion of SR75. I also asked about the Silver Strand. In the case of the Bridge portion of SR75 a proclamation is in place that prohibits increasing speed for safety reasons, no shoulder, no access, height, etc. In the case of SR75 along the Strand, there are laws in place for set speed limits on four-lane Highways. There is no consideration for an increase of speed in the Main Street district of Coronado. Orange Avenue’s light system controls restrict the speed and flow of traffic. As a result of those ‘calming measures’ the speed study showed 85% of traffic through downtown – travels the posted speed.
According to most of the literature, transportation professionals consider the following as “common misconceptions about speed zone studies.” To those of us not in that profession, the following “misconceptions” about raising a speed limit actually seem like common sense – cause and effect results.
A. Reducing the speed limit will slow the speed of traffic;
B. Reducing speed limits will decrease the number of crashes and increase safety;
C. Raising the posted speed limit will cause an increase in the speed of traffic;
D. Any posted speed limit must be safer than an unposted speed limit; and
E. Drivers will always go 5 mph over the posted speed limit.”
While traffic engineers findings are counterintuitive to the average observer, as long as the prevailing thought in that industry is that raising the speed ‘does not’ increase speed and reducing speed ‘does not’ slow traffic, rational safety minded arguments are not heard.
In the final analysis, it will take tough city leadership to make a case for Third and Fourth Streets speeds to remain at 25mph.
Toni McGowan
