Typical traffic on Third Street west of Orange Avenue.
The purpose of this article is to amplify on the recent blog posting by Toni McGowan, “Community Voices: Higher Speeds Coming to Coronado Streets,” and to update my article, “Are Increased Speed Limits Coming to Third and Fourth Streets,” which was published on October 19, 2014.
As noted by Ms. McGowan in her posting, Caltrans has performed engineering and traffic studies of State Routes (SR) 75 and 282. The data collection has been completed and drafts of the studies have been prepared.
Third and Fourth Streets between Orange Avenue and the bridge are a portion of SR75, which continues down Orange Avenue, the Silver Strand, through Imperial Beach, and terminates at Palm Avenue and Interstate 5. Third and Fourth Streets west of Orange Avenue and the portion of Alameda Boulevard between Third and Fourth Streets constitute SR282.
Both of the draft studies have been provided to the city for review. The city’s Department Director/City Engineer, Ed Walton, provided the following information,” Caltrans provided the city with draft studies, they are not signed and therefore not official. I have provided Caltrans with comments on the survey for SR282. In the draft survey Caltrans is recommending the speed limit on SR282 be increased from 25 mph to 30 mph; when you consider other roadway factors such as residential density and accidents, I believe a 25 mph [speed limit] should be maintained. They are reviewing my comments.”
Caltrans’ recommendation to increase the speed limit on SR282 to 30 mph is based on the 85th percentile speeds, which were measured at 31 and 32 mph. (Posted speed limits are based on the 85th percentile speed of the traffic rounded to the nearest 5mph. Therefore, based on the 85th percentile speeds of 31 and 32 mph, the speed limit would be established by rounding “down” to 30 mph.)
Walton went on to say that, “if after considering my comments, Caltrans still believes the speed limit should be increased to 30 mph; the city can request a public hearing on the proposed increase. Testimony from the public hearing can be taken into consideration for establishing the speed limit.”
City councilmember Richard Bailey offered his assessment,” “Although the findings are yet to be made official and there will still be opportunities for Coronado to make a case for maintaining the speed limit at 25 mph, it appears increasingly likely that Caltrans will pursue increasing the speed limit to 30 mph. In my opinion, increasing the speed limit in a residential area is not in the best interest of residents. If this does occur, it may change the equation for whether or not the city will consider pursuing relinquishment of 3rd and 4th. Our city staff and the city council are following these developments very closely.”
Regarding the study of SR75, Walton explained, “the Draft Engineering and Traffic Study of SR75 included Third and Fourth Streets from the Toll Plaza to Orange Avenue and Orange Avenue/Silver Strand from Fourth Street to NAB [Naval Amphibian Base]. It recommends keeping the speed limit the same except for Third and Fourth Streets which has conflicting recommendations. The 85th percentile on Third and Fourth was found to be 34 and 35 mph respectively. The recommendation is unclear, in one section it recommends raising the speed limit to 35 mph; in another section it recommends maintaining the existing speed limit. This will need to be clarified.” The draft study is presently under review by the city.
What needs to be kept in mind is that, as stated in the California Manual for Setting Speed Limits, “regardless of the posted speed limit, the majority of drivers will continue to drive at speeds at which they feel comfortable.” This axiom is borne out by the experience on Third and Fourth Streets. Prior to 2005 the speed limit on the majority of Third and Fourth Streets was 30 mph and 35 mph on Fourth Street between Orange Avenue and the bridge. In 2001 the measured 85th percentile speed on Third Street was 34 mph. In 2013, after the speed limit had been reduced to 25 mph, the 85th percentile speed was still 34 mph. On Fourth Street west of Orange Avenue the experience has been essentially the same. The 85th percentile speed in 2001 was 35 mph and in 2013 it was slightly slower at 33 mph. East of Orange Avenue the speed of the traffic has changed very little since 2006. It has remained approximately 35 mph despite a posted speed limit of 25 mph.
Regardless of the posted speed limit on Third and Fourth Streets the only method of reducing the actual speed of the traffic to the desired speed of 25 mph will be to implement the recommendations made by the city’s consultant Fehr and Peers. The most significant of these recommendations is the installation of traffic signals at key intersections along Third and Fourth Streets. The consultant’s report can be found at http://www.coronado.ca.us/egov/documents/1422400873_8035.pdf.
Caltrans pedestrian monitoring equipment at the intersection of Fourth Street and B Avenue.
In addition to the studies, Caltrans has installed equipment at the intersection of Fourth Street and B Avenue that measures pedestrian traffic at the intersection. The equipment will remain in place through the end of March. The data collected will be used by Caltrans and the city to determine if enhancements to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection are required or restrictions on pedestrian crossings should be instituted.
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John Tato
Staff Writer
eCoronado
