Updated:  06.14.24

PROJECT STATUS

On June 12, 2024, Ordinance No. 2024-02 was adopted by City Council, establishing lower speed limits on different streets in the City of Encinitas pursuant to provisions of Assembly Bill 43 (AB43).  New speed limit signage will be installed this summer, with enforcement starting after installation to enhance traffic safety.

BACKGROUND

Assembly Bill 43, also known as AB43, is a legislative measure aimed at providing cities with more flexibility in setting speed limits on California roadways. Unlike traditional methods, AB43 emphasizes community context to establish speed limits that prioritize safety and efficiency.

Historically, speed limits have been determined by Engineering and Traffic Surveys, or speed surveys. This involves measuring the speeds of vehicles on a given roadway segment. California Vehicle Code required the speed limit to be set at or near the 85th percentile speed – the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles are traveling. Other factors were considered, but a speed limit much lower than the 85^th percentile, called a “speed trap”, was not to be established. Previous legislature declared a strong public policy against the use of speed traps, to the extent that citations issued where a speed trap was found to exist, were often dismissed.

Assembly Bill 43 introduces a new approach in speed limit setting by using data-driven analysis and engineering expertise to assess various factors and evaluate road conditions to recommend speed limits that align with the principles of safe design and operation. AB43 considers a broader range of factors beyond prevailing speeds, leading to speed limits that are more tailored to the specific characteristics of the roadways in our city. AB43 also aims to reduce the likelihood of traffic collisions and create roadways that are safer for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. AB43 sets a new standard for speed limit determination, ensuring that California's roadways prioritize safety above all else. AB43 allows 25mph speed zones in a few circumstances and also allows cities to reduce speeds by 5 mph in many locations.

PROJECT BENEFITS

The City Traffic Engineer periodically reviews traffic speeds within the City to determine the
appropriateness of such speeds. The California Vehicle Code (CVC) and the California Manual
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA-MUTCD) govern the criteria for the establishment of
speed limits in local municipalities. Enforcement of speed limits on non-local streets by radar or other electronic devices, are subject to justification by an Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS) and generally set at or near the 85th percentile speed. 

AB43 provides more options and flexibility to lower speed limits throughout the city and puts emphasis on bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Additional 5 mph speed limit reduction options are available for established "Safety Corridors" and areas with high concentrations of bicyclists and pedestrians. 

This action supports the Mobility & Alternate Modes vision of the Strategic Plan to provide safe transportation networks in the City to empower people to reach destinations by active transportation and micro-mobility.

Please click each tab below to see impacted streets.