San Rafael staff propose 20 mph downtown zone under AB 43; committee asked for feedback

City staff and a traffic consultant presented a plan to establish a 20‑mile‑per‑hour speed‑limit zone in downtown San Rafael under Assembly Bill 43 and asked the Police Advisory and Accountability Committee (PAC) for feedback.

The plan, presented by Lynn, a junior engineer for the city, and Jimmy Jessup, an engineer with Parametrix, uses engineering and traffic survey data and AB 43 criteria to recommend most downtown segments be posted at 20 mph. Second and Third streets would remain at 25 mph in the draft; one segment currently signed at 35 mph is proposed to be reduced to 30 mph.

City staff said the work builds on the city’s Local Road Safety Plan and the downtown precise plan. The next steps outlined were: refine the draft map after public input, present an ordinance to the City Council to adopt the reduced speed limits as required by AB 43, install signs and striping, run a 30‑day trial period, and monitor speeds and crash trends for effectiveness.

Parametrix explained the technical basis: California traffic law…