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San Bernardino council adopts citywide speed‑zone updates, designates safety corridors
Summary
Council adopted an ordinance updating city speed limits based on an engineering traffic survey; the study recommended changes to roughly 90 segments and designated 14 safety corridors. The ordinance was adopted unanimously and read by title as MC 1651.
The San Bernardino City Council voted unanimously on April 16 to adopt an ordinance updating speed zones citywide after hearing a staff presentation on a recent engineering traffic survey.
Staff told the council the study followed state guidelines and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and used 85th‑percentile speeds to set reasonable posted limits. The survey covered the city network and recommended retaining the current speed for 48 street segments (eligible for a 14‑year extension), changing posted speeds on 90 segments, maintaining existing limits on 19 segments, designating 14 segments as safety corridors and reducing limits on 71 segments overall.
The presentation noted changes in law under Assembly Bill 43 that allow cities to retain or restore previously adopted limits in certain situations and highlighted that safety corridors were selected using criteria such as school thoroughfares, crash history and roadway characteristics. Staff said the city will post an updated speed map and follow the statutory process for formal adoption.
Public comment included a resident, Mike Hartley, who said changing speed limit signs alone would not improve safety unless enforcement increases. Council members discussed enforcement resources, school zone and pedestrian crossing protections and the need to coordinate speed changes with safe‑route‑to‑school and active‑transportation planning.
Councilmember Ortiz moved to waive further reading and adopt the ordinance; the motion passed unanimously. The ordinance was read by title as Ordinance No. MC 1651: "Amending Chapter 10.52 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code to update existing speed zones citywide." Staff also received direction to return with an evaluation of uncontrolled crosswalks, including those adjacent to schools, and the council asked staff to explore a future policy on speed humps and other traffic calming measures.
