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Council introduces citywide speed limit ordinance; many limits reduced or unchanged
Summary
The council introduced an ordinance to set speed limits citywide based on an engineering and traffic survey, with most reviewed segments staying the same or being reduced. Notable changes include lowering Golden Lantern from 40 to 35 and setting Coast Highway at 40 in the newly reconfigured section.
Dana PointCity Council on March 18 introduced an ordinance that would set and revise speed limits across the city based on a formal engineering and traffic survey required under the California Vehicle Code.
The staff presentation noted the survey reviewed 43 segments and found that, across the city, "all the speed limits citywide out of all 43 segments are either staying the same or they are going down," and described specific changes the ordinance proposes. Examples highlighted by staff include: lowering Camino Capistrano (city limit of San Clemente to Mira Costa) from 30 to 25; reducing Camino de Estrella on a segment to 30 from 35; setting Coast Highway at 40 in the recently reconfigured complete-street segment; lowering Golden Lantern from 40 to 35 between City Hall and La Cresta; and adjusting various segments of PCH and Miguel Road.
Staff said the ordinance formalizes speeds where the Vehicle Code does not prescribe a default and provides the engineering documentation that law enforcement and courts require for enforceable limits. The presenter said the survey allows the city to set speeds that are enforceable by police and that support safety goals.
The council discussed frequency of revisiting the survey (staff said a minimum of every five years, with flexibility to extend) and expressed support for the reductions as a public-safety measure. Mayor Pro Tem John Gabbard summarized the effort to the council as "we have a great town. Please slow down." The council voted to introduce the ordinance and proceed with the required readings.
Why it matters: The ordinance establishes enforceable speed limits backed by an engineering survey, which affects traffic enforcement, safety on corridors with pedestrians and e-bikes, and legal defensibility in court. Several arterial and neighborhood segments will see lower posted speeds under the proposed ordinance.
Next steps: The ordinance was introduced for first reading at this meeting; the council can schedule additional readings and a final adoption vote in subsequent meetings.
