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Campbell council approves 2025 speed survey and 15-mph school-zone limits when children are present
Summary
The Campbell City Council unanimously approved the 2025 quinquennial speed survey and amendments to the municipal code to allow 15 mph limits "when children are present" on selected two-lane residential streets within 500 feet of schools; staff estimated signage costs of about $20,000 and will coordinate outreach with local schools.
The Campbell City Council voted unanimously Jan. 20 to adopt the city's 2025 quinquennial engineering and traffic survey and to amend Campbell Municipal Code chapter 10.32 to implement select recommendations, including 15-mph speed limits when children are present near schools.
Staff said the California Vehicle Code requires traffic surveys every five years to set or adjust speed limits and recommended no wholesale increases to posted speeds after surveys of 140 roadway segments conducted between March and July 2025. Instead, staff proposed new 15-mph "when children are present" designations for selected two-lane residential streets within 500 feet of school grounds, with West Parr Avenue by Village School cited as an example.
The change is aimed at improving student safety. "We are recommending creation of these 15 miles per hour speed limits when children are present in school zones," the city's traffic engineer said, and staff estimated about $20,000 to install new signs and markings; the cost would come from the street-maintenance budget.
Council members asked how the rule would operate and how officials would notify drivers. Staff said the vehicle code ties the designation to times when children are arriving or leaving school (and similar school-related activities) and that the city is coordinating outreach with school districts and school newsletters. Staff also said Hamilton Avenue was excluded from current surveys because resurfacing will change lane configurations; it will be surveyed after construction is complete.
Resident Steve Saunders, speaking in public comment, urged caution and advance warnings for drivers, saying the city should "give everybody as big a break as we can in terms of warning." He also questioned enforcement, contending many drivers exceed posted limits. Staff responded that traffic surveys generally use an 85th-percentile methodology to establish reasonable speed limits, and that the survey is intended to set limits that reflect safe conditions rather than simply punish typical driving speeds.
Councilmember Hines moved to approve the survey and the code amendment; Vice Mayor Scuola seconded. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous ayes, and the council voted to waive further reading of the ordinance.
The council's action directs staff to proceed with implementation, including signage and an education plan coordinated with schools; the ordinance amendment and resolution adopted by the council set the legal basis for enforcement. Implementation details such as final signage locations, timing and outreach will be handled by Public Works and the traffic engineer.
