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Rockland council introduces ordinance to lower speed on Whittier Ranch Parkway to 40 mph
Summary
The Rockland City Council voted unanimously Feb. 24 to introduce an ordinance that would make surveyed roadways radar-enforceable and lower the posted limit on Whittier Ranch Parkway between State Route 65 and University Avenue from 45 mph to 40 mph, based on standard 85th-percentile speed surveys.
The Rockland City Council moved unanimously Feb. 24 to introduce an ordinance amending chapter 10.11 of the Rockland Municipal Code to adopt updated speed limits and allow radar enforcement on surveyed segments. Community Development Director David Molenbrook told the council that four roadway segments were resurveyed following a prior October study and that only Whittier Ranch Parkway between State Route 65 and University Avenue would have its posted speed reduced from 45 to 40 miles per hour based on the 85th-percentile survey results.
Molenbrook said the city performed a post-signalization survey for the Whittier Ranch Parkway/University Avenue intersection and that the measured speeds supported the reduction. "This segment is being recommended to be reduced to 40 miles an hour based upon the survey results," he said.
Council members asked how the city would notify drivers about the change. One council member urged extra outreach because "you know what the speed limit is on a street because you've driven it a zillion times," and Molenbrook said the city would repost signs and use social media. Another council member suggested deploying an electronic trailer sign as a temporary reminder; a councilor noted the police department would determine implementation details during the 30-day period between readings.
A council member moved to introduce, waive full reading and read by title the ordinance amending chapter 10.11; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The ordinance was introduced for a second reading and subsequent adoption process; the council did not adopt a final ordinance at the Feb. 24 meeting.
Why this matters: Lowering a posted limit can affect enforcement and travel behavior on a heavily used corridor. The staff presentation tied the recommendation to established California vehicle-code survey practice (the 85th-percentile) and identified signage and temporary electronic notifications as the primary outreach tools ahead of implementation.
