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San Rafael committee reviews plan to cut speed limits on 23 segments under AB 43
Summary
City staff and a consultant presented Phase 2 of AB 43 speed-limit reductions, proposing 5 mph cuts on 23 roadway segments outside downtown to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety; committee members urged targeted enforcement on downtown Second and Third streets and broader public outreach before ordinance adoption.
San Rafael At a committee meeting on April 15, city traffic staff and a consultant outlined Phase 2 recommendations under Assembly Bill 43 to reduce speed limits by 5 miles per hour on 23 roadway segments across the city outside the downtown zone.
"These locations were selected after speed surveys, crash history review and analysis of land uses that generate vulnerable roadway users," said Kelly Abby, traffic engineering technician for San Rafael Public Works. Consultant Jimmy Jessup of Parametrix said AB 43, which requires jurisdictions to consider pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable users when setting limits, allows an additional 5-mph reduction beyond the standard engineering survey in appropriate places.
The presenters said the changes aim to lower the speeds that most affect injury severity. "At 20 mph a pedestrian has about a 90% chance of surviving a vehicle collision; at 40 mph that survival probability drops near 20%," Jessup said, explaining why the 20-to-40 mph band is the focus for safety gains.
Committee members and members of the public pressed staff on next steps and enforcement. Member Alm said she supports the reductions but urged "aggressive enforcement and an action plan" for downtown Second and Third streets, which were not included in the current Phase 2 map because survey percentiles prevented a lower posted limit.
Staff described the technical process: engineering and traffic speed surveys performed in both directions on roadway segments, overlay of crash history and land-use data, and consideration of public input captured by the project website, 311/ClickFix requests and advisory committees. "The surveys are radar-based and follow state procedures; community input is considered but the engineering survey itself refers to measured speeds," Jessup said.
Public commenters welcomed the proposal and urged a multi-tool response to speeding, including portable radar feedback signs, targeted education and neighborhood traffic-calming (speed cushions, bulb-outs), noting that the committees 30-day warning period after a newly posted limit can help reduce sudden ticketing concerns.
The committee did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting. Staff said they expect to bring an ordinance to the full City Council later in the spring followed by a phased implementation that will include signage, a 30-day warning period, and post-implementation measurement of speeds and crashes.
What happens next: Staff will refine the Phase 2 recommendations and return with an ordinance for council consideration and a public-education plan. Committee members asked staff to report post-implementation speed and crash data and to examine enforcement options (warnings vs. citations) and outreach tailored to neighborhoods.
The presentation was rooted in the citys 2024 Local Road Safety Plan and California Vehicle Code requirements for engineering and traffic surveys; AB 43 provides the statutory flexibility the city is using to prioritize vulnerable users.
