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that he wanted to be sure were established before making a recommendation. He explained that in <br /> 2008, the code was changed to require that the critical speed be rounded to the nearest 5 mph <br /> increment rather than rounded down and that the 5 mph adjustment for unusual conditions was <br /> eliminated. The City of Pleasanton, as did other local agencies, issued a number of letters requesting <br /> modification of this language and a compromise was recently reached. While the method for rounding <br /> critical speed remains at the nearest 5 mph increment, the unusual conditions exception was <br /> reinstated and broadened to allow its implementation even if the presence of unusual conditions is not <br /> clear. <br /> He reported a total of 11 segments recommended for increase, 7 for decrease, and a number of <br /> additions and deletions to the ordinance related to changes in the California Road System maps. <br /> Mr. Tassano reviewed recommended changes to Andrews Drive. While the speed survey <br /> demonstrated a critical speed of 39 mph, which should be rounded to 40 mph, staff cited unusual <br /> conditions and is recommending lowering the speed to 35 mph. He noted that Andrews was surveyed <br /> in 2008 with a critical speed of 39 mph, posted speed of 40 mph, and a recorded speed limit of 35 <br /> mph. He subsequently changed the posted speed to match the ordinance and resurveyed the <br /> segment which again surveyed at 39 mph, essentially proving that motorists travel at the speed they <br /> feel to be appropriate and not the speed that is posted. <br /> Councilmember Brown expressed safety concerns related to the 11 segments recommended for an <br /> increase in the posted speed. <br /> Mr. Tassano explained that most studies indicate that collisions occur when there is a variance in <br /> speed. He said that artificially posting the limit on Santa Rita at 30 mph would create a mixed <br /> population of drivers who attempt to adhere to that and drivers who do not, which creates a larger <br /> safety issue than a slightly increased speed limit reflecting what the majority of motorists are travelling. <br /> Councilmember Brown asked how the transition is implemented. <br /> Mr. Tassano said signs are usually posted for the public 30 days prior to the change. <br /> Mayor Thorne asked and Mr. Tassano confirmed that this has a direct impact on the police <br /> department's ability to enforce speed limits. Mr. Tassano clarified that if a segment were not to comply <br /> with the code's guidelines, the police would be limited to citing unsafe speed for the conditions which <br /> is difficult to support. <br /> Councilmember Brown referred to Item K, Stanley Street to Ray Street, and asked if reducing the <br /> speed from 40 to 25 mph from one segment to another is a safety concern. <br /> Mr. Tassano said peak hour congestion on this segment is a much larger concern. He explained that <br /> the segment was historically posted at 35 mph citing unusual conditions but that only about 40% of <br /> vehicles complied with this. <br /> Vice-Mayor Cook-Kallio said the Council has also talked some about traffic calming measures as a <br /> method to reduce speed and asked what the nexus is between these measures and the code. <br /> Mr. Tassano explained that the law is written such than any significant change in a roadway requires <br /> that a new survey be conducted and that seemingly simple improvements like an overlay or bike lane <br /> produce significant enough changes to the character of the roadway to affect operating speeds. <br /> Councilmember Pentin asked whether basing critical speed on the 80`" fastest vehicle rather than the <br /> 85% would result in a different recommendation. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 7 of 9 March 5, 2013 <br />