Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 091-2021 sanctioning a new speed restriction on Saratoga Way.
FUNDING: Road Fund (100%).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Department of Transportation, Maintenance and Operations Division (Transportation) conducted an Engineering and Traffic Survey on Saratoga Way from Finders Way easterly to El Dorado Hills Boulevard due to a change in roadway characteristics as a result of the recently completed construction of a non-county maintained segment of Saratoga Way (No. 217).
The County maintained segment for Saratoga Way is a two lane collector road, which is 0.52 miles in length and averages 9,602 vehicles per day. Until the Spring of 2020, Saratoga Way ended at a barricade at 0.63 miles west of El Dorado Hills Boulevard. When the newly constructed, non-county maintained, segment of Saratoga Way was completed, a connection was created between El Dorado Hills Boulevard and the City of Folsom's Iron Point Road. As a result, the Average Daily Trips on the County maintained segment increased from approximately 1,000 to 9,602. This segment of Saratoga Way provides access to three (3) County maintained roads and several commercial driveways.
While conducting field observations, staff observed four (4) bicyclists and four (4) pedestrians utilizing this segment of Saratoga Way. The field review lasted approximately thirty (30) minutes. The existing 85th percentile speed of fifty-one (51) miles per hours, justifies, in accordance with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a radar enforced fifty (50) miles per hour speed zone. However, due to the curvilinear alignment, limited sight distances, commercial driveways and large numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists, staff recommended the need for a further reduction to forty-five (45) miles per hour.
Based on California Vehicle Code, Section 22358, which allows local authorities to establish speed limits based on an "Engineering and Traffic Survey," the West Slope Traffic Advisory Committee held a meeting on May 19, 2021 and voted unanimously to establish a forty-five mile per hour speed restriction on Saratoga Way from Finders Way (No. 1107) easterly to El Dorado Hills Boulevard (No. 219).
The following is the final recommendation that was approved by the West Slope Traffic Advisory Committee:
ADD:
"(gi) Saratoga Way (No. 217) forty five (45) miles per hour from Finders Way (No. 1107) easterly to El Dorado Hills Boulevard (No. 219)."
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not agree with the West Slope Traffic Advisory Committee's decision and leave Saratoga Way from Finders Way to El Dorado Hills Boulevard without any enforceable speed restrictions.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Traffic Advisory Committee and County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Installation of speed limit signs on Saratoga Way is estimated at $1,400. Funding to complete the work is included in the Fiscal Year 2021-22 recommended budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk will obtain the Chair's signature on one (1) original of the Resolution.
2) The Clerk will forward one (1) copy of the Resolution to Transportation, Maintenance and Operations Division, attention Ashley Johnson.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure and Public Safety
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation