REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Traffic Calming/Lower Motor Vehicle Speeds and Speed Limits (He)
Report
BACKGROUND
In August 2023, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Member Kratz requested BPAC discuss Traffic Calming on Benton Street (Attachment 1) and how to Lower Motor Vehicle Speeds and Speed Limits (Attachment 2).
DISCUSSION
Below is a summary of responses to the requests from Member Kratz.
1. Provide Traffic Calming on Benton Street from Lawrence Expressway to Montague Expressway.
Benton Street is an east-west roadway in Santa Clara that stretches from the west near Sunnyvale to the east through El Camino Real and ending at the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. Benton Street, between Lawrence Expressway and San Tomas Expressway, is generally a 30-mph 4-lane roadway. This segment carries a daily traffic volume of approximately 12,000 vehicles. A speed survey conducted in Spring 2023 found that 64 percent of drivers exceeded the 30-mph speed limit and the 85th percentile speed was 39-mph. The segment is adjacent to Earl. R. Carmichael Park and Santa Clara High School and it is near Central Park Elementary School. Most of the section contains residences and churches.
At the March 2023 BPAC meeting, staff presented information on the City's Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NCTP) and applicable traffic calming measures that can be implemented on Benton Street. Due to being classified as a Police and Fire Emergency Response Route, only Level 1 and 2 traffic calming measures can be applied to Benton Street between Lawrence Expressway and Montague Expressway. Level 1 traffic calming measures include education, public involvement, enforcement efforts, signing, striping, parking controls, and use of the City's speed radar trailer. Level 2 traffic calming measures include chicanes, chokers, gateways, and rumble strips. Implementation of Level 2 measures will require significant support from affected neighborhood.
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