Speed Limits Trimmed For Residents’ and City Safety
In a recent development, the City of West Hollywood is set to reduce the speed limits on N. Fairfax Avenue and on Fountain Avenue, west of Fairfax Avenue, from 35 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour. This adjustment stems from the findings of a recently conducted Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS).
According to the California Vehicle Code (CVC), speed limits in the state are regulated, and any change in enforcement speed requires justification through an E&TS, especially when radar or electronic devices are involved.
Within West Hollywood, 24 street segments fall outside the local streets category, necessitating an E&TS for posted speed limits. The city enlisted the services of a traffic engineering consulting firm to conduct a survey in 2023. State guidelines mandate that prevailing speeds, collision records from the past two years, and other factors influencing traffic conditions be considered in setting, revising, or maintaining speed limits.
Survey results indicate that speed limits on 22 out of the 24 evaluated street segments will remain unchanged. However, the study recommends a reduction in speed limits on two segments: N. Fairfax Avenue between Fountain Avenue and Willoughby Avenue, and on Fountain Avenue between N. La Cienega Boulevard and N. Fairfax Avenue. To align with state regulations, the posted speed limits on these segments will be lowered by 5 miles per hour, from 35 mph to 30 mph. The West Hollywood City Council officially approved these findings through a Resolution during its regular meeting on Monday, October 16, 2023.
For more details, Richard Garland, City of West Hollywood Principal Traffic Engineer, can be contacted at (323) 848-6457 or rgarland@weho.org. Individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing can use the City of West Hollywood’s TTY line at (323) 848-6496.
