The City of Santa Rosa is in the process of lowering speed limits on fifteen eligible street segments located within the Central Business District. The reduced speed limits are a result of California Assembly Bill 43, approved by Governor Newsom in October 2021, that amended the Vehicle Code to allow cities and local governments the flexibility to set the speed limit at 20 or 25 miles per hour (mph) on qualifying City streets. On June 6, 2023, Santa Rosa City Council approved the resolution establishing speed limits in the Central Business District.
City street segments scheduled to establish 20 mph speed limits include:
- Second Street between D Street and E Street
- First Street between A Street and D Street
- Fourth Street between B Street and E Street
- Fourth Street between Wilson Street and Morgan Street
- Fifth Street between B Street and Brookwood Avenue
- Fifth Street between Wilson Street and Morgan Street
- Sixth Street between Wilson Street and Morgan Street
- Seventh Street between A Street and E Street
- Beaver Street between Fifth Street and Seventh Street
- D Street between Sonoma Avenue and Fifth Street
- Humboldt Street between Fifth Street and Seventh Street
- Mendocino Avenue between Fourth Street and Tenth Street
- Orchard Street between Fifth Street and Seventh Street
- Wilson Street between Third Street and Sixth Street
City street segments scheduled to establish 25 mph speed limits include:
- Fourth Street between E Street and Brookwood Avenue
- B Street between Healdsburg Avenue and First Street
- Santa Rosa Avenue between First Street and Third Street
Central Business District street segments must meet CA Vehicle Code criteria to qualify for a reduced speed limit. Visit Santa Rosa City Council Resolution No. RES-2023-092 to review qualifying criteria.
The new speed limit signs are scheduled to be installed on all street segments listed above by the end of 2023. Only warning citations will be issued for violations of exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph or less for the first 30 days after the new speed limit sign is installed.
Effective July 1, 2024, CA Vehicle Code will expand laws allowing greater flexibility in implementing speed limit reductions citywide. The Transportation and Public Works Traffic Engineering team will conduct traffic surveys to assess the need for lowering speed limits on qualifying street segments. Recommendations will be presented to the City Council for approval prior to further implementation.