New speed limits posted on several Folsom streets

Folsom officials adopted new speed limits recently on several main arteries in Folsom Ranch. The Folsom City Council approved "prima facie" speed limits Aug. 26 for six locations, including Mangini and Alder Creek parkways south of Highway 50. East Bidwell Street will remain at 45 mph, officials said. California state law requires local cities to establish speed limits on public streets based on a traffic study. "It's fascinating how we set speed limits. It's weird and fascinating," said Folsom City Councilmember Mike Kozlowski. A new study must be conducted when a roadway is newly opened or traffic conditions have significantly changed. If the study recommends a speed limit above the minimum 25 mph and below 65, the limit must be adopted after a public hearing. Artificially low limits can create safety problems like rear-end collisions and tailgating, while artificially high limits can be unsafe under normal conditions, staff explained. An ETS study allows speed limits to be enforced with radar. Speed surveys are necessary to determine speed limits in excess of the minimum 25 mph but less than the state max of either 55 or 65 mph. Certain roads have prima facie speed limits, or those based on first impression. The speed limit is accepted as correct until proven otherwise. A prima facie road does not require a radar survey. Some examples of prima facie speed limits are: · 25 mph on residential streets that are less than 40 feet wide, not more than one-half mile between traffic control devices, and only one lane of traffic per direction. · 25 mph in business districts. · 25 mph when passing a senior center or senior housing facility. · 25 mph when passing a children's play area when children are typically present, or dawn to dusk. · 25 mph when passing a school while children are present, when the school is not separated from the roadway by a fence. When the school is fenced, then the 25 mph limit only applies when children are going to or coming from school, if the roadway is used by school age pedestrians to access the campus. · 15 mph in alleys. Such conditions may include limited sight distance due to curves or hills, high pedestrian activity in areas without marked crosswalks, unexpected driveway or intersection density or unique roadside development patterns. The adoption by the council focuses on six specific roadway segments: A 30-mph speed limit on Westwood Drive between Alder Creek Parkway and Mangini Parkway. A 35-mph limit on Alder Creek Parkway between Westwood Drive and Rustic Ridge Circle. The third proposes a 35-mph limit on Mangini Parkway between Savannah Parkway and Empire Ranch Road. A 35-mph limit on Grand Prairie Road between Summit Street/Rustic Ridge Circle and Alder Creek Parkway. Mangini Parkway between East Bidwell Street and Oak Avenue Parkway. Finally, a 45-mph speed limit is proposed for East Bidwell Street between the US 50 eastbound off-ramp and White Rock Road.