Santa Rosa Lowers Speed Limits For Safer Streets

Santa Rosa City Council has approved lowering speed limits to between 25-40 mph on 29 street segments citywide. This is part of the City's Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

Lower vehicle speeds reduce both the likelihood and severity of crashes. To further improve roadway safety, the City is redesigning streets to naturally slow traffic and create more comfortable conditions for everyone. These improvements include narrowing travel lanes, tightening curb radii, shortening pedestrian crossings, and adding new, dedicated bike lanes to provide greater buffers between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Installation of the new speed limit signs with temporary "New" placards will begin in the coming weeks and is expected to take a couple of months to complete.

City street segments planned to establish 25 mph speed limits include:

• Cleveland Avenue between Ninth Street and College Avenue
• Fourth Street between E Street and College Avenue
• Santa Rosa Avenue between Sonoma Avenue and Third Street

City street segments planned to establish 30 mph speed limits include:

• Barnes Road between Camino Del Prado and North City Limits
• Bennett Valley Road between Santa Rosa Avenue and Brookwood Avenue
• Brookwood Avenue between Kawana Springs Road and Linwood Avenue
• Cleveland Avenue between College Avenue and Edwards Avenue
• Colgan Avenue between Petaluma Hill Road and Santa Rosa Avenue
• North Dutton Avenue between West Third Street and West College Avenue
• Dutton Meadow between Bellevue Avenue and Hearn Avenue
• Fourth Street between College Avenue and Bryden Lane
• Fourth Street between Bryden Lane and Farmers Lane
• Maple Avenue between Santa Rosa Avenue and Brookwood Avenue
• Parker Hill Road between Chanate Road and Stagecoach Road
• Santa Rosa Avenue between Maple Ave-South A St and Sonoma Avenue
• Steele Lane between Cleveland Avenue and Mendocino Avenue

City street segments planned to establish 35 mph speed limits include:

• Bicentennial Way between Range Avenue and Mendocino Avenue
• Bicentennial Way between Mendocino Avenue and Foutaingrove Parkway
• Brush Creek Road between Montecito Blvd and Badger Road
• West College Avenue between Fulton Road and Clover Drive
• North Dutton Avenue between West College Avenue and Guerneville Road
• Montecito Blvd between Middle Rincon Road and Calistoga Road
• South Wright Road between Price Avenue and Ludwig Avenue
• Yulupa Avenue between Bennett Valley Road and Bethards Drive
• Yulupa Avenue between Bethards Drive and Tachevah Drive

City street segments planned to establish 40 mph speed limits include:

• Fulton Road between Highway 12 and West Collage Avenue
• Fulton Road between West College Avenue and Guerneville Road
• Fulton Road between Guerneville Road and Piner Road
• Fulton Road between Piner Road and Wood Road

This effort builds on past work. In 2023, speed limits were lowered on 15 street segments in Santa Rosa's Central Business District and 39 street segments speed limits were reduced in 2024. The latest Council action is made possible through California Assembly Bill 43 (2021), and further updates the Vehicle Code effective July 1, 2024, giving cities flexibility to reduce speed limits citywide. The City's Traffic Engineering team conduct data-driven surveys to ensure these changes target streets with the highest safety risks.

Lower speeds save lives. By driving attentively and respecting the new limits, residents can help create safer, calmer streets for all.

Approval of this action does not impact the City's General Fund.

Visit Traffic Engineering for more information on traffic calming measures. https://www.srcity.org/850/Traffic-Engineering