Speed limit reductions on Neilson Way are now in place having dropped 5 miles per hour, from 30 to 25, as part of a series of reductions made around Santa Monica after a survey was completed earlier this year.
The survey, conducted from January 27 through July 29, includes measurement of vehicular speeds along roadway segments to determine the speed of a majority of drivers, which is the most effective attribute in establishing speed limits. The subsequent motion received unanimous approval by the Santa Monica City Council in the August 27, 2024 meeting.
The Ocean Park Association recently noted in its most recent newsletter that the forthcoming speed limit reductions on Neilson Way between Pico Blvd and Marine St were now in place.
Roll out of the new speed limits began as part of the recent resurfacing of the road. In addition to replacing existing 30mph signs with the new 25mph signs, the project incorporates “25” markings on the pavement to further emphasize the speed limit. Additional corridors are scheduled for sign replacement in the coming weeks. Speed limits are in effect and enforceable after the signs are erected.
Interestingly, among all of the proposed 30 changes, there is one that features an increase in speed limit and that’s on the 0.3-mile segment of California Avenue, which will be raised from 25 miles per hour to 30.
“On the incline we don’t have the proximity to a park or pedestrian generator,” City Traffic Engineer Mia Silver said during the August 27 meeting, adding, “The pedestrian and bikeway is physically separated. The park is physically separated. That roadway segment connects a very high speed facility, the PCH, up into our city and balances the need for reasonable and appropriate speeds.”
A full list of approved speed adjustments, recommended in consultation with the Santa Monica Police Department, is as follows:
Reduction to 35 mph
• Olympic Boulevard between 11th Street and Centinela Avenue — from 40 to 35 mph
Reduction to 30 mph
• Lincoln Boulevard between I-10 Freeway and Pico Boulevard — from 35 to 30 mph
• Ocean Park Boulevard between 23rd Street and Centinela Avenue — from 35 to 30 mph
• Pico Boulevard between Lincoln Boulevard and Centinela Avenue — from 35 to 30 mph
Reduction to 25 mph
• 2nd Street between Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue — from 30 to 25 mph
• 4th Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph
• 11th Street between San Vicente Boulevard and Marine Street — from 30 to 25 mph
• 14th Street between San Vicente Boulevard and Ashland Avenue — from 30 to 25 mph
• 20th Street between Wilshire and Pico boulevards — from 30 to 25 mph
• 26th Street between San Vicente and Cloverfield boulevards — from 30 to 25 mph
• Colorado Avenue between Ocean Avenue and 17th Street — from 30 to 25 mph
• Dewey Street between Robson Avenue and 23rd Street — from 30 to 25 mph
• Main Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph
• Marine Street between Lincoln Boulevard and 17th Street — from 30 to 25 mph
• Montana Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Stanford Street — from 30 to 25 mph
• Neilson Way between Pico Boulevard and Marine Street — from 30 to 25 mph
• Ocean Avenue between the north city limit and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph
• Ocean Park Boulevard between Barnard Way and 23rd Street — from 30 to 25 mph
• Pico Boulevard between Appian Way and Lincoln Boulevard — from 35 to 25 mph
• Stewart Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph
• Wilshire Boulevard between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph
Reduction to 20 mph
• 6th Street between Pico Boulevard and Pier Avenue — from 30 to 20 mph
• 20th Street between Pico and Ocean Park boulevards — from 25 to 20 mph
• Appian Way between Pacific Coast Highway and Bay Street — from 25 to 20 mph
• Ashland Avenue between Neilson Way and Lincoln Boulevard — from 25 to 20 mph
• Barnard Way between Hollister Avenue and Neilson Way — from 25 to 20 mph
• California Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard — from 25 to 20 mph
• Michigan Avenue between Lincoln Boulevard and 19th Street — from 25 to 20 mph
• Washington Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Stanford Street — from 25 to 20 mph
Increase to 30 mph
• California Avenue between Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue (also known as the California Incline) — from 25 to 30 mph
The proposed speed limit changes support the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and severe injury crashes on city streets by improving safety for all roadway users.
Council adopted Vision Zero in February 2016. Unsafe speed is the second most common violation cited in fatal and severe crashes in the city, at 14% of the total. Crashes at slower speeds are less likely to result in fatalities and the application of reasonable and safe speed limits allows for effective enforcement of speed limits throughout the city.
scott.snowden@smdp.com