The City of Napa Public Works Department presented its Annual Update to City Speed Limits at the February 7 City Council meeting, resulting in the Council’s decision to approve an ordinance reducing the speed limit by 5 miles per hour (mph) on 23 segments of city roadways, including the City’s downtown corridor. The speed limit changes will go into effect on March 9, 2023.
The affected roadways and new declared speed limits are as follows.
20 miles per hour:
- Coombs Street – Division Street to Grigsby Street
- Fifth Street – Coombs Street to Main Street
- First Street – Jefferson Street to Soscol Avenue
- Fourth Street – Third Street to Coombs Street
- Franklin Street – Fourth Street to Pearl Street
- Main Street – Fifth Street to Pearl Street
- Pearl Street – Franklin Street to Soscol Avenue
- Second Street – Jefferson Street to Main Street
- Seminary Street – Oak Street to Clay Street
- Third Street – Jefferson Street to Soscol Avenue
25 miles per hour:
- Byway East – Wise Drive to Salvador Avenue
- California Boulevard – Laurel Street to Second Street
- Foster Road – West Imola Avenue to Old Sonoma Road
- Pueblo Avenue – California Boulevard to Jefferson Street
- Pueblo Avenue – Jefferson Street to Soscol Avenue
- West Imola Avenue – Foster Road to Hwy 29
30 miles per hour:
- Browns Valley Road – Partrick Road (east) to Laurel Street
- California Boulevard – Second Street to Lincoln Avenue
- First Street – Laurel Street to California Boulevard
- Trower Avenue – Linda Vista Avenue to Solano Avenue
35 miles per hour:
- Napa Valley Corporate Drive – NV Corporate Wy to Kaiser Rd
- Napa Valley Corporate Way – NV Corporate Dr to Hwy 221
- Solano Avenue – Redwood Road to Trower Avenue
The adjustments to declared speed limits are based on the data in the City’s latest Engineering and Traffic Survey (ETS) (as established by CA Vehicle Code Section 627 for ETS and Sections 22348, 22357 and 22358 for raising and lowering Declared Speed Limits) — one element of Napa’s broader Local Roadway Safety Plan to prioritize traffic safety in the city. To conduct the ETS, City of Napa public works personnel measure the speeds of reasonable and prudent drivers in action using certified, Police-issued radar equipment. The survey results and subsequent speed limit changes also take into account collision history, roadway and roadside conditions, adjacent land use and Vehicle Code districting.
“We guide our process of implementing Napa’s Local Roadway Safety Plan using the “Three E’s” of law enforcement and transportation engineering—enforcement, education and engineering,” said Public Works Director Julie Lucido. “The ETS is a crucial part of the engineering aspect so that we can best determine the appropriate speed and road infrastructure changes that will maximize driver and pedestrian safety in Napa.”
As part of Napa’s Local Roadway Safety Plan, the City has also reorganized its Traffic Enforcement Unit and installed several Leading Pedestrian Intervals and Flashing Yellow Arrows. The City also recently approved a red light camera program. All of these safety measures have proven ability to reduce vehicle collisions and increase pedestrian safety. Lowering speed limits adds to the safety benefits of recent traffic mitigation measures by decreasing both motor accidents and harmful emissions to the Napa environment.
“Traffic safety is a key priority for our community and the Council,” said Mayor Scott Sedgley. “We’ve already taken action to implement new technologies and infrastructure that will make Napa’s streets more safe, and we look forward to advancing that progress with these speed limit adjustments.”
To learn more about the City’s road safety initiatives, visit: https://www.cityofnapa.org/1113/Local-Roadway-Safety-Plan.