TAC recommends radar enforcement on Camino Del Rey - Recertification recommended for Hutchison, Brooke, Reche

The July 26 meeting of the county’s Traffic Advisory Committee included a unanimous recommendation to certify the 50 mph speed limit on a 1.7-mile section of Camino Del Rey for radar enforcement.

The TAC also recommended that segments of Hutchison Street, Brooke Road, and Reche Road be recertified for radar enforcement. The recommendations are scheduled to be heard by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on September 25; the supervisors can ratify, modify, or reject the TAC recommendations.

Camino Del Rey from State Route 76 to Via Maria Elena already had a posted 50 mph speed limit; the area also includes a school zone where the speed limit is 25 mph if children are present. Certification for radar use is not needed to enforce the speed limit in a school zone, but in order for a non-automatic speed limit to be enforceable by radar a speed survey must show that the speed limit is within the closest 5 mph increment to the 85th percentile speed. The speed limit may be rounded down.

Complaints from local residents and law enforcement agencies caused the Camino Del Rey speed limit to be reviewed for radar enforcement. “The Highway Patrol agreed it meets their agency’s criteria for the use of radar,” said TAC secretary Kenton Jones.

Camino Del Rey is a striped two-lane through highway varying in width from 30 to 64 feet. Bicycle lanes exist along each side of the roadway, which is classified as a Boulevard/Light Collector on the Mobility Element of the county’s general plan.

An October 2012 traffic survey east of Camino Del Cielo indicated a two-way average daily volume of 4,570 vehicles. The previous traffic survey was taken east of West Lilac Road in August 1994 and resulted in an average volume of 6,040 vehicles. A November 1990 survey east of West Lilac Road produced an average volume of 5,310 vehicles. During the 64-month period from January 1, 2008, to April 30, 2013, Camino Del Rey between Highway 76 and Via Maria Elena had 35 reported collisions, including 24 which involved injury and one with a fatality.

The previous speed survey on Camino Del Rey was taken 1,080 feet west of Mile Post 1 in 1994. The 85th percentile speed at that time was 56.4 mph with 59.2 percent of drivers within a 10 mph pace of 45-54 mph.

On June 5, 2013, a speed survey was taken 1,000 feet east of Camino Del Cielo. The survey taken between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. measured the speeds of 323 vehicles. The 85th percentile was 52.0 mph with 71.0 percent of drivers within a 42-51 mph pace. “It fell in line,” Jones said.

The most common speed, with 33 motorists, was 47 mph while the next most frequently traveled speed was 48 mph with 30 motorists. The slowest driver crossed the measurement location at 35 mph while the fastest motorist had a speed of 64 mph.

Periodic recertification, along with a supporting speed survey, is required for continued radar enforcement. The county’s Department of Public Works conducts speed surveys on a radar-enforceable road segment every seven years.

The 40 mph Hutchison Street speed limit recommended for recertification covers 0.68 miles between East Vista Way and Harris Drive. Hutchison Street is a striped two-lane roadway varying in width from 24 to 36 feet. The road is not classified on the Mobility Element.

The June 2013 traffic survey west of East Vista Way indicated a two-way average daily volume of 1,600 vehicles. An April 2002 survey at that location produced an average volume of 1,670 vehicles. In August 1999 a traffic survey east of Harris Drive showed a two-way average volume of 940 vehicles. No collisions along that segment of Hutchison Street were reported between January 1, 2008, and April 30, 2013.

The 2006 speed survey 150 feet east of Via Vista Del Rio had an 85th percentile of 37.5 mph with 68.0 percent of vehicles within a 29-38 mph pace. The June 5, 2013, speed survey at that location was taken between 11:15 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. and involved 119 vehicles with an 85th percentile of 40.0 mph and 66.0 percent within a 30-39 mph pace. Fifteen vehicles made 35 mph the most common speed while two vehicles at 47 mph were the fastest and three motorists made 22 mph the lowest speed.

The 45 mph speed limit on Brooke Road recommended for recertification covers 0.72 miles from Stage Coach Lane to Winter Haven Road. The striped two-lane roadway is between 25 and 32 feet wide with edge striping on both sides and is not classified on the Mobility Element.

The April 2013 traffic survey south of Stage Coach Lane provided a two-way average daily volume of 2,800 vehicles. The average volumes at that location were 3,380 vehicles in November 2004 and 4,130 vehicles in May 1999. Between January 1, 2008, and April 30, 2013, the segment of roadway had four reported collisions, none of which involved injury.

The speed survey was taken 70 feet east of Rancho Mia. In 2006 the 85th percentile was 49.9 mph with 64.9 percent of drivers within a 39-48 mph pace. The May 21, 2013, speed survey between 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. measured 201 vehicles whose 85th percentile was 49.1 mph with 67.6 percent within a 40-49 mph pace. The 17 motorists at 41 mph made that the most frequent speed while 16 motorists apiece traveled at 43, 44, and 45 mph. Three drivers made 54 mph the fastest speed while two drivers at 30 mph were the slowest.

Reche Road has a 40 mph speed limit between Live Oak Park Road and Via Vista, which is a stretch of 0.68 miles. The striped two-lane through highway with edge striping on both sides varies in width from 24 to 35 feet and is classified as a Light Collector on the Mobility Element.

A June 2013 traffic survey east of Live Oak Park Road revealed a two-way average daily volume of 10,800 vehicles. The April 2006 survey west of Gird Road produced an average volume of 11,230 vehicles while the April 2002 survey west of Gird Road indicated an average volume of 11,190 vehicles. The 37 collisions on that segment between January 1, 2008, and April 30, 2013, included 17 with injuries.

The speed surveys were taken 1,180 feet east of Live Oak Park Road. The 2006 speed survey had an 85th percentile of 40.7 mph with 87.0 percent of drivers within a 33-42 mph pace. On June 4, 2013, a total of 530 vehicles crossed that location between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The 85th percentile was 43.5 mph with 83.2 percent within a 36-45 mph pace. Two speeds, 40 mph and 42 mph, were the most common with 61 drivers apiece while 59 vehicles were traveling at 41 mph. The motorist at 53 mph was the fastest while the slowest driver traveled 30 mph.