New Speed Limits Approved For Certain Murrieta Streets

MURRIETA, CA — Every five to 10 years, California cities are required to survey their streets' speed limits, and Murrieta just wrapped up the process on a slew of local roadways. As a result, some local speed limits are changing.

During the Aug. 3 Murrieta City Council meeting, city staff provided an update on its findings from May and June surveys of 35 street segments. Council members unanimously approved all the recommended speed limits, including four roadway segments that did not have prior posted speed limits. Those newly posted areas are:

• Cherry Street, from Adams Avenue to Jefferson Avenue: New posted speed limit is 35 mph
• French Valley Parkway/Interstate 15 southbound off-ramp to Jefferson Avenue: New posted speed limit is 40 mph
• Jerry Allen Lane, from Washington Avenue to Wildwood Lane: New posted speed limit is 30 mph
• Masters Drive, from Hunter Road to Masters Drive: New posted speed limit is 25 mph

Five street segments received an increase in speed limits:

• Alta Murrieta Drive, from Murrieta Hot Springs Road to Whitewood Road: Speed increase from 40 mph to 45 mph
• Baxter Road, from Antelope Road to Whitewood Road: Speed increase from 40 mph to 45 mph
• Jefferson Avenue, from Lemon Street to Nutmeg Street: Speed increase from 40 mph to 45 mph
• Magnolia Street, from Washington Avenue to Adams Avenue: Speed increase from 30 mph to 35 mph
• Washington Avenue, from Kalmia Street to Magnolia Street: Speed increase from 40 to 45 mph

One street segment did get a speed limit reduction:

• Strawberry Lane, from Torrey Pines Road to 300 feet west of Arboretum Way: Speed decrease from 40 mph to 35 mph

The remainder of the surveyed road segments will remain at the current posted limit.

Signs for the new speed limits are being processed. Funding in the amount of $7,250 for sign installations will be pulled from the city's General Fund.

According to the city's Principal Civil Engineer Jeff Hitch, the speed limits are not arbitrary. Instead, California Vehicle Code requires speed limits get assigned based on the speed of the 85th percentile of free-flowing traffic on a given road segment. According to Hitch, there is some leeway if a stretch of road is particularly dangerous, such as tight curves or other hazards.

See all City of Murrieta speed limits here (the blue highlighted street segments show the areas that were recently surveyed):