Beverly Hills Advances Lower Speed Limits Across City

Drivers could soon see lower speed limits across Beverly Hills after the City Council advanced an ordinance Aug. 11 reducing posted speeds on numerous streets throughout the city.

The most significant changes would come in the Business Triangle, where portions of Bedford Drive, Beverly Drive, Brighton Way, Camden Drive, Cañon Drive, Clifton Way, Crescent Drive, Dayton Way, Linden Drive, Rexford Drive, Rodeo Drive and Roxbury Drive would drop from 25 mph to 20 mph. South Beverly Drive would also be reduced to 20 mph.

Several larger roadways would move from 35 mph to 30 mph, including portions of Benedict Cañon Drive, Doheny Drive, La Cienega Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, North Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard.

The recommendations follow an Engineering and Traffic Survey conducted by transportation consulting firm Fehr & Peers. The study evaluated 40 roadway segments on 26 streets covering approximately 23.5 miles and found that the speed at or below which 85% of motorists were traveling exceeded the existing posted limit at approximately 62% of surveyed locations.

Changes in state law under Assembly Bill 43 give cities greater flexibility to reduce speed limits based on factors beyond the traditional 85th-percentile calculation, including pedestrian activity, business districts and roadway safety conditions. City staff said the new authority allows Beverly Hills to address what had previously been described as "speed creep," where increasingly faster traffic could ultimately force posted limits upward.

One recommendation changed during the Council's discussion. Staff had proposed reducing Sunset Boulevard to 30 mph east of Alpine Drive while keeping the western portion at 35 mph. Councilmembers expressed concern that having two different limits on the boulevard could create confusion, and Sunset is now expected to remain at 35 mph throughout Beverly Hills.

The Traffic and Parking Commission previously voted 5-0 in support of the proposed reductions, including the addition of South Beverly Drive.

The ordinance was introduced on first reading and is scheduled to return to the City Council Sept. 1. If adopted on second reading, the new limits would take effect approximately 30 days later. Funding for replacement speed-limit signs is already available through the city's existing street sign and striping budget.