NEW ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC STUDY UNDERWAY THIS WEEK

Lake Los Angeles – 170th Street East Speed and Traffic Study – Los Angeles County Public Works is conducting an Engineering and Traffic Survey on 170th Street East to establish a speed limit. The traffic counters placed there this week are for that. The limit of the study is Avenue J to Palmdale Boulevard. The study has been launched to gather data on number of vehicles and speeds of each.

On March 4, 2026, my request for a study was submitted. Public Works said at that time they won’t know how the change might be used on local roads until the next version of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) comes out.

• The speed limit set after the data is analyzed is 85% of the AVERAGE speed which can be a real shot in the dark, except, Public Works applies practicality as well as data to their process.

• Two main points: 1) AB 43 doesn’t get rid of using the 85th percentile speed as the initial basis for the setting of a speed limit. 2) AB43 introduces additional ways to take further reductions from the rounded 85th percentile speed.

• Rest assured, the speed limit will not be higher. When setting the average is ruled down and there is a case to make for lowering the speed limits.

CalSTA issued a report on the findings of AB2363 – Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force, January 2020. The task force was formed to explore other ways of reducing traffic fatalities and alternate methods to the antiquated existing policy, one size fits all.

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) is a cabinet-level agency focused solely on addressing the state’s transportation issues.

See: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB2363 which calls for the purposes and requirements of legislation to develop policies to reduce traffic fatalities to zero.

It is a 73-page report including sections on the 85th percentile speed methodology and adjusting speed limits from the 85th percentile speeds plus alternative to the 85th percentile existing policies. It was signed into law October 8, 2021.

The County has been using the active provisions of Assembly Bill 43 to complete Engineering and Traffic Surveys to establish (or renew) the radar enforceable speed limits on unincorporated County roadways. These active provisions have been most helpful in maintaining the existing speed limits or extending Engineering and Traffic Surveys. There are some provisions of Assembly Bill 43 that could help reduce speed limits but were not usable yet. These remaining provisions will be considered when conducting future Engineering and Traffic Surveys when the provisions were expected to become active by June 30, 2024. Considering the municipalities and state laws that have to enter this into their local traffic laws, it can and as expected, probably will take longer, and I did.

It is important to note that there is a common misconception that the 85th percentile speed is no longer being considered when setting speed limits after Assembly Bill 43. This is not quite accurate and the 85th percentile speed remains as the primary factor and starting point toward establishing the posted speed limit when using an Engineering and Traffic Survey. However, Assembly Bill 43 does provide local jurisdictions, like the County, with more flexibility to consider reductions from the measured 85th percentile speed when establishing the posted speed limit. This increased flexibility may allow for the posting of reduced speed limits as Engineering and Traffic Surveys are up for renewal or new ones are completed for a roadway for the first time.

It appears the target date to “get things done” and be active was June 2024. It dragged on past that time limit.

At that time in March 2026, determining the exact status of speed limit adjustments for 170th Street East was challenging. While data collection efforts and studies are underway, and legislative changes such as Assembly Bill 43 have introduced increased flexibility for local jurisdictions, the overall process still involves multiple steps and considerations. The 85th percentile speed remains a significant factor, but it is possible additional provisions that could further reduce speed limits were not yet fully implemented. As such, the final outcome regarding any changes to the posted speed limits was not entirely clear at this stage.

However, County has offered if there is a particular roadway that LLA residents would like for the County to look into, we can let County know and PW would take a look to see what may be considered.

I have no doubt our request for lower speed on 170th Street East is reasonable, is achievable and would be supported wholly by CHP and LASD.

I would also request County to slow down the traffic by our schools.