The City strives to be proactive in improving traffic safety and is conducting a study to review traffic speeds in San Rafael as part of the next E&TS update in 2025. The project is being conducted in two phases. Starting with the downtown area, Phase 1 of the study will identify roadway corridors that can benefit from reduced speed limits based on evaluation of the built environment, collision history, and roadway usage. Roadway corridors in downtown that are deemed appropriate to have lower speed limits was presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on October 2, 2024 and to the Police Advisory and Accountability Committee on January 15, 2025 for feedback. The Phase 1 speed limit reductions were adopted by City Council on February 18, 2025.
In Phase 2 of the study, the City is evaluating other roadways in San Rafael that would be appropriate and follow the same review and City Council approval process for reduced speed limits described above. Initial Phase 2 results were presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on December 3, 2025, and will be presented to the Police Advisory and Accountability Committee in early 2026 prior to presentation to City Council.
Final speed limits will be incorporated into the City’s E&TS update which will establish the legal basis for speed limit enforcement with the Marin County Superior Court.