By Jonathan Friedman
Associate Editor

May 22, 2014 -- Santa Monica residents and visitors as well as those just passing through might have to go easier on the gas pedal. City staff has proposed a reduction to the speed limit for six segments of the city and setting a 15 mph maximum for 18 areas near local schools on days they are in session.

The proposal also calls for speed limit signs in some areas that don’t have them. The City Council will consider these recommendations at its meeting next Tuesday.

Recommended for speed limit reductions are Olympic Boulevard between 20th Street and the east city limit (45 mph to 40 mph), Ocean Park Boulevard between 14th and 23rd streets (35 mph to 30 mph), Fourth Street between Wilshire and Pico boulevards (30 mph to 25 mph), Fifth Street between Wilshire and Olympic boulevards (30 mph to 25 mph), Montana Avenue between Seventh and 14th streets (30 mph to 25 mph) and Santa Monica Boulevard  between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard (30 mph to 25 mph).

The 15mph limit will be introduced to 18 areas “less than 500 feet from or passing a school building or grounds,” according to the staff report. This includes areas near all of Santa Monica’s public schools.

These recommendations are based on an engineering and traffic survey conducted late last year for the City by consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates. The staff report says the proposed new limits would put those street segments in consistency with adjacent areas or similar areas.