A speed limit sign along Davenport Road on Friday, July 5, 2024 in Berkeley, New Jersey.
San Diego, California – In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the San Diego City Council approved speed limit reductions on several of the city’s busiest streets as part of its ongoing effort to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. The decision marks a significant step forward in the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
The new policy will lower speed limits from 25 to 20 miles per hour on 17 street segments within 11 corridors, affecting high-traffic neighborhoods such as Ocean Beach, Hillcrest, and North Park.
Maggie McCormick, a transportation department staffer, presented the proposal to the council during its April 22 meeting. “Speed management is a critical component,” McCormick said, explaining that the changes target areas with high pedestrian activity. These segments have been designated as “business activity districts” under Assembly Bill 43, a state law that gives cities more flexibility to lower speed limits in specific zones.
The department reviewed 38 areas across the city for eligibility but found that fewer than half met the state’s criteria. Among the streets selected for the new 20 mph limit are San Diego Avenue between Noell and Pringle Streets, Congress Street from Twiggs to Harney Street, and Newport Avenue from Abbott Street to Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Additional affected corridors include stretches of Santa Monica Avenue, Bacon Street, Mission Boulevard, University Avenue, Adams Avenue, 30th Street, El Cajon Boulevard, and Washington Street.
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who represents District 3, voiced strong support for the change. “We often see lots of pedestrians and bicyclists in these areas, and, unfortunately, we see too many crashes as well,” he said. “Reducing speed limits will reduce the number of crashes and reduce their severity.”
District 7 Councilmember Raul Campillo echoed that sentiment, noting the life-saving impact of even small reductions in speed. “Research shows just how important each mile per hour is and how it can determine the difference between life and death,” he said.
Still, not everyone is convinced the new limits will bring meaningful change. North Park resident and aspiring urban planner Ann Rios expressed doubt about how effective enforcement will be. “There’s a lot more that can be done. Drivers don’t follow the speed limit anyway… It’s not going to do much to people who see open road and think, ‘I’m going to go fast.’”
The speed limit reductions are expected to be implemented this summer. According to McCormick, this initiative marks the beginning of a larger effort, with more street segments likely to be evaluated for similar changes in early 2026.
