SPEED BILL UP FOR SUPPORT CITY WOULD GAIN MORE CONTROL OVER LIMITS.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The Santa Clarita City Council is expected to throw its support behind an Assembly bill that would give local governments greater control over speed limits on local roads.

Assembly Bill 872, introduced by Assemblyman Tony Strickland, R- Camarillo, attempts to slow speeds on some of the state's busiest - and deadliest - streets.

``It's a public safety issue,'' Strickland said. ``Otherwise, local governments are handcuffed.''

If passed by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Gray Davis, the bill would give local jurisdictions the authority to reduce speed limits on thoroughfares specifically designated as urban, divided and limited-access arterial roadways, and set limits 5 mph lower on residential streets, based on housing density and the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.

``The support of the City Council would be greatly appreciated,'' said Keith Jajko, a spokesman for Strickland.

Last year was the deadliest in 14 years on Santa Clarita's city streets, as 16 people were killed.

While Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigators found no pattern to the crashes, several were due to speeding on Soledad Canyon Road and Bouquet Canyon Road, two of Santa Clarita's busiest streets.

``We had an inordinate number of fatalities last year,'' said Mayor Cameron Smyth. ``This bill will force people to slow down.''

The City Council is slated to adopt a resolution of support at its next meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd.

The bill is scheduled to be heard by the full Assembly next week, Jajko said. It has been passed by both the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations.

Under the California Vehicle Code, limits must be set equivalent to the speed at which 85 percent of motorists drive at or below. If it is not, law enforcement agencies are not allowed to use radar to catch speeders.

Earlier this year, the city of Thousand Oaks pressed Strickland to propose the bill after it was forced to raise speed limits on 81 roadways to 50 mph, which officials believed would endanger pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians and city maintenance workers.

In 2000, Santa Clarita faced a similar situation and was forced to raise speed limits on three roads, including Placerita Canyon Road.

At that time, Councilwoman Laurene Weste called the vehicle code a mess and demanded that it be changed to give local cities more flexibility in setting speed limits.