Thanks to California State Assembly Bill 43 (AB 43), the City of San José has reduced speed limits on some streets in business activity districts. Speeding is the top known cause of fatal and severe injury crashes in San José and we are using all tools at our disposal to bring top speeds down.

The new law gives local governments more discretion to set speed limits in certain cases. The ability to lower speeds in business activity districts is the first phase of the law’s implementation.

New signs reflecting the reduced speed limits have been installed in the following areas:

• Downtown:
  • Santa Clara St. (Almaden Avenue – Fifth Street)
  • Almaden Ave (St. John Steet – Santa Clara Street)
  • Post St. (Market Street – First Street)
• Calle Willow: Willow Street (Palm Street – Almaden Avenue)
• Evergreen Village Square
• Japantown: Jackson Street (Third Street – Seventh Street)

Lower speeds will make the business districts safer and quieter. And they will hopefully help local businesses catch the eyes of a few more customers as they pass through the area more slowly.

Future Speed Reduction

Lowering speeds in business activity districts is the first step allowed under the new law. Over the next year and a half, AB 43 provisions will also allow cities to start adjusting speed limits on other, larger streets. By June 2024, local jurisdictions will be able to reduce speed limits by an additional 5 mph beyond current law on higher-speed streets that meet certain criteria based on safety needs. Caltrans is still developing criteria for those faster streets. When they are announced, we will assess our high-injury streets, including our Vision Zero Priority Safety Corridors, and reduce speed limits where appropriate.