E 4th Ave, S Delaware St to S Idaho St
On E 4th Ave between S Delaware St and S Idaho St, the limit is 30. Half of drivers go faster than 25; the fastest 15% go faster than 29.
- Current limit
- 30 mph
- Proposed
- 25 mph
- Lowest legal option
- 20 mph
What state law allows here
For a person walking, the average risk of death is about 10% if struck at 23 mph and about 25% if struck at 32 mph. These are impact speeds, the speed at the moment of the crash (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Tefft 2011).
Options for arterials like this one
The survey classifies this segment as a minor arterial. Typical effects, from federal research:
- Pedestrian refuge island: up to 56% fewer pedestrian crashes (FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures, FHWA-SA-21-044). FHWA suggests them on multilane streets with more than 9,000 vehicles a day or speeds of 35 mph or more.
- Flashing beacon at a crosswalk (RRFB): up to 47% fewer pedestrian crashes at uncontrolled marked crosswalks (FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures, FHWA-SA-21-053).
- Leading pedestrian interval: a few seconds' head start on the walk signal: 13% fewer pedestrian-vehicle crashes at intersections (FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures, FHWA-SA-21-032).
- High-visibility crosswalk and lighting: up to 40% fewer pedestrian injury crashes for the crosswalk markings, and up to 42% fewer pedestrian crashes for intersection lighting (FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures, FHWA-SA-21-049).
- Four lanes to three (road diet): 19% to 47% fewer crashes overall, usually on streets carrying 25,000 vehicles a day or fewer (FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures, FHWA-SA-21-046).
The city's 2006 traffic calming policy does not allow speed humps, traffic circles or other physical calming devices on collectors or arterials, so changes on these streets come through city street projects. The city's Local Roadway Safety Plan lists its priorities. For reference, this segment does not pass the policy's speed test: the fastest 15% go 1 mph under the limit, and the test is more than 7. The survey doesn't measure cut-through traffic, so the policy's volume test can't be checked here.
Ask the city
This opens an email to Deputy Mayor Fernandez (District 2), Council Member Newsom (District 3) and Jay Yu, Engineering Manager, with this street's numbers filled in. There's a blank line for a sentence of your own.
Dear Deputy Mayor Fernandez, Council Member Newsom and Engineering Manager Yu,
The city's 2026 speed survey measured traffic on E 4th Ave between S Delaware St and S Idaho St on March 26, 2026. The limit there is 30 mph. Half of drivers went faster than 25 mph, and the fastest 15% went faster than 29 mph. The survey proposes lowering the limit to 25 mph.
State law would allow a limit as low as 20 mph on this street, with an additional 5 mph reduction, if it qualifies as a safety corridor or as a street near places that draw many people walking or biking (Vehicle Code 22358.7).
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Will the city set the lowest limit state law allows on this street?
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