Safe Streets for Schools

Citywide School Traffic Calming Improvement Project

Bringing safer speeds to South San Francisco

The City of South San Francisco is committed to improving safety for children, families, and the entire community by reducing vehicle speeds in school areas. This initiative supports the City’s Vision Zero goals and Local Road Safety Plan priorities.

Project Highlights 

• Phase 1 complete: 15 MPH school-zone speed limits established where eligible and signed/posted.
• Phase 2 started: $150,000 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program focused on improving driver compliance with new posted speeds near schools.
• New radar speed trailers will be used to alert motorists of their speeds in new zones.
• Data analysis of speed trailer effectiveness, and potential for permanent feedback signs.

Overview

Safe Streets for Schools is a multi-phase school-zone safety initiative. After completing Phase 1 (school-zone speed limit reductions), the City is launching Phase 2 to improve driver compliance with the new speeds through targeted education, outreach, speed-feedback equipment, and performance monitoring near schools.

Phase 1 – Reducing School-Zone Speed Limits (Completed)

Under state regulations, local jurisdictions may establish 15 MPH school-zone speed limits in eligible locations within 500 feet of schools. Phase 1 implemented these reduced school-zone speed limits where applicable as a foundational step toward safer streets for students and families.

Phase 2 – Improving Speed Compliance (In Progress)

Phase 2 focuses on increasing driver awareness and compliance with the new 15 MPH school-zone speeds, particularly near schools and along primary walking/biking routes.

Project Goals

• Use measurable speed data to guide future safety recommendations and investments.
• Improve safety for students walking and biking to school.
• Reduce speeding in school zones and nearby corridors.
• Increase community awareness of new 15 MPH school-zone speed limits.

Background

California law allows local jurisdictions to reduce posted speed limits near schools to improve safety for children walking and biking. Under the California Vehicle Code, cities may establish 15 MPH speed limits within 500 feet of a school when children are present, provided specific eligibility and signage requirements are met.

Recent updates to state law expanded local authority to implement lower school-zone speed limits as a proactive safety measure, rather than waiting for a history of collisions. These changes recognize that lower vehicle speeds significantly reduce the likelihood and severity of injuries in crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly children.

In response, the City of South San Francisco evaluated eligible school locations citywide and implemented reduced 15 MPH school-zone speed limits where allowed by law. These reductions are a foundational step toward creating safer school environments and are supported by the City’s Vision Zero commitment and Local Road Safety Plan, which prioritize speed management as one of the most effective tools for preventing serious injuries and fatalities.

Reducing posted speed limits alone, however, does not automatically result in lower driving speeds. For this reason, the City is advancing Phase 2 of the Safe Streets for Schools program, which focuses on improving driver awareness and compliance with the new school-zone speeds through education, outreach, and speed-feedback tools.

Scope of Work (Phase 2)

Phase 2 of the Safe Streets for Schools program focuses on improving driver compliance with newly implemented 15 MPH school-zone speed limits through education, outreach, and speed-feedback tools.

Grant-funded activities include:

• Purchase and deployment of radar speed feedback trailers at priority school-zone locations to increase driver awareness of actual travel speeds.
• Rotating placement of radar speed feedback trailers near schools to maintain effectiveness and address multiple locations citywide.
• Installation of up to 150 traffic-safety yard signs near schools and along key walking and bicycling routes to reinforce school-zone speed limits and safe driving behaviors.
• Coordination with schools, Safe Routes to School partners, and community stakeholders to support outreach and implementation.
• Collection and evaluation of speed data to assess effectiveness and inform future school-area safety improvements.

Figure 1: Map showing targeted school zone locations, including All Souls Catholic School (private), Alta Loma Middle School, Baden High School, Buri Buri Elementary School, El Camino High School, Los Cerritos Elementary School, Martin Elementary School, Monte Verde Elementary School, Parkway Heights Middle School, Ponderosa Elementary School, Saint Veronica Catholic School (private), South San Francisco High School, and Spruce Elementary School.

Schedule

Work on Phase 2 began in October of 2025 and will conclude in September of 2026.

Funding

Funding for this program was provided by a $150,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Community Engagement

Community input helps prioritize locations and improve effectiveness. Engagement activities include coordination with school communities, Safe Routes to School partners, and ongoing updates posted to this page as Phase 2 progresses.

Yard Signs

Want to show your support for safer streets?
Email engineering@ssfca.gov to request a free 24” x 18” yard sign. Please include your full name and home address.

 Figure 2: Yard sign graphics.

Contact Us

Project Manager: John Wilson, Senior Civil Engineer - (650) 877-8511

Contact details