Traffic Engineering Investigations

Preferential Permit Parking/Residential – Resident Exempt “T District” NEW!
For additional information about the T District parking program, please click (here).Preferential Permit Parking Districts

Parking Restrictions: Commercial & Business areas – New, Modify Existing

There may be a need to install, modify, or remove parking restrictions along a block to accommodate the needs of the business or residential community, and as part of this investigation process, a petition is required to be circulated to those affected.

STOP signs formally notify drivers of a required stop that other drivers must make and yield the right of way to for intersecting traffic.Motorists facing a STOP sign are required to stop at the marked stop line (or before entering a crosswalk or encroaching into an intersection, if a stop line is not painted). California Vehicle Code 21802 then requires the driver to yield the right of way to any vehicle within the intersection or approaching it so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard. Drivers are also to yield the right of way to pedestrians in the intersection’s crosswalks.

STOP signs are not used simply to control the speed of vehicles. Research has shown that STOP signs are not as effective in reducing vehicle speeds as traffic calming measures and placing signs where they do not meet warrants can result in higher speeds between intersections.
The Pasadena Department of Transportation (1) conducts an investigation of traffic conditions at an intersection and (2) performs a warrant analysis of the data to determine whether an installation of STOP signs is necessary based on the state guidelines established in the traffic manual. Factors that are taken into consideration for the warrant analysis include, but are not limited to:

• Traffic volumes (vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists)
• Visibility at intersection
• Type of area (residential, business, recreational, etc.)
• Collision history
• Distance from other traffic control devices
• Proximity to a school

How to Request an Investigation for Additional STOP Signs

Contact the Citizen Service Center for any parking, transit, & traffic related questions or problems: 626-744-7311 or submit a request online.

All Cities base their speed regulations on the Basic Speed Law (California Vehicle Code 22350). Local authorities have the authority to establish speed limits on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey. (CVC 22358) All streets that are not classified as “local” street require an engineering and traffic survey before a speed limit can be establish. All local streets have a “prima facie limit” of 25 MPH.Speed Limits Brochure – PDF

Engineering and Traffic Survey

An engineering and traffic survey is used to establish speed limits based on criteria provided in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), Chapter 2, Section 2B.13 and the California Vehicle Code. Speed surveys are conducted for streets where the prima facie speed limit would not be applicable. In these cases, the speed limits vary by characteristics of the roadway, adjacent land features, traffic collision history, and the prevailing speed of vehicles traveling on the roadway.

You may also contact the City of Pasadena Department of Transportation – Traffic Division if you have questions about how speed limits are established or to request a copy of the engineering and traffic survey for a certain street.

Driver Speed Feedback Signs

As part of the City of Pasadena’s “Arterial Speed Management Program”, the City has a program to install Electronic Speed feedback signs along certain arterials in the City. The Electronic Speed feedback signs alert motorists to let them know how fast they are driving.

Subject to funding availability, the City usually plans to install 2-4 signs annually. For the streets to qualify, the street must be an arterial or collector with documented speeding issues as evidenced by higher operating speeds above the posted speed limits. The street must meet the minimum traffic volume of at least 2,500 vehicles per day for 2 to 3 lane streets, and 5,000 vehicles per day for 4 or more lane arterial streets. It must be on a street segment with at least ¼ mile long of uninterrupted section with no traffic controls such as stop signs or traffic signals. Street segments that meet these criteria will be added to a waiting list and the sign will be installed once funding is available. If there are more qualified locations than available funding, priority will be given based on the combination of the degree of speeding, road safety records and traffic volume.

If your street did not meet these criteria, other speed management tools can be explored in the Arterial Speed Management Program.

View the Arterial Speed Management Report (PDF)

View the Speed Limit Map (PDF)

Speed Limit Radar Trailer

There are times when people don’t realize that they are driving too fast and just need to be reminded of their vehicle speed habits. The Pasadena Police Department may place the radar trailer on streets where residents and business owners call to report possible speeding issues. The trailer displays the posted speed limit then measures your speed and gives you the information by displaying it under the area indicated by “Your Speed.” The trailer provides valuable information to the driver and stores data regarding speed and time of day that can be used later by the Police Department for enforcement and safety issues and the Transportation Department for planning and safety purposes. Visit the Pasadena Police Department to learn more.

If you would like to report a speeding problem in your neighborhood, please call (626) 744-4590.

Pasadena Municipal Code 10.40.120, provides an overview of standard days and times for loading zones, green zones, and white passenger loading zones.

• Safety at Intersections/Sight distance Red Curb
• Commercial Loading Zone – yellow zone
• Time Limited Green Zone – green zone
• Passenger Loading Zone – white zone

Red Zone

The most restrictive of painted curbs, red zone means no stopping, standing, or parking at any time.

Yellow Zone

Yellow means no stopping, standing or parking at any time between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. of any day except Sundays for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials, provided that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than 3 minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than 20 minutes.

Green Zone

Green means no standing or parking for longer than 15 minutes at any time between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. of any day except Sundays unless otherwise posted.”

White Zone

White means no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose, other than loading or unloading of passengers which does not exceed 3 minutes. Such restrictions shall apply every day between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. except Sundays, etc.

The Traffic Operations Division of the Department of Transportation is responsible for the review and approval of new sign installations citywide. Below are some typical signs:

• Yellow/Orange Warning/Temporary
• Green Guide
• Red/Black/White Regulatory

Uncontrolled at an intersection

Per C.V.C., intersections with or without traffic control devices, are considered legal crossing points. Drivers must give right of way to pedestrians crossing at an intersection but pedestrians must also do their part in crossing in a safe manner. Investigations requesting the installation of a new crosswalk must also undergo an in depth analysis. As part of the analysis, pedestrian crossing counts are conducted as well as a field review of the proposed crossing location.

• In the Uncontrolled crosswalk section, add the following text:
  • Factors to be considered when reviewing the possibility of installing a marked crosswalk at location that is currently unmarked include:
    • Pedestrian Volumes
    • Proximity of Crosswalk to nearest marked or controlled crosswalk
    • Proximity of Pedestrian Generators
    • Traffic Volumes
    • Traffic Speeds

School zones

Crosswalk in school zones receive special attention, due to high volumes of children that cross at these locations. Crosswalks in school zones are painted yellow to further emphasize the unique nature of these crossings. Learn More