These documents are under the responsibility of different entities, as follows:

1. For traffic-related document such as Engineering and Traffic Surveys, please submit your request by filling out a "REQUEST FOR PUBLIC RECORDS" form located on the City's website.  Please submit the form via email to the City Clerk.  The City Clerk will process the form and submit the request to the Transportation Engineering section for further review.  On the form, please indicate the subject street, nearest cross street limits, and address location of the street.  Please allow 10-14 working days to receive your requested documents.  Absolutely no rush orders will be accepted.  
2. For copies of traffic studies, please contact the Engineering Technician in Development Services at 760-744-1050, extension 3250.  Be prepared to give the name or location of the development project to which the traffic study belongs.  
3. For accident reports, please contact the San Diego Sheriff’s San Marcos station directly at 760-510-5200.  
4. For traffic volume data, please visit the City’s Transportation Engineering webpage for the latest traffic counts.      

The flashing DON'T WALK (or Upraised Hand symbol) signal for pedestrians is similar to a yellow light for vehicles. If a person has already started crossing a street and the flashing DON'T WALK light appears, this flashing light is timed to be long enough to allow pedestrians to cross the entire street. If the flashing DON'T WALK signal appears and a person has not yet started to cross the street, they should wait for the next WALK (or Walking Man symbol) light. At most intersections, the WALK signal will not appear unless the pedestrian signal call-button is pushed.

The best way to report traffic signal problems is through the City’s online reporting system. You may also call the City’s Streets Division at 760-752-7550.  Be prepared to give detailed information on the location and type of sign, and include your contact information if you would like a follow-up call.

During non-business hours, if a malfunctioning light is creating a traffic hazard, please contact the San Diego Sheriff’s station at 760-510-5200.

The City’s Traffic Engineering Division’s response time depends on current workload, but we aim to respond to citizen requests as quickly as we can, usually within 24 hours. We do our utmost to investigate the request and implement changes within a few days.

1. If it is an emergency, please call 911.

2. If the traffic signal is located at the intersection of the 78 freeway ramp with a local street (such as Nordhal Rd., Barham Dr., Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos Blvd., Grand Ave./Las Posas Rd., or Rancho Santa Fe Rd.,) please contact CALTRANS at 619-688-6699 or visit their website at www.dot.ca.gov.

3. If not an emergency nor a CALTRANS traffic signal, residents may call the Traffic Engineering Division at 760-744-1050; Ext. 3219, or use the City’s convenient online reporting system.

Traffic signals are installed based on state and national standards found in the “California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.”  An intersection must meet certain criteria /warrants before installation of a new traffic signal can take place. Warrants are primarily based on volume of conflicting traffic, number of pedestrians and collision history.

Under the California Vehicle Code, local jurisdictions have the authority to establish speed limits within set guidelines on the basis of Engineering and Traffic Surveys. Such surveys must include an analysis of the roadway conditions, analysis of the collision history, and a sampling of the prevailing speed of traffic. An unreasonable speed limit, which is called a “speed trap,” may not be established.

The method of setting speed limits begins with a survey of the speeds at which motorists travel. The speed limit is typically set at the 85^th percentile speed (the speed at or below which 85 percent of the traffic is moving) rounded to the nearest 5-MPH increment. Roadway conditions that are not apparent to drivers may also be considered.

If speeding problems persist, you may contact the City about investigating the feasibility of “traffic calming measures.”

Traffic calming refers to making changes to a road’s design features to induce reduction in travel speeds. Such measures include narrowing the travel lanes using striping or physical features, extending curbs into the street (bulb-outs), constructing traffic circles or roundabouts, adding a raised median, or possibly alternating parking zones from one side of the street to the other, if such treatments agree with the neighborhood character.  In addition, radar speed feedback trailers can be installed to alert drivers of their speed and to solicit voluntary speed reduction.  You may initiate such a request through the City’s online reporting system.

The City’s Transportation Engineering Division will respond by conducting engineering investigations based on the street’s characteristics and the speeding involved and will identify what appropriate traffic calming measures may be helpful.  These efforts may take considerable time to complete which could be up to three months or longer due to staff's current workload.  Proposed improvements may need to be reviewed by the City's Traffic Commission.