AB413 Daylighting Law - Engineering Division

Overview:

The AB413 Daylighting Law, effective January 2025, requires cities to clear street corners, intersections, and other critical areas of obstructions to ensure visibility for drivers and pedestrians. This new law aims to enhance safety, particularly in areas with high foot traffic or near schools, parks, and transit hubs.

What We Are Doing:

The City of South San Francisco Engineering Division is actively working to implement AB413 by identifying and removing obstructions that block visibility at critical intersections throughout the city. This includes:

• Surveying existing intersections for compliance.
• Collaborating with the Police Department for enforcement and public education.
• Utilizing GIS technology to map out areas requiring improvements.
• Coordinating with local businesses, residents, and organizations to ensure areas are kept clear.

Our goal is to make South San Francisco safer by ensuring that all drivers and pedestrians have the visibility they need to navigate streets safely.

GIS Map:

Here is a GIS map showing the intersections and street corners currently under review for daylighting, and those that are in the process of being cleared. Click on the map HERE to explore specific areas and learn more about planned improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. What is AB413 Daylighting Law? AB413 modifies the California Vehicle Code by adding a new requirement that cars can’t park too close to crosswalks to improve visibility and safety for both drivers and pedestrians.

3. How will the City enforce this law? The City of South San Francisco’s Engineering Division, in partnership with the Police Department, will monitor and enforce compliance. We are also working on public awareness campaigns to ensure that residents and businesses understand the importance of keeping these areas clear.

4. Does daylighting remove parking spaces? Daylighting does not remove legal parking spaces. It prevents or emphasizes areas where it is illegal to park by state and city law.

5. Which intersections are being affected in South San Francisco? All intersections in the State of California are impacted by this new law.

6. Where has daylighting been done in the City? Many locations around the City have already implemented daylighting treatments either as part of a capital improvement project or as requested by residents. Curb extensions (bulb outs) are normally considered as part of "complete streets" projects, and often include vegetated stormwater facilities, bus stops, or bike parking. In many locations, the presence of a driveway, red curb, or no-parking signs enhance the parking restriction. Still, there are many locations that do not include physical elements, signs, or markings.

7. How did the City select locations to daylight?

As part of a consistent and incremental approach, enhancements to the new intersection daylighting law were selected based on several factors, including:

• Located along the High Injury Network, as identified in the City's General Plan.
• Located near a school, typically at yellow school crossings.
• Located near an adult care facility.

The City will be monitoring compliance, reviewing new crashes, considering feedback from residents, and reviewing budgets before expanding the enhancements to other locations. If you have a specific location that you feel would benefit from adding intersection daylighting, you may submit a request for review to the Traffic Advisory Committee HERE.

8. How does the City notify the public about daylighting improvements? Public notice was not given to immediate neighbors for installation of this infrastructure because it does not require road closure or removal of legal parking spaces, and can be completed in a relatively short period of time. The City has mailed flyers to all residents in the City explaining the new law and the general plan for adding enhancements.

9. Why do the lengths of daylighting different in some areas?

The current standards regarding on-street parking are outlined in revision 8 of the California Manual of Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD recommends 30-foot no parking zones in advance of signalized intersections (see below excerpt). In some cases, roadway geometry can require parking removal to provide adequate sight distance for drivers to detect hazards with enough time to safely stop. The City follows current standards and engineering best practices as part of improvements or modifications to public streets.

10. How can I get more information on enforcement? For details about enforcement and how the Police Department is supporting this initiative, visit the Police Department’s page HERE.

For further inquiries, please reach out to the Engineering Division at (650)829-6652.

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