Drivers on Rodeo Drive and a dozen other Business Triangle streets will need to slow down this fall after the Beverly Hills City Council advanced an ordinance Tuesday, Aug. 11, to cut speed limits from 25 to 20 mph across the luxury shopping district.

The reduction covers Bedford, Beverly, Brighton, Camden, Cañon, Clifton, Crescent, Dayton, Linden, Rexford, Rodeo and Roxbury drives, all between North Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard. South Beverly Drive is also included. The city is lowering portions of Benedict Cañon, Doheny, La Cienega, Olympic, North Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards from 35 to 30 mph.

As we reported Aug. 12, the council discussed the speed changes alongside Olympic-related short-term rental rules. This story details the specific streets and timeline for the Business Triangle reductions, also known as the Golden Triangle.

The ordinance returns for a second reading Tuesday, Sept. 1. If approved, new speed limits take effect roughly 30 days later, placing enforcement in early October.

What the survey found

The changes stem from an Engineering and Traffic Survey by consulting firm Fehr & Peers, which evaluated 40 roadway segments on 26 streets covering about 23.5 miles, according to the Beverly Press. The firm found that 85th-percentile speeds exceeded posted limits at roughly 62% of surveyed locations, with an average 85th-percentile speed of about 31 mph.

The Business Triangle qualifies for the lower limit under California's Assembly Bill 43, a 2021 law that lets cities set 20 mph speed limits in areas with concentrated commercial activity, high pedestrian volumes and frequent turning movements. The city's staff report describes the goal as creating a "village" atmosphere for the district's shoppers and pedestrians. The Traffic and Parking Commission voted 5-0 to recommend the changes.

Council split on outreach

Mayor Craig Corman and Councilwoman Rebecca Pynoos backed the reductions. Pynoos said at the Aug. 11 meeting that residents have raised concerns about vehicle speeds near children and older adults.

"Whether people wanted safety for their children or older adults walking who were worried about getting clipped by cars, I think obviously we have the ability to do this with state law and I fully support it," Pynoos said.

Councilwoman Sharona Nazarian supported traffic calming in principle but questioned whether the city had done enough community outreach. Transportation Manager Jessie Holzer Carpenter confirmed the public was not directly notified ahead of the Aug. 11 meeting, though the commission had considered the proposal at a prior public session.

Corman acknowledged the concern, saying the changes "are going to measurably change the way people drive in our city" and that the city needs to "get a lot better at communicating these changes to the community."

Sunset stays at 35 mph

One notable carve-out: Sunset Boulevard will remain at 35 mph. Staff had proposed lowering the eastern segment to 30 mph, but Corman raised concerns that a split limit could create a speed trap. The western segment recorded an 85th-percentile speed of 42 mph, too high under state guidelines for a reduction. Beverly Hills Police Sgt. Josh Cudworth told the council officers have issued more than 500 speeding citations on Sunset in the past 18 months.

What's next

The ordinance's second reading is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1. Residents can attend the council meeting or submit comments ahead of the hearing. No new city funding is required for signage; the cost is covered by the existing Annual Street Sign and Striping capital improvement budget.