Agency looks to possibly change 35 mph speed limit
Transportation officials plan to monitor driving habits on the
Hwy. 25 bypass over the next year to potentially change the 35 mph
speed limit they contend fits in line with state standards for that
kind of road.
Agency looks to possibly change 35 mph speed limit
Transportation officials plan to monitor driving habits on the Hwy. 25 bypass over the next year to potentially change the 35 mph speed limit they contend fits in line with state standards for that kind of road.
The Council of San Benito County Governments currently has jurisdiction over the 2.4-mile bypass, but estimates that in 14 to 18 months the agency will hand it over to Caltrans.
As a precursor, COG is conducting a speed survey and traffic counts to determine what changes might be appropriate before that transfer, which will coincide with the city taking over jurisdiction of San Benito Street and Tres Pinos Road, or the old bypass.
Lisa Rheinheimer, COG’s executive director, recognized the agency is doing those studies but she was hesitant to discuss details because the agency does not “want people to change their driving behavior because they know.”
She went on, in general: “We’re going to be monitoring the traffic conditions over the next year as part of the route transfer process.”
She stressed, however, that no speed limit change would take effect until all involved agencies ï€ the city, county and state ï€ have agreed to it.
County Supervisor Pat Loe, whose District 3 includes a large portion of the new bypass, acknowledged that she had heard some locals “talking about” the 35 mph speed limit at times. She said it is important to prevent creating speed traps and to set the limit at a “realistic level.”
“It’s hard to stay within the speed limit on that road,” she said.
