Motorists who use rural roads to avoid the traffic congestion on
Highway 156 might have to slow down soon if county supervisors
decide to decrease the speed limits on three county roads.
Hollister – Motorists who use rural roads to avoid the traffic congestion on Highway 156 might have to slow down soon if county supervisors decide to decrease the speed limits on three county roads.
Complaints from residents and safety concerns voiced by supervisors about people driving too fast on rural roads prompted the Department of Public Works to conduct traffic surveys last month on Anzar, Olympia and Duncan roads. The traffic surveys found that the current 55 mph speed limit for the roads is “unsafe.” On Tuesday Assistant Public Works Director Arman Nazemi suggested that the board amend county traffic law and lower the speed limits on the roads from 55 mph to 50.
The five mile-per-hour decrease in the speed limits would be, “Appropriate, responsible and safe,” Nazemi said.
According to the traffic surveys, a lack of shoulder and recovery zones, utility poles too closely lining the edge of the roads and increased commuter traffic make driving in excess of 50 mph on the roads dangerous.
The board will consider adopting the change at its June 14 meeting.
Supervisors were receptive to the idea of changing the speed limits, and many of them wanted to push the speed limit down even further.
“Why are we only limiting it down to 50 mph?” Supervisor Don Marcus said. “Is it too abrupt to ask for 40 mph?”
According to state traffic regulations, speed limits can only be set at 5 mph below critical speed, which is defined as the speed at which 85 percent of vehicles using a road are traveling, Nazemi said. But, he said, if the speed limit on those roads was decreased too much, most of the people that use the roads would exceed the speed limit.
“We don’t want to force it too low,” Nazemi said. “Then the majority of the public would be in violation.”
If supervisors vote to decrease the speed limit for Anzar, Olympia and Duncan roads, motorists who use the roads will have a 30 day transition period, during which the California Highway patrol will issue warnings to speeders. But after a month, drivers who exceed the new speed limit will face fines.
Supervisor Anthony Botelho was eager to lower the speeds on the three roads that are in his district, and he wanted to add Bixby and Mission Vineyard roads and Lucy Brown Lane to the list.
“I think it’s ludicrous that we have the same speed limits on those roads … as we do on 156,” he said.
Luke Roney covers politics and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
