Concerns about safety on the county’s rural roads has county
supervisors ready to reduce the speed limits on five rural roads
often used by commuters to avoid traffic congestion on Highway
156.
Hollister – Concerns about safety on the county’s rural roads has county supervisors ready to reduce the speed limits on five rural roads often used by commuters to avoid traffic congestion on Highway 156.
Supervisors will vote Sept. 6 on proposed speed limit reductions for Bixby, Flint, Freitas, Lucy Brown and Mission Vineyard roads. The five have no posted limits, which means they have a 55 mph speed limit.
If the reductions are approved, speeds on Lucy Brown and Freitas roads will be reduced to 50 mph; Bixby and Mission Vineyard roads to 45 mph; and Flint Road to 35 mph.
“I see hundreds of people working out there. There have been accidents that haven’t been reported – it’s a miracle someone hasn’t been run over,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho, who represents District 2, where the roads are located.
Agricultural activity, such as tractors and workers; lack of shoulder space; increased commuter traffic; and the close proximity of utility poles to the roads were all cited by Assistant Public Works Director Arman Nazemi as reasons to decrease speed limits on the five roads.
During a discussion about the proposed reductions during Tuesday’s board meeting, no one voiced any objections to the changes. Supervisor Don Marcus said he was in favor of reducing the speed limits even further on some of the roads. Botelho suggested reducing all speed limits on rural roads uniformly to 45 mph.
State traffic regulations dictate that speed limits may be set only 5 mph below the critical speed, which is defined as the speed at which 85 percent of vehicles using the road are traveling.
Earlier this month, the public works department conducted traffic studies on the roads to determine the critical speed. Bixby was measured at 48 mph; Flint at 43; Lucy Brown at 50; Freitas at 50; and Mission Vineyard at 44.
The rules allow a reduction of 5 mph below these results to be rounded down to the next increment of 5 mph. Thus, in the case of Flint Road, a net reduction of 8 mph below its critical speed – and 20 mph below its current speed – is allowed.
County Counsel Claude Biddle warned supervisors Tuesday against lowering the speed limits too much, because a drastic change would create the appearance of a speed trap.
“You couldn’t use radar,” he said. “All tickets would be suspect.”
In June, supervisors voted to lower speed limits on Anzar, Olympia and Duncan roads from 55 mph to 50, citing concerns about safety. At that time Botelho said he wanted to see the speed limits on more rural roads reduced.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
