Limit would be raised 10 to 20 mph after surveys support higher
speeds
Speed limits on the Hwy. 25 bypass would increase to 45 mph
along most of the roadway and 55 mph for a relatively short stretch
under a proposal expected to be voted on by local officials next
week.
Limit would be raised 10 to 20 mph after surveys support higher speeds
Speed limits on the Hwy. 25 bypass would increase to 45 mph along most of the roadway and 55 mph for a relatively short stretch under a proposal expected to be voted on by local officials next week.
The City of Hollister, the County of San Benito and the Council of Governments (COG) conducted an engineering speed survey of the bypass between San Felipe Road in the north and Sunnyslope Road in the south with the intent of aligning speed limits along the roadway, which is currently under city or county jurisdiction at various points.
A subsequent Caltrans survey confirmed the data, which indicated that the bypass’s speed limit, currently 35 mph, should be set at 55 mph between San Felipe and Santa Ana roads. From Santa Ana south to Sunnyslope, the engineering analysis determined that the speed should be 45 mph, as it crosses through school zones along the road’s 2.4-mile path.
The Hollister City Council will consider the increased speed limits during the second reading of an ordinance on Monday, Oct. 5. The county Board of Supervisors is expected to vote at its Oct. 6 meeting. If approved as expected by both entities, the new speed limits will go into effect within 30 days of the supervisors’ meeting.
“I think the roadway supports the new limits,” said Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller. “It will legalize what appears to be rather common practice now. My concern is for those that they always feel that they have to drive 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.”
Police officers, Miller said, have been using their discretion when deciding whether to ticket motorists for exceeding the current 35 mph speed limit, depending on traffic conditions and the time of day. There have been “some” injury accidents at intersections along the bypass, but Miller did not have a specific number available this week.
While he supports the new speed limits, Miller said he is concerned how higher speeds will impact sight lines at bypass intersections.
“Going much faster than the [new] posted limit could cause a problem if motorists on the cross-streets try to squeeze through a yellow light,” he said. “We could have some terrific accidents there. Raising the speed limit is a sensible thing to do but people need to stay within those limits.”
County Public Works Administrator Steve Wittry said the city will manufacture the new speed limit signs and county crews will install them. He noted that a 45 mph speed advisory sign will be placed along the curved section of the bypass between San Felipe and Santa Ana.
Mary Dinkuhn, COG’s transportation planning manager, said that having a speed limit that is too low for a roadway can create an “enforceability issue” in which the majority of vehicles are exceeding the posted speed limit because it is set too low.
COG is monitoring the roadway, Dinkuhn added, looking at traffic levels, accident frequency and maintenance costs, among other things, for a report expected to be ready in the spring.
The report is one step in the eventual handover of control of the roadway from local governments to Caltrans, since the bypass is part of state Hwy. 25. When that responsibility is handed over to the state, control of the former Hwy. 25 route on San Felipe and San Benito Street through downtown Hollister will be returned to the city.
Miller reminds motorists that despite the expected increase in speed limits on the bypass, they should exercise caution – particularly in the coming months.
“People need to be careful as the weather changes,” he said. “We’re coming up on the winter season, which means rain. There’s that urge to drive faster once you can [with higher speed limits], but people need to use caution and pay attention to conditions. If need be, go slower. A 5 mph difference doesn’t make much difference time-wise but it can save you a crash.”
Miller said the fact that the bypass is a wide road with sound walls and few cross streets has led some motorists to use their cell phones along the roadway, which is against the law. He reminds motorists not to use their phones unless they have a hands-free device.
