By Zach Friend, 2nd District Santa Cruz County Supervisor
Over the last few months our office has fielded a number of concerns regarding road safety, specifically speeding on residential streets — mainly in the Rio Del Mar and Seascape areas —and held some neighborhood meetings to discuss this problem. I wanted to take some time in this column to talk about the issues, some of the potential solutions and some of the challenges we face in addressing speeding in some residential areas.
What are some of the tools we have to addressing speeding in our neighborhoods?
Most neighborhoods that have noticed an uptick in speeding request stop signs, speed bumps or increased law enforcement presence to help address the issue. Our office often coordinates with the traffic engineers in the Public Works Department, the California Highway Patrol (which does speed enforcement on residential streets in the unincorporated areas) and the Sheriff’s Office on the feasibility of these solutions to present other solutions.
Stop Signs
Stop Sign (Photo credit: ladybeames)
Traffic engineers do not use stop signs as speed controlling devices. They are used to increase crossing safety at designated locations. In fact, the state has guidelines as to where stop signs can be placed and the Public Works Department follows these guidelines when installing stop signs. It is often the case that if a stop sign doesn’t currently exist in a location it is because that road (or section of road) doesn’t meet the criteria for a stop sign.
However, the Board of Supervisors (by majority vote) can override these state guidelines and request the installation of stop signs. The standard process is that a neighborhood gets a petition together to show there is near universal support for such a thing. Some previous proposals in Rio Del Mar for example were scuttled when the initial neighbors wanting it walked the neighborhood and found that other neighbors did not. While this isn’t a requirement for installation, it is a best practice.
Speed Bumps
Speed bump made of rubber (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Speed bumps, however, are speed-controlling devices and the Department of Public Works (on their website) maintains specific procedures on how they can be requested. The procedure is similar to that of a stop sign. Speed bumps are often not preferred by public safety (especially large Fire apparatus) for access issues and we’ve received mixed responses in our office from neighbors regarding them. They are not also allowed on streets deemed to be arterial roads (such as Sumner) where neighborhood roads feed onto.
Increase Traffic Law Enforcement
Enforcing the laws (Photo credit: pixieclipx)
The third request is increased enforcement. The California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Office always welcome input about areas they can concentrate their efforts. In fact, they often are not aware of an increased problem (such as speeding) until a neighborhood alerts them. Generally, their presence alone deters speeding. However, many residential streets are not legally zoned for radar usage (once again there are state requirements for this) and therefore the CHP is reliant upon other methods to perform enforcement measures.
Radar Speed Signs
Radar speed sign (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
One last way to help, but is not often requested, is the installation of radar speed signs (the signs that tell you your speed) or signage that encourages slowing. Such things are within the purview of Public Works and we often encourage the distribution of such signs to impacted neighborhoods when economically possible.
It may seem like the challenges outweigh the solutions with speeding in neighborhoods. But these challenges just provide the greater context for you to see what our office has to consider (or is faced with) when we receive a call about speeding. I believe that a combination of enforcement, signage and (if the neighborhood approves) some speed modification element on the road can have a real impact.
Your calls, letters and concern really help our office, and local law enforcement, provide you with the resources needed to address issues like speeding. Feel free to contact our office at 454-2200. Please also reach out to our partners on this issue as well:
Local office California Highway Patrol: (831) 662-0511 • Local office Sheriff’s Office: (831) 662-0690 • Public Works – Traffic Engineering: (831) 454-2160
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