Salinas city leader addresses concerns over speeding

Speeding continues to be a concern in Salinas and a councilman is looking for solutions to the problem.

Councilman Steve McShane held a special “Traffic Calming” meeting Thursday night at the City Hall Rotunda. The meeting was specific to Ambrose Drive in South Salinas.

“I’ve been on City Council seven years and I consistently hear about speeding and injury concern on Ambrose Drive and through South Salinas,” McShane said.

The meeting featured a presentation on traffic calming solutions.

According to McShane, the meeting is a response to a recent spike in speeding incidents and a petition by neighbors on Ambrose Drive urging the city to do something about it.

“If Salinas P.D. would stand out there with their radar guns, they’d probably write a hundred tickets a day or more,” said Ambrose Drive homeowner Manuel Ortega.

Though that number is only speculation the city did officially determine that speeding is an issue in the area.

Transportation Manager James Serrano brought options to residents at the Thursday night meeting. Installing speed cushions being the main one. He hopes that together, the city and residents can come up with a solution to the issue.

“In a few months, we will ask the community to vote on a plan,” Serrano said, “We need their support to pass the plan and to implement it.”

Once that plan is voted on and approved, residents could see speed cushions within three months.