Salinas presents Traffic Calming plan to residents

A Salinas neighborhood may be the latest to take advantage of city funds for traffic calming.

City Councilman Steve McShane held a meeting Thursday for residents at Riker Street and Capistrano Drive to talk about the options.

The plan city leaders showed residents would cost about 120,000 dollars. Though not everyone agrees on what needs to be done, they all agree there’s a problem.

“There’s about a dozen hot spots in Salinas where motorists are far exceeding the speed limit,” McShane said, “Volume of cars is far exceeding what we call safe.”

McShane says Riker Street is one of them. Transportation officials found that cars drive down the road at least 10 miles above the speed limit.

Parts of Riker Street see more than four thousand cars in two weeks compared to similar sized streets that only see 200.

Many Riker Street residents say they would like to see more four way stop signs at certain intersections. Stop signs, though aren’t part of the plan city leaders brought to residents.

“Ultimately, a stop sign doesn’t slow motorists,” McShane said, “If anything, if it’s in the wrong place, it just pisses motorists off and causes them to run it.”

So, the city suggested other options.

“Traffic circles, bulb outs, even speed bump type measures are very applicable to just reduce the number of cars and ultimately reduce the speed so that people and families are safer,” McShane said.

Not everyone agrees on the solution though, just the problem.

“No roundabouts,” said Riker Street resident Luther Vaden, “To me, they’re dangerous.”

“We hope that it’ll be more safe for the children and that it won’t be quite so hectic on Capistrano when rush hour comes,” said Dennis Hickman, another Riker Street resident.

With the plan in place, the city will ask neighbors to vote. If the plan gets the go-ahead, construction would start in the Spring.