Dowtown speed limit poses risk to pedestrians

Colusa's nine-month battle with the California Department of Transportation over downtown speed limits may leave the state footing the bill for pedestrian safety.

Caltrans raised the speed limits on Market Street and other state-owned roads in Colusa last summer, despite numerous objections from the City Council that the increase would put pedestrians at risk.

Although still unposted, Caltrans increased the speed limit on Market Street from 25 mph to 30 mph after a traffic survey of 100 vehicles showed more than half the motorists on Market Street were driving faster than 30 mph, according to state officials.

The state also raised the speed limit into Colusa on Highway 45 and State Route 20 from 45 mph to 50 mph, and on Bridge Street, from 30 mph to 35 mph.

Both the City Council and Police Department opposed the speed increase because the entrances to town have high foot traffic but lack sidewalks and marked pedestrian crossings, city officials said.

Asa Utterback, a contract engineer for Colusa, said Caltrans, because of the controversy, has made about $60,000 available to Colusa to explore various traffic calming options, such as crosswalks, traffic signals, roundabouts and intersection bulb-outs, through the Caltrans 'Complete Street' directive.

"This program is designed to do exactly what we need on Market Street — make it friendly for pedestrians and safe for everyone," Utterback said.

Caltrans has obtained the services of Moore Lacofano Goltsma Inc. to provide outreach to the Colusa community to identify what improvements could improve safety, and to develop a conceptual plan that the city could use as a basis for design and construction as funding becomes available, Utterback said.

Colusa Councilman Tom Reische said he was happy to see Caltrans come through with the money so that the city could work on the traffic problem in the downtown.

"I'm anxious to see it get going," he said.

Utterback said he expects the planning process to be completed by August, at no cost to the city.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.