VISTA — Vista leaders have approved lower speed limits for several roads within two specific council districts, along with new speed humps on various streets, as a means of calming traffic.
While the Vista City Council was considering proposed speed limit reductions citywide at their Tuesday meeting, only council members Katie Melendez and Corinna Contreras said they were ready to approve the changes and asked to move forward with the new limits in their districts.
“Safety is paramount here. This is something I can do to really make it safer in my district today, so I’m going to go ahead and do that. I will fight for it,” said Contreras, representing District 1 covering northwest Vista.
With Mayor John Franklin opposed, council members voted 4-1 to approve the new speed limits in districts 1 and 3 and reconsider speed limits for streets in districts 2 and 4 next month.
District 4 Councilmember Dan O’Donnell said he wanted to allow more time for residents in his district to give feedback on the proposed speed limits.
“I’m not opposed to lowering speed limits; I am opposed, for my own district, to doing it right now without going into the district and getting feedback from them,” O’Donnell said.
New speed limits will not become effective until approved for all four districts. City staff said they will return an updated ordinance to the council in a few months with the estimated costs for changing speed limit signage and markings.
Vista’s new speed limits came forward partially due to Assembly Bill 43, passed in 2021, which allows cities greater flexibility in lowering speed limits on certain types of roads.
Beginning last year, the city worked with a consultant to analyze 99 road segments for possible speed limit reductions, including in Downtown Vista. Overall, city staff recommended speed limit changes on 95 road segments.
The majority of proposed changes would decrease speeds by five mph. According to state law, speed limits can be lowered by five mph along Safety Corridor Streets, which are defined as those with the highest number of collisions. Only 20% of a city’s roadways can be designated as Safety Corridors.
Some changes include sections of Melrose Drive, where speeds range from 40 to 50 mph and will now range from 35 to 45 mph.
On Vista Way, the highest speeds will be reduced from 45 to 40 mph, and on Santa Fe Avenue, the highest speeds will be reduced from 40 to 35 mph.
Franklin expressed concerns about the new speed limits doing more harm than good, noting that many residents are already frustrated with city traffic and long travel times.
“At rush hour, you’re not going 35 miles per hour anywhere in this city. You wish you were, but you’re not,” Franklin said.
He also said he had not seen enough evidence to indicate that reduced speeds lead to fewer accidents and that those who travel at excessive speeds will continue to do so no matter what.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, even small decreases in speed limits substantially reduce fatal and injury-causing crashes.
Speed humps
The City Council also approved the addition of speed humps along eight streets throughout the city on Tuesday, totaling around $219,000.
This includes three humps on Alta Vista Drive, five on Crescent Drive, two on East Indian Rock Road, three on Granada Drive, six on Grapevine Road, six on Hacienda Drive, two on Las Palmas Drive, and five on West Knapp Drive.
Since 2023, it has become easier for residents to petition for speed humps and other traffic calming measures on local streets, particularly in residential areas.
Under a recent policy, traffic engineers and fire officials will examine a proposed street to determine if it meets the criteria. Then, at least 51% of residents living within 200 feet of the area must sign a petition in support.
Rene Umberger, a resident along Alta Vista Drive, said some cars travel over 40 mph down her street and that this, combined with a lack of sidewalks, creates a dangerous situation for pedestrians.
“I’m hoping you will listen to the people in Alta Vista, all the folks who signed who are desperate to have some safety on that road, so we can walk with our families, with our dogs, children, and kids going to school safely,” Umberger said.
Staff initially recommended four humps for Alta Vista Drive, but Councilmember Jeff Fox said he worried that would be excessive for the proposed stretch of road. The council agreed on three instead.
