Foster City is moving ahead on lowering speed limits around its schools, however, some leaders are concerned the efforts won’t go very far without better enforcement mechanisms.
The council has pushed to lower speeds around its schools for a while, and the city recently finished conducting traffic surveys to evaluate which streets would qualify for the speed reduction. State law requires that to qualify for a 15 mph limit in a school zone, it must be a residential street with no more than two lanes, have an existing limit of 30 mph maximum and be located within 500 feet of the school property.
But some councilmembers — including Vice Mayor Art Kiesel and Councilmember Patrick Sullivan — said they are concerned the new limits won’t result in slowed driving if police officers aren’t writing tickets for those who violate the new law.
“I’m all for cutting down the speed, especially around the schools, but if we don’t enforce it, I don’t know how good it will be,” Kiesel said.
Sullivan, who ultimately voted against the new ordinance, said he was also concerned about the potential lack of teeth behind the new limits.
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“When I look at a police force that is already short six officers, I really don’t feel that they’re going to overly enforce it as much as we should,” Sullivan said. “I find it difficult to want to push forward on something that might not be enforced.”
Mayor Stacy Jimenez said she was confident that the police department will “be able to take this in stride and do a great job of both educating and enforcing.”
There are seven streets that will be reduced to 15 mph when kids are present, including on Crane Avenue, Swordfish Street, Niantic Drive and Polaris Avenue, among others. The limits would slow down traffic near Audubon Elementary School, Bowditch Middle School, Brewer Island Elementary School and Foster City Elementary School. Currently at 30 mph limits, Gull Avenue and Polynesia Avenue would also go down to a 25 mph school speed limit.
Before the new limits can be enforced, more than 40 new signs must be installed, with 20 sign removals.
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