Following recent pedestrian-related accidents in downtown Joshua Tree, the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council prevailed upon the county to go to Caltrans with community safety concerns about that stretch of Highway 62. Reporter Dan Stork relates that a Caltrans’ reply said that new signage can be expected, but that’s all…
In a letter to San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos, dated July 10, Caltrans Interim District Director John Bulinski recapped some of the results of a speed survey done along State Route 62 in September 2013. For a 1.6-mile stretch that includes downtown Joshua Tree, ” the speed survey recommended a speed limit of 45 miles per hour (mph) based on the 85th percentile (critical speed) of 48 mph and the collision history.” To the east and west of this segment, the speed limit is 65 mph. The letter goes on to say the CHP and the Sheriff’s Department were consulted in this decision. To support the 45 mph setting, Bulinski further writes “Besides being a violation of the California Vehicle Code, studies have shown that setting speed limit arbitrarily low often make violators of a disproportionate number of drivers, does not facilitate the orderly movement of traffic, and requires constant enforcement to maintain compliance.” Bulinski added, “However, pedestrial symbol warning signs will be installed on both approaches to this segment of SR-62 as an additional measure.”
CALTRANS REPLIES ABOUT SPEED IN DOWNTOWN JOSHUA TREE
