Caltrans will lower speed limits on several segments of Highway 9 in Santa Cruz County following a recent engineering and traffic survey of an 11.63-mile section of the roadway.
The study area begins just south of Exit Road at the Santa Cruz city limits and extends north to the Boulder Creek community. Highway 9 is a rural, mountainous two-lane highway that serves Felton, Ben Lomond, Brookdale and Boulder Creek.
Based on the survey, the speed limit from just south of San Lorenzo Avenue to just south of Hillside Avenue will be reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph. In the Ben Lomond community segment, the speed limit will be lowered from 30 mph to 25 mph. A 0.90-mile segment north of Brookdale will be reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph. Other speed limits along the corridor will remain unchanged.
Caltrans said the changes are intended to “encourage the safe and orderly flow of traffic.”
Enforcement will begin once new speed limit signs are installed, a process expected to be completed within the next 30 days.
According to Caltrans, the engineering and traffic survey evaluated existing speed limits, collision history and roadway conditions that may not always be apparent to drivers. Those conditions include pedestrians and bicyclists sharing the road, the configuration of horizontal curves, direct driveway access, parking and pedestrian crossings.
California Highway Patrol and Santa Cruz County expressed support for the recommendations.
“I would like to remind the motoring public to always drive at a safe speed for the current conditions and drive responsibly,” said Lt. Grant Boles, acting commander of the CHP Santa Cruz Area Office. “Excessive speed is one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatal crashes. Let’s all do our part to keep our roads safe.”
Caltrans said it uses multiple resources to determine speed limits on state highways, including the California Vehicle Code, the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, engineering judgment and engineering evaluations. Speed zoning decisions also align with the Safe System approach outlined in Caltrans Director’s Policy 36.
Director’s Policy 36 reflects a department-wide commitment to prioritizing safety and achieving zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. Establishing safe and appropriate speed limits is a key component of that approach and supports the goals of the Caltrans Strategic Plan.
