FREMONT, Calif. — If you drive through Fremont regularly, you should start driving a little slower than usual in some areas of the city.
The Fremont City Council on March 5 approved reductions to speed limits on 30 street segments across the city, with the changes expected to take effect April 4, 30 days after adoption. The vast majority of speed limits were reduced by 5 miles per hour, with a couple reduced by 10.
Speed limits were reduced from 45 to 40 mph on:
- Alvarado Boulevard from Deep Creek Road to the city limits;
- Auto Mall Parkway from the westerly end to Boyce Road; and
- Paseo Padre Parkway from Decoto Road to Thornton Avenue.
Speed limits were reduced from 40 to 35 mph on:
- Fremont Boulevard from Blacow Road to Auto Mall Parkway;
- Mowry Avenue from Paseo Padre Parkway to Argonaut Way;
- Stevenson Boulevard, from the westerly end to Blacow Road and from Mission Boulevard to Civic Center Drive; and
- Thornton Avenue from the easterly end to Fremont Boulevard.
Speed limits were reduced from 35 to 30 mph on:
- Albrae Street from Stewart Avenue to Christy Street;
- Boscell Road from Auto Mall Parkway to Bunche Drive;
- Bunche Drive from Cushing Parkway to Boscell Road;
- Christy Street from Auto Mall Parkway to Brandin Court;
- Deep Creek Road from Alvarado Boulevard to Paseo Padre Parkway;
- Dumbarton Circle from Paseo Padre Parkway to Kaiser Drive;
- Dusterberry Way from Central Avenue to Thornton Avenue;
- Hansen Avenue from Blacow Road to Yolo Terrace;
- Isherwood Way from Paseo Padre Parkway to the city limits;
- Page Avenue from Kato Road to Milmont Drive;
- Technology Drive from Auto Mall Parkway to Grimmer Boulevard; and
- Walnut Avenue, from Fremont Boulevard to Paseo Padre Parkway.
A handful of other street segments saw their speed limits drop from 30 to 25 mph and stretches of two city streets saw their speed limits drop by 10 mph. The speed limit was reduced from 40 to 30 mph on Kaiser Drive from Ardenwood Boulevard to Paseo Padre Parkway. It dropped from 35 to 25 mph on Overacker Avenue from Mowry Avenue to the L-curve.
At a Feb. 20 City Council meeting, Public Works Director Hans Larsen explained how a new state law, Assembly Bill 43, gives cities more leeway to reduce speed limits by 5 mph on stretches of road that have a high concentration of bicyclists, pedestrians or vulnerable people, including children, seniors, people with disabilities and people struggling with homelessness. The speed reductions still need to be backed up by traffic studies or else they could be considered speed traps if the speed limit is reduced far below the typical speed of traffic.
Councilmember Yang Shao questioned the reductions, pointing out how long it takes to drive from the north to south end of Fremont. He expressed particular concern about slowing down Paseo Padre Parkway. Councilmember Teresa Keng responded that people tend to drive 10 or more miles above the speed limit, so people are regularly driving speeds exceeding 55 mph in 45 mph zones.
Eric Hu, the city’s principal transportation engineer, said the limits were being reduced along stretches where schoolchildren may be crossing, like Isherwood Way, but not for the entire stretch of a road like Paseo Padre.
Larsen referenced research that has shown the chance of a pedestrian being killed by a vehicle impact drops from 68% to 35% if the car is driving 35 mph compared to 40 mph.
Larsen added that traffic signals are being coordinated along major corridors in the city, such as Fremont Boulevard, to allow cars to more efficiently travel through the city at a speed of 35 mph.
There is expected to be a grace period for people who are caught traveling up to 10 mph over the old speed limit.
Sonia Waraich can be reached at 510-952-7455.
