May 31, 2020
As a 28-year resident living off Los Morros between La Bajada and Rambla de las Flores, I find that speed limits on our winding two-lane roads too high for today’s increasing traffic. The 40 mph speed limit presents a danger for all drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Other local roads like Lomas Santa Fe, a four-lane straight shot to the freeway was slowed to 40 mph and remains heavily monitored by the CHP. But our busy, narrow and curvy thoroughfare is still 40 mph and a CHP officer is rarely seen.
In the very near future we will be faced with the possibility of 300+ new unfamiliar drivers using Los Morros and other covenant roads with the pending Encinitas low rent housing at the corners of RSF Road and Encinitas Boulevard. Can you imagine what will happen when these 300+ new residents come barreling down our country roads? Forget horse crossings, safe pedestrians and our slow quiet country setting and put the ambulance and fire department on speed dial.
Our delicate country roads will be much more congested as density increases even more (and it will with Governor Brown and Governor Newsom’s mandated high density housing) traffic and accidents will only increase. Thoroughfare roads like Los Morros and other roads in the Covenant need to be slowed to decrease accidents and limit “non-local” traffic. (Rancho Santa Fe Road in Olivenhain is an example of intentionally slowed traffic to discourage short cutters).
As we struggle with the increased density in our area we should ensure that the appropriate officials slow down our roads, or take responsibility for the accidents that will result. It is irresponsible for authorities not to look closely at the danger they impose by increasing the density upon our old streets. Let’s save lives and our peace of mind by lowering the speed to a safer level and hopefully redirect thoroughfare traffic
