Here’s a pop quiz about your neighborhood.
What’s the speed limit along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard? Don’t know? It’s probably because there’s only one posted speed-limit sign along most of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, a main thoroughfare in and out of Ocean Beach.
Ocean Beach residents say the lack of signage, along with a lack of safe crosswalks, speed bumps and other traffic-calming measures add up to danger for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers along the already bottlenecked entrance to the community.
About 20 residents brought their concerns to the Ocean Beach Town Council meeting Wednesday, May 28 to bring attention to the safety issues, said Ocean Beach Town Council President Jim Musgrove.
Some residential property has already sustained damage caused by recent accidents, according to residents.
“Anybody trying to make a lefthand turn onto Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, you’re pretty much taking your life into your own hands,” said Ocean Beach resident Dan Allemeier.
The only posted 25 mile per hour speed limit sign stands at Newport Avenue and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. But it’s bent and facing the wrong direction, Allemeier said.
Allemeier said residents living along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard want something done about the accidents and safety hazards in their community.
According to the Automated Regional Justice System, ARJIS, there have been about five traffic collisions along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in the last few months, along with several citations handed out by police.
“One [accident] actually put a truck into the neighbor’s fence,” he said.
After hearing comments from speakers, the OB Town Council suggested residents submit their concerns and possible solutions in writing to the council by July 1. Councilmembers also suggested gathering signatures to petition the city.
But with the city strapped for cash and no immediate solution in sight, it appears it may be a while before anything is done.
District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer said his office was made aware of the community concerns over a month ago.
Faulconer’s staff will work with city traffic engineers to figure out the best solutions, which might include repairing the damaged speed limit sign at Newport Avenue and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, he said.
“I want to get input on what’s the right to do and what will work, and that’s why I asked traffic and engineering [department] to give me some options. While I don’t know what those will be “¦ my No. 1 concern is public safety and traffic flow,” Faulconer said.
Debbie Van Wansele, deputy director of transportation engineering operations, said the city plans to install more speed limit signs along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard by the end of June. Contractors would study traffic patterns over the next few months before presenting any possible solutions to the local community planning board.
“We’ll try to use the least expensive [solution] and we’ll start with that and see how it goes,” Van Wansele said.
Installing traffic signals could take much more time and money than simpler less expensive solutions like speed limit signs checked by radar, she said.
The Ocean Beach Town Council meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.