After several months of lobbying, the speed limit on Highway 246 passing through Santa Ynez will be lowered from 55 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour according to officer John Ortega, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol in Buellton.
Ortega told the Sun that Lt. Kurt Kruse, commander of Buellton’s CHP station, was actively working with members of the community and Caltrans to get the speed lowered.
This comes several months after the death of 15-year-old Carina Velazquez, who was struck and killed by an automobile passing in front of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School on March 26 as she crossed the highway.
Following the fatal accident, several more residents came forward with concerns on the dangers of the stretch of highway in front of the high school.
A community Facebook page going by the name of “SYV Lives Matter Project 1 = 4 Way Stop 154/ROBLAR” was formed to bring awareness to dangerous traffic patterns flowing through that section of road. Since its formation, several people have posted stories and pictures of dangerous drivers to the page.
The road is particularly busy because of the high school and several other businesses, including the Chumash Casino, the El Rancho Market, and the YMCA.
According to Mary Beth Kerr, who posted to the Facebook group on Aug. 28, the 45 miles per hour speed limit will affect the section of road between Janin Acres and Meadowvale Road.
“We all want safer roads and this is part of the solution,” Kerr wrote.
Ortega isn’t sure when the speed limit will officially change, although he told the Sun that the “45 mph” signs are on order.
This article appears in Sep 3-10, 2015.