Complaints about the safety of Monterey’s Crain Street prompted the Aldermen to schedule a meeting on what can be done to assist residents, pedestrians and motorists.
Crain Street resident Brian Williams said the street has become a race track. He said the issue became worse when Burks Elementary officials rerouted traffic onto Crain Street.
“Back a few years ago, we were lucky enough for the city to come through, repave our street, which we are thankful for,” Williams said. “A street that was moderately traveled turned into more travel than it had in the past. Not only that, people turned it into a raceway, with the new pavement, less bumps, people started speeding through there.”
Williams said he and his neighbors are willing to sign a petition for the city to install speed bumps.
“I don’t have a radar yet, but I know without a double that some of the speeders, some of the speeds have exceeded 15 miles per hour,” Williams said. “Some of my neighbors and I have gotten out to encourage, by yelling at the speeders to slow down, which to no avail, has done no good.”
Williams said he is also worried the width of Crain Street is another safety issue. Williams said he measured and found the street is less than 12 feet wide.
“That doesn’t allow for two vehicles to pass at the same time, especially when you are traveling at a high rate of speed,” Williams said. “The traffic is worse of course, in the morning with people bringing their kids to school and especially in the evening when the streets being one way.”
Mayor Alex Garcia said he wants to research the traffic concerns. Once that’s completed, Garcia said he will call a meeting of multiple agencies to find a solution.
