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Residents petition Fruita council to cut speed limit, staff to study 18 and a Half Road safety
Summary
Residents backing Adobe Falls Subdivision and the Adobe Creek Golf Course urged the Fruita City Council to cut the speed limit on 18 and a Half Road to 25 mph and add signage, enforcement and traffic controls after a vehicle crashed into a home in April. Staff and police said they are collecting speed data and will report back within weeks.
Residents who live along 18 and a Half Road asked the Fruita City Council on May 6 to reduce the posted speed limit, add signage and stricter enforcement after a speeding vehicle crashed into a home in April.
The petition, read into the record by Jane Soichak, called on the city to “reduce the speed limit on 18 Road by Adobe Falls Subdivision from 35 to 25 miles per hour,” citing pedestrian safety, frequent speeding, and a April 2025 crash in which a pickup “broke through a fence, crossed a golf cart path, and crashed into a home.”
Why it matters: Residents said families, bicyclists and golf‑course patrons use the road and fear the existing 35 mph limit does not protect them. City staff and police told the council they are gathering speed and crash data and increasing targeted enforcement before making any engineering or regulatory changes.
Residents’ concerns and evidence
Jane Soichak said she brought a petition of more than 40 names, and displayed photos and video of damage after the April crash. Her husband, Steve Soichak, told council the video suggested the vehicle “was going about 80 miles an hour” and said drag‑racing and habitual speeding are common. Andrea Ward, the homeowner whose house was struck, said: “I’ve been devastated by it.” Several other neighbors described frequent high speeds and near misses, and urged physical changes such as speed bumps or additional signage.
Staff and police response
Assistant City Manager Dan Karas and Police Chief Dave Krause told the council staff is already collecting technical data and coordinating enforcement. Karas said staff has deployed a radar trailer and temporary traffic tubes and will compile the measurements; he told council the traffic‑safety committee — which includes public works, police, planning and engineering staff — is reviewing the complaint.
Krause and staff outlined interim enforcement and data collection already done: targeted patrols totaling about nine hours of on‑site enforcement, nine traffic stops with warnings, and a review of crash history showing two crashes on that stretch since 2020. Karas said the city expects to have the assembled data and a staff recommendation within about two to four weeks.
Next steps and unanswered questions
Councilors asked whether engineering changes such as narrowed lanes, pedestrian islands, or speed cushions were under consideration; staff said traffic calming options will be evaluated after the city reviews the speed and volume data. Police said they are coordinating educational outreach with Adobe Creek Golf Course about safe driving and responsible alcohol use because alcohol was a factor in the April crash.
No ordinance or formal change was proposed or approved at the meeting. Instead, council directed staff and the traffic‑safety committee to complete the speed study, report back to council with results and recommended countermeasures, and continue targeted enforcement in the interim.
Ending
Residents asked for faster action; staff and the police department asked for time to finish technical review and recommended enforcement. The council did not set a firm date for formal policy changes but staff said it will return to council with findings and recommended measures in the coming weeks.
