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Residents press Merced City committee for speed table and enforcement on El Portal Drive
Summary
After sustained public comment, the Merced City Traffic Committee agreed Nov. 18 to pursue police enforcement and work with the El Portal neighborhood on a homeowner‑funded speed‑table application, pending a neighborhood vote and engineering design.
Dozens of residents from El Portal Drive told the Merced City Traffic Committee on Nov. 18 that speeding on their street has become dangerous for children, older residents and people retrieving mail.
"We have children. We have elderly. We have grandchildren," said Lou Parson, who said she collected signatures from 39 of the 42 households on the block and described multiple instances of knocked‑down mailboxes, a light pole and pets killed by speeding drivers. "People go 55 miles per hour. It's posted at 25." (Lou Parson, public commenter).
Joe Bruscia, another resident, said motorcycles and sport cars regularly pass on curves and that a school crossing at McKee creates additional risk when buses and parents are present. "When you're trying to turn into your driveway ... I've been passed on the left twice," Bruscia said.
City staff responded with data and options. The police department reported eight crashes on the corridor since January 2021 concentrated near Parsons and El Portal, including a hit‑and‑run on May 20, 2024; engineering and public works said the segment was recently included in a speed study that allows PD to enforce with radar. Darryl Jordan, city engineer, told the committee that the city's speed‑table process requires 100% participation from affected neighbors and that installation is paid by the neighborhood, not the city.
Committee members discussed interim enforcement and longer‑term traffic calming. Fire department personnel said they historically oppose designs that impair emergency response and asked that any speed‑table design include apparatus cutouts so fire apparatus are not unduly delayed.
The committee approved two actions: PD will devote enforcement resources and deploy speed‑monitoring trailers when available, and engineering and public works will work with the neighborhood to prepare a formal speed‑table application and cost estimate if the residents choose to pursue the measure. Jordan said a single speed table costs roughly $10,000 and a second may raise the total to about $16,000; the city will provide the policy package and application guidance to the residents.
The committee did not order installation itself; staff emphasized that the next steps are community organization to confirm 100% approval and a formal application so staff can prepare design and cost figures. Residents said they would discuss financing and follow up with staff after the meeting.
The committee voted unanimously in favor of the enforcement-and‑application motion. The committee will revisit the item after staff and neighborhood follow‑up.
