Yuba City Council backs temporary speed-cushion pilot for Sandborn Road after resident safety concerns

The Yuba City Council on May 5 directed staff to pilot temporary speed cushions and quick-build traffic-calming measures on Sandborn Road near McChune Avenue, after residents recounted crashes and said motorists drive at unsafe speeds.

Public works director Josh Wolf described the project's origin: a July 2024 crash in which a speeding vehicle left the road and struck a tree near a residence. He told the council staff held a March neighborhood meeting with about 42 attendees and used voting boards and comment cards to gather preferences; "the majority of the votes for the residents was a desire for speed humps in the area," Wolf said.

Staff presented alternatives and constraints: multi-way stop warrants did not meet criteria under the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; temporary bolt-down speed cushions (with wheel cutouts) were estimated at roughly $12,000 for the four rows needed for an effective pilot, while a permanent asphalt solution could cost about $40,000. Staff cautioned that vertical humps on designated collector streets raise concerns for emergency response and legal precedent, and suggested temporary cushions as a reversible option.

City attorney Mr. Chaffen warned about legal compliance: "Putting a stop sign in there could actually make that intersection more dangerous under state law and as it is doesn't meet the legal compliance for being lawfully installed," he said.

Several residents told the council the corridor is dangerous. Resident Ken Bates described prior crashes and said, "Somebody's going to get killed," arguing that speed cushions would discourage through‑drivers. Council members stressed enforcement limits and noted an upcoming restriping project that will narrow lanes to 10 feet; multiple council members supported piloting speed cushions and quick‑build delineators to collect speed and volume data before committing to permanent changes.

Why it matters: The corridor is a collector roadway that currently feels "wide open" to drivers, prompting dangerous speeds in a residential area. The council favored temporary, data‑driven pilots that could be reversed if they cause unintended problems or raise access concerns for emergency responders.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with a temporary pilot (speed cushions and delineators), monitor data (radar and speed/volume), coordinate with first responders, and consider grant opportunities for permanent improvements if effective.