City Council increases speed limits in four areas

The Huntington Beach City Council voted this week to change speed limits on 13 segments of streets by 5 mph. While most of those were decreases for safety reasons, four areas had their limits raised.

The four increases are: Bolsa Chica Street from Edinger Avenue to Rancho Road will increase from 45 to 50 mph; Edwards Street from Warner Avenue to Edinger Avenue will increase from 40 to 45 mph; Promenade Parkway from Gothard Street to Main Street will increase from 30 to 35 mph; and Yorktown Avenue from Lake Street to Beach Boulevard will increase from 35 to 40 mph.

Decreases are slated for nine segments of road.

Transportation Manager Bob Stachelski said the city was required to review its speed limits every seven years. While several council members said they were uncomfortable with some of the increases, fearing safety problems, Stachelski said state law didn’t give them a choice — limits have to be within a certain range of the typical speed drivers use on the road.

— Michael Alexander