“Speed cushions” planned for Adams Street as residents grow tired of speeding

Residents on Adams Street in North Salinas say they’re fed up with people speeding through their neighborhood and want the city to do something about it.

Their wish may be granted after city officials walked through a plan which would add “speed cushions” to Adams Street in the near future.

It would allow for “speed cushions” to be placed in four areas on Adams Street.

This is a part of the city’s “Traffic Calming Plan” which also includes Cherokee Drive for this segment.

And although there are traffic problems, speeding is the primary concern to residents who have lived on Adams Street for years.

“I’m not worried about the traffic congestion,” says Adams Street resident, Felix Ramirez. “I just want something done about the damn people speeding.”

Ramirez along with other Adams Street residents say people are using Adams as a shortcut after traveling on Highway 101 to get to other parts of North Salinas.

Much of the same can be said about Cherokee Drive, which is where the second portion of this Traffic Calming Plan is located.

Residents at both locations say this is why there’s traffic congestion and people using the area as a shortcut are generally speeding through, too.

“Drivers need to follow the speed limit so we don’t have accidents here,” says Elias Cabrera. “They could kill somebody here.

Adams Street residents say they’ve seen everything from crashes, cars getting side-swiped and dogs or pedestrians getting hit.

“Not to mention when you’re backing out from your driveway and there’s a guy coming so damn fast it’s like a freeway,” says Ramirez.

Ramirez, Cabrera and other residents say as long as something is done, they’re in favor of it.

Cabrera suggests putting a three-way stop at Navajo and Adams in particular, although a speed cushion will be placed near that intersection in particular.

Meanwhile, a timeline for the city to actually get to work on construction for this project is not finalized at this time.