Following a completion of a survey of speeds traveled in Ceres, the city Council last week set the speed limits for 43 streets.

The California Vehicle Code requires cities and counties to perform regular surveys so that the posted speed limits remain enforceable by use of radar.

Councilwoman Cerina Otero asked Public Works Director Mike Beltran if the city has the ability to lower speed limits and was told it can, based on engineering judgment.

“If there is a street you would like me to look at I will look at it,” said Beltran. He added that he would need to consult with Advanced Mobility Group, the consultant hired to do the most recent traffic studies.

Otero asked about lowering the speed limit on Booth Road from Hatch Road to Whitmore Avenue by 5 mph.

“There’s a park along Boothe (Road). Same thing with Eastgate (Boulevard) if that can go down to 35 mph.”

She noted how drivers tend to push the speed limits by 10 mph over.

Beltran said he would and offered: “Driving is behavioral … we can put the speed limit down 5 mph and generally the ones that drive 40, 50, 55 mph in a 40 or a 35 (zone) are still going to do that because that is their normal behavior. People that follow the speed limit tend to follow the speed limits.”

But he said police can be directed to increase enforcement in problem areas.

“Yes, I do think we definitely need to work on enforcement in a lot of key areas,” said Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra.

When asked what the city would pay out to change speed limit signs, Beltran said in the neighborhood of $1,500 to $2,000 per sign.

The speed limits adopted are as follows:

• Aristocrat Drive, Morgan Rd to Malik Dr – 25 mph.
• Blaker Rd, Whitmore Ave to Service Rd – 30 mph.
• Boothe Rd, Hatch Rd to Whitmore Ave – 35 mph.
• Central Ave, Whitmore Pl to El Camino – 25 mph.
• Central Ave, Whitmore Ave to Calcagno – 35 mph.
• Central Ave, Calcagno to Hatch Rd – 35 mph.
• Central Ave, Hatch Rd to River Rd – 35 mph.
• Central Ave, Railroad Ave to Pine St – 35 mph.
• Central Ave, Pine St to Service Rd – 35 mph.
• Eastgate Blvd, Hatch Rd to Whitmore Ave – 40 mph.
• El Camino, Whitmore Ave to Pine St – 35 mph.
• El Camino, Pine St to Don Pedro Rd – 45 mph.
• Evans Rd, Herndon Rd to Richland Ave – 30 mph.
• Evans Rd, Richland Rd to Central Ave – 35 mph.
• Faith Home Rd, Hatch Rd to Whitmore Ave – 55 mph.
• Hatch Rd, SR 99 to Central Ave – 45 mph.
• Hatch Rd, Central Ave to Mitchell Rd – 45 mph.
• Hatch Rd, Mitchell Rd to Boothe Rd – 50 mph.
• Hatch Rd, Boothe Rd to Faith Home Rd – 55 mph.
• Herndon Rd, Whitmore Pl to Hatch Rd – 45 mph.
• Herndon Rd, River Rd to Joyce Ave – 30 mph.
• Malik Dr, Hackett Rd to north end – 25 mph.
• Mitchell Rd, SR 99 to River Rd – 40 mph.
• Moffet Rd, Hatch Rd to Whitmore Ave – 35 mph.
• Moffet Rd, River Rd to Hatch Rd – 35 mph.
• Morgan Rd, north City limits to Whitmore Ave – 45 mph.
• Morgan Rd, Whitmore Ave to Service Rd – 45 mph.
• Railroad Ave, Whitmore Ave to Central Ave – 45 mph.
• Railroad Ave, Central Ave to Industrial Way – 45 mph.
• Richland Ave, River Rd to Hatch Rd – 35 mph.
• Richland Ave, Hatch Rd to Herndon Rd – 35 mph.
• River Rd, Mitchell Rd to Moffet Rd – 35 mph.
• River Rd, Moffet Rd to Central Ave – 40 mph.
• River Rd, Central Ave to Herndon Rd – 35 mph.
• Rockefeller Dr, Whitmore Ave to Morgan Rd – 40 mph.
• Rohde Rd, Mitchell Rd to Moore Rd – 45 mph.
• Service Rd, Central Ave to east City limits – 45 mph.
• Service Rd, Crows Landing Rd to Morgan Rd – 50 mph.
• Service Rd, Morgan Rd to Central Ave – 50 mph.
• Whitmore Ave, Morgan Rd to Blaker Rd – 45 mph.
• Whitmore Ave, Blaker Rd to Mitchell Rd – 35 mph.
• Whitmore Ave, Mitchell Rd to east City limits – 45 mph.
• Whitmore Ave, Morgan Rd to west City limits – 45 mph.