Supervisors voted unanimously to set a 45-mph limit on South Butte Road between Irwin Avenue and Morehead Road, in Sutter, and a 50-mph limit on Riviera Road between Larkin Road and Metteer Road, in Live Oak. Designed by Freepik

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - The Sutter County Board of Supervisors on April 14 advanced two ordinances establishing new speed limits on rural roadways, citing traffic safety concerns and engineering studies. Final approval is scheduled for April 28.

Supervisors voted unanimously to set a 45-mph limit on South Butte Road between Irwin Avenue and Morehead Road, in Sutter, and a 50-mph limit on Riviera Road between Larkin Road and Metteer Road, in Live Oak.

Both items were heard in separate public hearings and continued for adoption later this month.

Neal Hay, director of development services, presented the engineering and traffic surveys behind the recommendations.

For South Butte Road, Hay said the study began after complaints about speeding west of the community of Sutter, on a stretch of roadway with rural mail delivery on both sides of the roadway. About 730 vehicles travel the segment daily, which previously defaulted to 55 mph under county code when no speed limits were posted. The 85th‑percentile speed was about 50 mph, but Hay said conditions such as residents crossing to reach mailboxes supported lowering the limit. Two accidents were reported in the past year.

The second change affects Riviera Road near its intersection with Larkin Road, where the county reviewed accident reports and visibility issues. 

Hay said Larkin Road carries more than 3,800 vehicles per day as drivers use it as an alternate route to Highway 99. Speeds on Larkin Road exceeded the posted limit, while Riviera Road traffic remained below it.

Supervisor Jeffery Boone, who represents the district and had requested stop sign enforcement, emphasized ongoing safety concerns at the intersection. He said residents have reported problems and that the long, straight stretch of roadway encourages drivers to exceed the limit.

“There have been a few accidents at that location,” Boone said. “I got a feeling we really need that stop sign there because it’s a straight shot for probably five miles and people exceed the speed limit.”

Boone noted that traffic increases significantly during walnut and peach seasons and said the intersection may need to be reevaluated later in the year.

Despite his lingering concerns, Boone made the motion to introduce the ordinance, which passed unanimously.

Once formally adopted, county crews will install new signs, and the updated limits will allow law enforcement to use radar for enforcement. The changes take effect 30 days after final passage.