Porterville, CA - The Porterville City Council has approved a set of traffic safety improvements along Plano Street to reduce speeding and improve circulation in an area heavily used by students and families. The approved actions include lowering the posted speed limit from 45 MPH to 40 MPH and installing a new multi-way stop at the intersection of Plano Street and College Avenue.
Plano Street serves multiple Porterville Unified School District (PUSD) campuses as well as Porterville College (PC), making it a primary travel corridor during morning and afternoon commute periods. Heavy vehicle volumes and frequent pedestrian activity have generated growing safety concerns among parents and residents.
At the request of Mayor Meister, City staff evaluated traffic conditions along Plano Street and developed targeted measures to improve safety and traffic flow. The improvements adopted by the Council reflect the results of that evaluation.
“One of my priorities as Mayor is making sure we respond to issues that impact families in their daily lives,” said Mayor Meister. “This corridor has been a challenge for students and parents for some time, and these changes are a meaningful step toward improving safety and easing congestion during the busiest times of the day.”
“Staff conducted a full traffic operation review to understand where the pinch points were and what tools we could use to address them,” said City Manager Richard Tree. “The improvements approved by the Council are practical, cost-effective, and will make a noticeable difference once installed.”
The approved speed reduction also restores radar enforcement eligibility under State law, giving the Police Department an important tool to improve compliance. The multi-way stop installation will include advance signage, pavement markings, and temporary message boards to help motorists adjust to the new traffic pattern.
Implementation is expected to occur in early 2026 following final ordinance adoption and installation work. No General Fund impact is anticipated, as the improvements will be completed using existing traffic safety program funds.
Porterville, lying along the foothills of the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountain range, is located on State Route 65, 165 miles north of Los Angeles. The city has a strategic central location to major markets and ready access to major transportation routes. Centrally located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Porterville is situated on the eastern edge of California's San Joaquin Valley, just 17 miles off State Route 99, a primary north-south transportation route. The city is approximately an hour from Fresno and Bakersfield and is a bustling city of over 62,000, serving as a trade center to over 100,000 people. Porterville serves as the gateway to the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, and is home to The Mighty 190, a local tourism collaboration that promotes countless outdoor adventures and natural amenities located along State Route 190 in southeastern Tulare County between Porterville and the Trail of 100 Giants. To learn more, please visit www.ci.porterville.ca.us or www.themighty190.com. Questions? Please contact yvelarde@ci.porterville.ca.us.