Editor, Manteca Bulletin,
In the past couple of weeks, there have been two more vehicle accidents on Woodward Avenue.
Many letters have been written to the editor regarding the speed limit on Woodward.  Once a country road, Woodward is now “residential” from the far west, to the east. 
There is also a school only one block off of Woodward near Union Road.  With all of the new houses going in, and young children walking to school, it will only be a matter of time when someone late to work blasts down Woodward and runs them over.  We also have joggers and bike riders risking their lives on this narrow two land road.  The sun in the morning can blind eastbound drivers, leaving small room for error.
The current speed limit on Woodward is 45 mph.  This means most drivers are driving between 55 to 70 (yes, 70!) miles per hour  as they hurry to work, or home from work.  I know, because I live on Woodward, and have seen the traffic getting worse and worse in the past 23 years.  We were promised that traffic would be taken off of Woodward when Atherton was built.  Now, more than three years later, we are told that a very small portion of Atherton, which should have been completed years ago (and was funded), will now go on the waiting list.  So much for promises from our city department heads, most of whom reside outside of Manteca.  The completion of Atherton would do just what was planned, take traffic off of Woodward, and end the trail of vehicles using Woodward as a thoroughfare each evening when 120 backs up for miles..
While driving around the city, I note that most through roads, Union, Airport, Lathrop, Main, Tinnin, are posted 40 mph or less.  Why is a narrow, two-lane, residential road still posted at 45 mph? 
As noted in my letter to the editor a year ago last August, I predicted more accidents on Woodward, and suggested lowering the speed limit, and adding roundabouts.  I would imagine in the long run this would be much more cost effective than someone suing the city when they are in an accident, caused by the city’s failure to rectify the traffic problems.  It’s only a matter of time...

Michele Painter
Manteca