Caltrans May Yield On New PCH Traffic Light
Written by 991KBU on March 27, 2019
Caltrans officials say they will consider a compromise proposal from Malibu Mayor Jefferson Wagner on pedestrian crossing at the Malibu seafood restaurant.
The state has proposed putting a traffic light at the busy section of Pacific Coast Highway.
Hundreds of people cross the road on foot every day … walking between parking areas and the beach … as well as the restaurant.
The state held an outreach meeting last night … where it got an ear-full of armchair traffic engineering.
Most were opposed to the signal.
Malibu city council member Mikke Pierson said … he hears worries from motorists.
NEWSCART 75036 PIERSON PCH
“The overriding thing I hear from people in Malibu is concerned from people heading west, coming down hill.
“There’s a lot of high-speed coming down that hill, including high-speed bike riders, car groups, motorcycles, and it’s a really pretty view.”
The majority opinion was that the traffic light was a bad idea.
Malibu Park resident Dana Christensen.
NEWSCART 75040 DANA CHRISTENSEN
“So, I just have to ask you, who in the heck you work for thought this was a good idea??
“To me this is like walking people across a freeway.
“And I also notice …. every single reference you make has never mentioned what I am representing … which is a commuter.”
But not everyone shared Dana Christensen’s views.
Two public safety commissioners said the parking lot entrance to Malibu seafood was the logical place for a signal.
Paul Grisanti and Scott Dittrich.
NEWSCART 75037 GRISANTI PCH
“If you’re coming down that hill and you’re your maxed out your speed right there as you approach the parking lot entrance, and the restaurant entrance, you’re asking for trouble.
“Because that’s where people come in and out, and that’s where all the pedestrians are attracted to.”
That was Grisanti. This is Dittrich.
NEWSCART 75038 DITTRICH PCH
“Obviously it has to be placed where the pedestrians want to cross, and that’s in front of the restaurant driveway.”
Caltrans officials said using the Corral Creek bed … under the highway … as a pedestrian crossing was out of the question.
They said the crossing had to be wheelchair compliant … and would be a huge maintenance cost to keep the creek graded so people could always walk under the highway.
And a big potential liability … if someone got hurt.
Malibu Mayor Jefferson Wagner then offered for the city to take on design … maintenance and liability responsibility.
NEWSCART 75039 WAGNER PCH
“On the ocean side of the bridge you have LA County Beaches and Harbors. On the north side of the bridge you have the MRCA, Santa Monica Mountains Conservation, and you have a trailhead that ends there, the Sara Wan Trail head.
“So that would be a significant advantage for our local administrator of the Santa Monica Mountains, Joe Edmiston, to come through and provide the best entrance to the beach.
“That might be an alternative that would work out for everybody.”
Using the creek as a pedestrian trail may face a real tough sell … state and federal officials may view that as wildlife habitat.
Not heard from at the meeting last night … and of the hundreds of people … thousands on beach days … who cross the road there.
