Local Control of Highway 1

At Tuesday's meeting, the city council received an update on Caltran's upcoming relinquishment of Highway 1 (a.k.a. Dolliver Street, Price Street and Pacific Coast Highway). This means that the state would turn over ownership of 2.15 miles of Highway 1 from Mattie Road to the Butterfly Grove to the city of Pismo Beach. The process began in 2017 and is nearing its final stages. What that means is that we will have local control of this main artery running through the heart of our city.

I gave the following public comment at the meeting:

I'm glad to see this relinquishment moving forward — it finally gives the city the tools to address things like crosswalks and bike lane improvements on Highway 1 without needing Caltrans encroachment permits. There's already a marked bike route along this corridor, and local control would let the city upgrade it as part of broader multimodal planning.

One question as the city takes on this new asset with real ongoing maintenance and liability costs: does the council intend to earmark the $1.71 million payment toward Highway 1 corridor improvements or transportation infrastructure more broadly, rather than have it absorbed into the general fund? Given the cost estimates in the staff report, it seems like the funding source and the new obligation should be connected from the start. Thank you.

Interestingly, my opponent Scott Newton said "It's kind of sad that we have to take it over.... reluctantly, I support it."

If you'd like to watch the video or review the agenda and materials, visit the city's Agenda Center.