Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Traffic Signals On Pacific Coast Highway To Be Installed To Slow Traffic
PCH in Malibu.
(
sykosam
/
The Creative Commons on Flickr
)
A new project is underway along a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway will make traffic signals smarter and slow down speeding drivers, officials say.
About the project
The project will install communication lines between John Taylor Drive and Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The lines will synch the traffic signals to current traffic conditions and then feed that data to the Caltrans Traffic Management Center to regulate speeds.
Drivers traveling at the speed limit will see mostly green lights. For those driving above the speed limit, the system will make sure they encounter more red lights.
Support for LAist comes from
Why it matters
This stretch of PCH is also known as Dead Man's Curve. Along that stretch, four Pepperdine students died two months ago.
More than 4,000 traffic collisions have happened there in the past decade, according to Malibu city officials.
"That dead man’s curve area has been highlighted as one of the real dangerous spots on PCH, so we’re covering some of the areas where there have been a number of accidents and so hopefully that will calm that section down a little bit," Malibu Mayor Steve Uhring said.
Why now
The project has been a long time coming. The Traffic Signals Synchronization project was approved by the Malibu City Council in 2017, as part of the Pacific Coast Highway Safety Plan from 2015.
Support for LAist comes from
Uhring said that because Caltrans controls everything on PCH from speed limits to safety improvements, it's been up to them to start the project.
In a statement to LAist, Caltrans says the city of Malibu is responsible for the timeline of the project, given that it was implemented by the city. Caltrans' role was to provide oversight and the permits necessary to move forward with the project.
For now, commuters will experience alternating lane closures in both directions, but mostly on the right hand side. Work hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. During the summer (from Memorial Day to Labor Day), work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and some nighttime hours. Construction should be completed in a year.
Updated December 5, 2023 at 12:07 PM PST
This story was updated with a response from Caltrans
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist