City enacts Coast Highway vision

On Wednesday, the council voted to move ahead with the proposed Coast Highway plan, largely ratifying the June 10 Planning Commission decision. This was the culmination of the “Coast Highway Vision” process begun in 2007.

In response to public pressure, the hearing was moved from 2pm to 6pm. Fewer South O representatives were able to make it than on June 10, while more supporters of the Road Diet showed up.

Thanks to efforts by our PR advisor, the hearing was filmed by TV cameras (and stories) from Channel 5/69 (KSWB), NBC 7/39 (KNSD) and KUSI 9/51. The Save South O perspective was featured in the KSWB story, as well as a pre-story by KNSD

Council Decision

The Road Diet supporters from Seaside and environmental groups testified in favor of the PC decision, for a Road Diet (with traffic circles) from Morse Street north. South O representatives asked that the Road Diet end at Oceanside Blvd.

A motion to create a Road Diet citywide by Councilman Rodriguez failed for the lack of a second. Then Mayor Weiss made a motion to create an Incentive District from Morse to Seagaze — with a decision on a Road Diet to be postponed until later. Although that motion was seconded by Councilman Keim, it was withdrawn in light of opposition by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez then motioned to approve Alternative 3, seconded by Weiss, and it was approved by a 4-1 motion (Councilwoman Sanchez opposed). Throughout the discussion, Councilman Feller expressed the strongest opposition to the Road Diet.

With the decision, the city will

• Create an Incentive District from Seagaze south to Morse St.
• Add crosswalks at Whaley and Kelly in South O
• Keep the existing Road Diet for the half mile from Morse to Oceanside Blvd
• Add a new Road Diet for almost 2 miles, north from Oceanside Blvd. north to Harbor Drive.

The proposal would also add traffic circles at seven intersections in the Road Diet:

• Coast Highway & State Route 76
• Coast Highway & Civic Center Drive
• Coast Highway & Pier View Way
• Coast Highway & Washington Avenue
• Coast Highway & Wisconsin Avenue
• Coast Highway & Michigan Avenue
• Coast Highway & West Street

Intersections at Mission and Oceanside Blvd. will remain signals, because (according to the city’s studies) they have too much traffic for a traffic circle.

This is a great improvement since Save South O began organizing opposition nearly three years ago, even if it leaves the Road Diet in place in the “Dip” between Morse and Oceanside Blvd.

Potential Changes

The council also approved (4-1) a second motion by Keim — to study removing the Road Diet from the Dip. (The three Environmental Impact Reports never studied this option, which was the one repeatedly requested by South O representatives).

The staff was directed to study the impacts of Alternative 3 but with no Road Diet south of Oceanside Blvd. After that study is completed, the council would then vote whether to adopt this approach, or keep this week’s plan (Alternative 3) unmodified.

This was an encouraging outcome, but South O residents and merchants will need to voice their support for this option once it returns to the council. Save South O will keep everyone posted.

Coast Highway Vision

The Coast Highway Corridor Study is the City of Oceanside’s project that is proposing to redesign Coast Highway throughout the entire city. The city has a detailed website describing the project.

The seed for this project was a city-funded study in 2007-2009 (the Coast Highway Vision) that proposed to change Coast Highway from its historic use as a highway to one that de-emphasized automobile traffic.

History of Coast Highway

The city’s main north-south thoroughfare for its first 65 years was Hill Street, which predated the city’s incorporation in 1888.

Between 1913-1918 (accounts vary), Hill Street was paved and became part of the highway linking Los Angeles and San Diego. In 1926, the federal government created U.S. Highway 101 (from the Mexican border to Olympia, Wash.) as one of the first U.S. Highways. Hill Street became part of that highway.

In 1953, the state opened a new bypass to relieve traffic on Coast Highway in Oceanside and Carlsbad. This bypass later became part of Interstate 5.

In 1998, the City Council renamed Hill Street to be Coast Highway in recognition of its historic role.

Coast Highway Vision and Strategic Plan

In 2007, the City Council voted to initiate a master plan for redeveloping the area along Coast Highway, in what became known as the “Coast Highway Vision and Strategic Plan”. To develop the plan, in April 2008, it awarded a $260,000 contract to the Los Angeles office of Torti Gallas & Partners, a land use planning consulting firm.

The consultants and city staff held a series of meetings to share their ideas for changing Coast Highway, and then with various city board and commissions. In their final report the consultants summarized their conclusions:

The Coast Highway Vision Plan … is intended to serve as a blueprint for the revitalization and enhancement of the Coast Highway corridor. through a master design vision, a series of implementation strategies, and a set of design guidelines, the Plan fosters high-quality design and stimulates economic investment by defining the framework and goals for future development.
…
Coast Highway, which runs north-south through Oceanside a few blocks east of the beach and the railroad tracks is currently used as a local auto-oriented corridor, as well as a pass-through arterial for traffic from Interstate 5. The Plan re-envisions the historic highway and its surroundings, based on Livable Communities and Smart Growth principles and transforms it into a pedestrian-friendly and transit-oriented place that attracts both visitors and residents.

In April 2009, the council voted 4-1 to endorse the consultants’ final report. Mayor Wood and Councilmembers Chavez, Lowery and Feller voted for the plan, while Councilmember Sanchez voted against it.

Coast Highway Corridor Study

Efforts to implement the Coast Highway Vision remained on hold for a number of years. However, in August 2013, the city awarded a multi-year contract for the “Coast Highway Corridor Study” with two consulting firms. From 2013 to 2016, the consultants and city state held a series of workshops with city residents, as well as meetings with a city-appointed Steering Committee.

In April 2016, the council voted 4-0 (Feller, Kern, Lowery and Sanchez yes; Wood absent) to commission an Environmental Impact Report on reducing Coast Highway from four lanes to two from the city’s northern to southern border. The EIR is due to be released in early 2017.