| Date: | Thursday, March 7, 2024 |
| District: | 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties |
| Contact: | Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers |
| Phone: | (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 |
CALTRANS ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC STUDY MOVES SPEED LIMITS LOWER ON 44.5 MILES OF HIGHWAY 1 ON THE BIG SUR COAST
MONTEREY COUNTY– Caltrans announced today that it will be reducing the speed limit along 44.5 miles of State Route 1 in Monterey County on the Big Sur coast.
The decision was based on results of a recent engineering and traffic survey of this corridor which found the lower speed limits to be appropriate to facilitate the safe and orderly movement of traffic. This study was initiated as part of the California Department of Transportation program to periodically evaluate speed limit zones on state highways in Caltrans District 5.
Speed limits will be lowered on three segments Highway 1 north of the San Luis Obispo and Monterey County line.
· For the 14-mile segment of Highway 1 between Post Mile 0.0 and Post Mile 14 (from county line to just north of the Sand Dollar Beach Picnic Area), the recommendation is to decrease the existing 55-mph speed limit to 45-mph.
· For the 22.5-mile segment of Highway 1 between Post Mile 14 and Post Mile 36.5 (from just north of Sand Dollar Beach Picnic Area to just north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park), the recommendation is to decrease the existing 55-mph speed limit to 50-mph.
· For the 8-mile segment of Highway 1 between Post Mile 36.5 and Post Mile 44.5 (from north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to just south of Coast Ridge Road), the recommendation is to decrease the existing 55-mph speed limit to 40-mph.
The analysis conducted for this corridor showed common elements of concern for all three segments subject to the lowered speed limits. These elements include limited shoulder width, a high density of bicyclists, and the presence of pedestrians.
The California Highway Patrol Monterey Area expressed their full support for the recommendations by Caltrans to lower the speed limits on these segments of Highway 1. Ian Troxell, Monterey Area CHP Captain noted, “Slower speeds will afford motorists greater reaction time in navigating the roadway, reducing the likelihood of collisions, and enhancing overall road safety. It is imperative that we take proactive steps to address the unique challenges posed by the infrastructure and traffic dynamics of this corridor.”
Enforcement of the new lower speeds will begin once all speed limit signs have been updated. These updates are expected to be completed within the next 30 days.
Caltrans uses a number of resources when making speed limit determinations on state highways. These include the California Vehicle Code (CVC), the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (which is based on the CVC), the Safe Systems Approach by way of Caltrans Director’s Policy 36 (DP-36), as well as engineering judgement and engineering evaluation.
This decision is made in the full spirit of the Caltrans Director’s Policy 36 which is intended to establish a corporate expectation to prioritize safety in order to achieve its goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. The Policy clearly directs that all divisions of Caltrans shall align their programs, plans, policies, procedures, and practices with the Safe System approach as appropriate to their division. Safe and prudent speed zones are an integral aspect of the Safe System Approach and the Caltrans 2020-2024 Strategic Plan.
Additional Resources
The CA Office of Traffic Safety: https://www.ots.ca.gov/the-safe-system/
US Department of Transportation Safe System Approach: https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem
Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
In my experience recently, the average speed limit during daytime hours seems to be between 35 and 45 between Rio Road and Nepenthe. I do remember when they put the double yellows in I think it was late 80s that had an impact. I’m sure this will too.
Does CT or anyone believe ‘speeders’ give any notice to speed limits..in fact, its logical to assume the mentality of the average speeder is to defy all logic. Ask either the two local men both driving the latest Porsche RS models, one in matt grey the other in bright yellow, if they pay any attention. Both cars retail for over 200 K. They road race the entire BS length every week for ages..& my bet neither have been intercepted. Besides, CHP & Sheriff aren’t to pursue at those speeds..its too hazardous.
So much to say about speed and hwy 1. I’d like to see greater presence of law enforcement to begin with. Perhaps actually enforcing the current 55 in most areas with more than one or two patrol cars, and also enforcing vehicles that insist to drive 25 the whole way, which is much more common than drivers traveling greater that 55, in my observation.
who knew CalTrans had such a sense of humor ? the timing of this is way OFF, it should obviously have been for April 1st ! as stated above 25 mph OR LESS and a resolute refusal to pull over along with middle fingers or slowing down even more to locals for wanting to drive the posted speed is FAR more common !
There also needs to be a realistic re-evaluation of length limits for RV’s etc. This road was built for model T’s not 40 foot behemoth RV’s driven by people who freak out at all the curves and precipitous drop offs
Let’s incentivize tourists to drive even slower on this HIGHWAY! This will lead to more irritated drivers who live and/or commute to work down here. I feel this leads to dangerous situations and behavior because there has never been enforcement of slow moving vehicles that are holding up traffic. This is a state law and in the Land Use Plan as recommended actions in order to “accommodate the future growth in Big Sur coast travel demand”. Again, so much of the issues and increased problems in Big Sur is the complete lack of enforcement of our LUP.
“The analysis conducted for this corridor showed common elements of concern for all three segments subject to the lowered speed limits. These elements include limited shoulder width, a high density of bicyclists, and the presence of pedestrians.”
Yet, the part of Highway 1 between Carmel Highlands and Bixby, which has just as many cyclists as the rest of Highway 1, which includes long stretches where the fog line is almost against the edge of the roadway (ie, no shoulder width), has the masses of pedestrians at the various Garrapata pullouts (three areas that I can think of where pedestrians frequently cross the highway) and our old friend the infamous Bixby Bridge (another pedestrian nightmare) will remain at 55mph?
I don’t follow that logic. Why isn’t that section reduced too? And if it’s OK for that section to remain at 55mph, surely it is for the others?
As others have stated above, a great way to “facilitate the safe and orderly movement of traffic” would be to educate/enforce the 5 cars pull over rule for those folks traveling at 25mph.
Remember the days when the speed limit was pretty much 65 mph in most areas and you could pass just about anywhere you had a good visual, boy those were the days …
Install an observation train with free transport, freight and discount dining for the locals, engage tourists, hold them and yourselves accountable, Ban Automobiles. Problem Solved.
Your mind and life is not your own if your pace is dictated by a hedonic treadmill economy that causes poor quailty of life so that it can create excessive wealth for people that do not care about you.
Automobiles were never the future they just became an unexamined reality.
If your employer is upset you’re late to work it means they don’t care about your health & safety, too many beautiful young locals have died in automobiles accidents on hwy 1, employee housing is the alternative and the solution.
Demand a local love life style from friends and business owners, push back but offer alternatives to the status quo, there are many ways to be sustainable and profitable without adopting the rest of the countries self defeating ideological templates, our coast is not a vending maching, it a living organism that is us and an unexamined life is not worth living.
Keep Big Sur Graceful.
Has Caltrains engaged with the “public” or locals who drive Highway 1 regularly in this speed reduction determination? Is there a way to provide feedback at this point?
As someone who drives back and forth weekly, the issue isn’t the posted speed limit which locals either maintain or exceed and tourists completely disregard and just cruise at 25-35 mph but distracted drivers. Everyday, I see cars with their cellphones hanging out to snap the latest photo of the ocean, people who don’t use the pull outs when there are multiple vehicles behind them and just generally distracted drivers who are observing the view and not the road.
Reducing the speed limit will not solve the problem and might even result in more local accidents.
Mike (CHP ) checked and thrrr hasn’t been an over speed related accident on those 2 stretches in 27 years. Wonder what this is about ? Revenue ? That long stretch by the lighthouse has no reason not to be 65mph. I think everyone that actually lives in Big Sur would much rather the CHP police the l vehicles that drive 20mph below the speed limit rather than 20mph over. Slow impeding drivers are much much much more dangerous.