Official County Statement re Parking at Bixby Bridge

Monterey County Board of Supervisors Fact Sheet:

Bixby Bridge Parking Moratorium

Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 19

Topic: Proposed parking restrictions near Bixby Bridge in Big Sur

Board Actions Taken

• The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with a

12-month moratorium on parking in the immediate vicinity of Bixby Bridge.

• The motion passed 3-0, with Supervisors Chris Lopez and Luis Alejo

abstaining.

• County staff were directed to:

o Draft a temporary ordinance establishing parking restrictions.

o Return the ordinance to the board for at least two rounds of review

before implementation.

o Pursue required permits from Caltrans and Coastal Commission

process.

Implementation Status

• The parking ban is not yet in effect.

• No implementation date has been finalized.

• The original goal of implementing restrictions before Memorial Day

weekend was delayed due to:

o Permitting requirements

o Staffing needs

o Enforcement planning

Reasons Cited for the Action

County officials identified several concerns related to increased visitation and

congestion around Bixby Bridge, including:• Emergency vehicle access delays

• Traffic congestion affecting residents and commuters

• Illegal roadside and in-road parking

• Pedestrian safety concerns

• Increased tourism following the reopening of Highway 1 on Jan. 14

Tourism and Traffic Data Brought Forward in Board Referral

• Northbound traffic at Ragged Point reportedly increased by more than

900% year-over-year.

• Caltrans reported:

o Restaurant and retail guest counts up approximately 40% year-to-

date

o Peak weekends nearly doubling previous 2025 levels

Enforcement and Operational Considerations

Officials discussed several enforcement-related issues that still need resolution:

• Determining whether enforcement costs will be covered by the county, the

state, or both

• Preliminary estimates projected approximately $15,300 per month for one

CHP officer working weekends

• Additional enforcement options under consideration include:

o Monterey County Sheriff-based enforcement agreements

o Drone monitoring

Concerns Raised During Board Discussion

Some supervisors expressed concerns regarding:

• Potential legal issues involving California Coastal Commission regulations

• Whether a full parking ban could shift congestion into travel lanes

• The need for active enforcement to prevent unsafe roadside stopping

Next Steps

• County staff will prepare draft ordinance language.

• The ordinance will return to the Board of Supervisors for additional public

review and approval before any restrictions are implemented.

• Emergency Coastal Development Permit efforts will begin

• Caltrans permitting efforts will begin