After the horrific Oct. 17 crash on Pacific Coast Freeway that killed 4 Pepperdine college students, the Malibu group pleaded with its Metropolis Council to do extra to cease rushing drivers whose recklessness typically ends in accidents and fatalities.
The town’s newest effort to enhance security on the scenic however perilous 21-mile stretch of PCH is so as to add a devoted process drive to patrol the roadway over the subsequent yr and a half.
In January, the Metropolis Council permitted a contract with the California Freeway Patrol to ascertain the three-officer unit to patrol Pacific Coast Freeway inside metropolis limits. The contract will expire in June 2025.
Lethal crashes have plagued Malibu for many years. A Occasions evaluation after the October crash discovered there have been 170 deaths and critical accidents to drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians between 2011 and 2023.
PCH is a state freeway, so it falls beneath Caltrans jurisdiction, which limits the modifications town could make to the roadway. However within the final three months, Caltrans has begun building on a brand new visitors sign synchronization venture that enables the company to remotely management visitors indicators on the freeway, synchronize their timing and alter them to decrease visitors speeds and scale back congestion.
In November, the Malibu Metropolis Council declared a neighborhood emergency, which allowed town supervisor to rapidly approve a short-term contract with the CHP to instantly bolster patrols. These patrols are ending this month, simply because the longer-term process drive kicks in.
There are nonetheless tasks within the pipeline. A $4.2-million Caltrans contract permitted by the state in December will permit the company to ascertain velocity suggestions indicators and velocity restrict markings on pavement, substitute security hall indicators and improve striping on curves.
The California Freeway Patrol stopped patrolling PCH in Malibu in 1991 when town integrated, and Malibu contracted for legislation enforcement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division. Now, the extra patrols are welcomed by metropolis officers and legislation enforcement at a time when many in the neighborhood really feel at their wits’ finish.
“We’re at all times joyful to have extra enforcement, particularly when now we have folks dying on our streets,” stated Jennifer Seetoo, captain of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Division’s Malibu/Misplaced Hills station.
Seetoo advised The Occasions on Tuesday that she believes the “three E’s, and that’s enforcement, training and engineering,” are wanted to make the freeway secure.
The brand new CHP process drive is a necessary side of enforcement, Seetoo stated, however she needs velocity cameras, too.
In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into legislation a velocity digicam pilot program, however Malibu wasn’t among the many cities the place cameras could be put in. State Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), nevertheless, are engaged on laws to get the cameras in Malibu, Seetoo stated.
In the meantime, visitors security on PCH continues to be high of thoughts for residents and high of the agenda for council members.
At the newest Metropolis Council assembly, residents who spoke stated spreading consciousness is significant in defending the neighborhood.
“If it is a struggle on recklessness,” stated one commenter, “we have to be focusing on hearts and minds.”
Some urged posting indicators: “This place is value going gradual,” “Decelerate, you’re already right here,” “Locals can inform you’re a vacationer by your rushing.”
Solely Caltrans-approved indicators may be hooked up to energy poles, nevertheless. Councilmember Paul Grisanti urged that companies and householders alongside the freeway permit massive indicators to be posted on their buildings to snag folks’s consideration.
One other commenter proposed that 4 volunteer motorists put indicators on the backs of their automobiles emphasizing the velocity restrict after which drive facet by facet on all sides of the freeway.
The group’s ardour on the subject is obvious.
And, Seetoo advised The Occasions, residents are cautiously optimistic.
After the loss of life of 13-year-old Emily Shane — who was struck by a rushing driver as she walked alongside PCH in 2010 — “the group rallied and wished change,” Seetoo stated. “And nothing occurred, and I really feel like that is the primary time that issues are literally occurring.”
Occasions workers author Terry Castleman contributed to this report.
