Laguna Beach seeks grant to sync 40 traffic lights along coast

Laguna Beach officials have applied for funding to synchronize traffic signals along a 12-mile segment of Pacific Coast Highway. The proposal covers the route from School/State Park in Laguna Beach to Doheny Road in Dana Point. If the Orange County Transportation Authority approves the application, the project would adjust the timing of 24 lights in Laguna Beach and 16 in Dana Point.

The city estimates the total cost of the project at approximately $3.36 million. Under the Measure M2 funding program, the authority would provide about $2,688,000, which covers 80 percent of the expenses. Laguna Beach and Dana Point would split the remaining balance. City leaders must vote to approve their share, which is a little over $400,000, once the grant funds are secured.

Tran Tran, the Laguna Beach Assistant City Engineer, presented the details at a city council meeting on October 27. He explained that the goal is not to create a continuous green light for the entire corridor. Instead, the system aims to optimize timing to reduce the number of stops. Tran noted that fewer stops lead to less idling and lower emissions. He stated that the primary benefit for drivers would be a shorter travel time.

This initiative follows a similar project in Anaheim. Earlier this summer, Anaheim launched the State College Boulevard/City Drive project. That effort involves improvements at 58 intersections across Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, and Orange. Tran described the shared goals of these regional projects as reducing congestion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and improving signal timing across city borders.

Laguna Beach will partner with the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, for this project. Caltrans owns and maintains the 24 traffic signals within Laguna Beach city limits. The agency has already signed a letter supporting the proposed deal. The project includes installing remote access to the signal cabinets. Currently, the city cannot change signal timing remotely, a process that can take weeks. The new system would allow for real-time adjustments.

The infrastructure plan also includes video cameras to monitor vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle movements. Tran suggested incorporating an emergency evacuation plan into the system. This feature would allow the city to remotely set lights to green during evacuations. Councilmember Bob Whalen raised a concern about data collection. He pointed out that Pacific Coast Highway is currently closed at El Morro due to a crack in the bluff. Whalen argued that updated traffic counts should wait until Caltrans reopens the road to ensure accurate data.

Councilmember Hallie Jones inquired about the construction timeline. Tran estimated that the project would take about one year from the start of ground work. He expressed confidence in the schedule based on previous projects with other agencies. The city council has not yet voted on the application, but the proposal is now under review by the transportation authority.