Title
Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2023.22 seeking to identify solutions to respond to the immediate health and safety emergency concerns at the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur due to increased levels of visitation resulting in traffic congestion, parking issues, blocked residential access, and unsafe illegal pedestrian crossings across Highway 1.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2023.22 and:
b. Direct staff to proceed with completion of its response to the referral based on the proposed project description in this report; or,
c. Direct that staff:
i. Proceed with completion of its response to the referral based on modifications by the Board; or,
ii. Return to Board with a more comprehensive analysis of the referral and anticipated effort for completion.
d. Rescind the referral.
e. Provide further direction, as appropriate.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS:
Background:
On November 28, 2023, the Board added Supervisor Adams’ Referral No. 2023.22 (Attachment A) to the County Board of Supervisors’ referral matrix. The referral seeks to identify solutions to respond to the immediate health and safety emergency concerns at the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur due to increased levels of visitation resulting in traffic congestion, parking issues, blocked residential access, and unsafe illegal pedestrian crossings across Highway 1.
Proposed Project Description:
On September 6, 2023, The Big Sur Byway Organization (BSBO) voted unanimously recognizing the situation at Bixby Bridge as a Public Health and Safety crisis and recommending immediate action be taken by the relevant state and local jurisdictions. As a result, BSBO representatives requested that the Big Sur Multi-Agency Council (BSMAAC) respond to these health and safety concerns through a coordinated effort. Over the past decade, Bixby Bridge has become a destination for millions of Big Sur visitors each year. Unfortunately, due to a lack of proper infrastructure, parking ordinances, enforcement personnel, and geographic space, the area has become an unsafe bottleneck with visitors stopping and parking directly on Highway 1, barricading access points, and illegally crossing the Highway in order to take photos of the iconic Bridge. On the North side of the Bridge, Highway 1 intersects with the County of Monterey’s Coast Road (AKA: Old Coast Road), a residential access point and emergency alternative to Highway 1, which has been severely impacted by the increased levels of visitation.
Subsequently, County Staff met with State elected officials, Federal elected officials, law enforcement partners, and representatives from Caltrans, California Coastal Commission (CCC), BSBO, California State Parks (State Parks), and See Monterey (formerly the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau). Many proposed ideas and concerns were shared among the group. Please see Attachment B for the proposed options as of December 2023.
The referral involves completion of the following tasks:
• Continuing to meet and cogitate ideas for consideration/trial;
• Prepare the necessary project California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documentation to comply with State and local requirements;
• Acquire County approvals. Some ideas (such as temporary signage on Coast Road [a County-maintained road]) have straightforward ministerial processes. Depending on the option deployed, it may involve a separate and individual authorization by the Board of Supervisors (such as an ordinance) that will be brought to the Board with a recommendation for the appropriate CEQA action.
• Apply for approvals from the requisite permitting entities;
• Implement proposal.
• After trial period, assess the outcomes.
Estimated Project Cost:
Costs are not fully-determined at this time, but will consist primarily of staff time, and signage material costs if necessary. Time impacts associated with this request may include staff time from Public Works, Facilities and Parks Department (PWFP), Housing and Community Development (HCD), the Office of the County Counsel, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and outside departments such as the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Caltrans, CCC, State Parks, and the United States Forestry Service (USFS). The range of costs for the options varies, depending on complexity of scope: for temporary signage, a likely cost estimate is $10,000; for a complicated scope, it could be upwards of $100,000.
Staffing Level Estimate:
Staffing level estimates are undetermined at this time. Time impacts associated with this request may include staff time from PWFP, HCD, the Office of the County Counsel, MCSO, CHP, Caltrans, CCC, State Parks, and USFS. Staff time is dependent on the complexity of the range of options: for straightforward matters like temporary signage, it is estimated to be 40 hours of staff time; for permanent signage, and the associated approvals, it could be significantly upwards of 120 hours to prepare permit applications. The review time by any applicable state, federal or local permitting/regulatory entities is at their discretion.
Departmental Challenges:
Acquiring permits and approvals through State and Federal agencies will be a challenge.
Proposed Response Date:
Staff proposes to return to the Board prior to July 1, 2024.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The recommended action supports the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiatives for Administration and Public Safety. These services will enhance our Transportation needs and will improve the quality of life for County residents.
__ Economic Development
X Administration
X Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Attachment: Attachment A - Board Referral #2023.22
Attachment B - Proposed Options As Of December 2023
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