Continuing efforts to slow vehicles on busy La Jolla roads, the local Traffic & Transportation Board discussed the possibility of reprogramming traffic lights and installing temporary speed humps.
The traffic light idea was brought forth Feb. 17 by board member John Bauer, who had three suggestions for what he called the “very dangerous” intersection of Eads Avenue and Pearl Street:
• Lengthen the time of a yellow light before it turns red.
• Outside of peak traffic hours, a pedestrian pushing the walk sign would immediately engage the yellow light, and the red moments later.
• Make the pedestrian walk signal turn on three seconds before the traffic light changes from red to green.
Bauer said those measures could help stop drivers from speeding through red lights, thus improving safety for pedestrians.
Having the walk occur earlier, Bauer added, would allow the pedestrian to get into the crosswalk before cars try to “beat people” by running a yellow light to get through the intersection.
In response, board member Patrick Ryan suggested Bauer reach out to the city of San Diego to do a walk-through of the intersection or lend insight on the feasibility of his requests.
“When you start messing with traffic light timings, perhaps there are unintended consequences that they already understand,” Ryan said. “And I’d be concerned about us all taking a vote to say ‘Yes, let’s extend this’ … without them first saying ‘When you get that, then you get this.’”
Bauer proposed a letter requesting a dialogue about his three items or any other efforts that could improve pedestrian safety.
“The motion is for the committee to work on a submission to [city] traffic and engineering about pedestrian safety at Pearl and Eads,” Bauer said.
The motion passed unanimously.
A proposal about temporary speed humps came from board Chairman Erik Gantzel as a discussion item at the same meeting.
Gantzel noted that late last year, the city of La Mesa rolled out temporary rubber speed humps on Date Avenue as part of a pilot program aiming to slow traffic and improve neighborhood safety.
La Mesa is testing temporary speed humps on Date Avenue near City Hall as part of a pilot program aimed at improving neighborhood safety. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The city has been gauging feedback on the humps’ visibility, comfort, effectiveness and overall safety impacts before deciding whether to make them permanent.
Gantzel said the temporary humps seem reasonable and flexible, though he acknowledged he doesn’t know whether the city of San Diego would adopt the idea.
“Without having to jump in with both feet and install a permanent road hump … these are an option that can be tested and then they can be very easily removed once the test determines if it’s good enough,” Gantzel said.
“These are not the same shape and size as a permanent one, but I think it wouldn’t be a bad way to test the effectiveness.”
Board Vice President Dave Abrams asked that the group reach out to San Diego officials about the possibility of such a measure.
Other T&T news
Concours d’Elegance: With no notable changes from previous iterations, temporary street closures and no-parking zones for the 2026 edition of the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance car show received the board’s unanimous support.
This 1974 Lancia Stratos SF Stradale is a featured car in the upcoming La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. (La Jolla Concours d’Elegance)
Key events during the festival April 24-26 will be the VIP party on Friday, Porsches & Power on Prospect on Saturday and the main show at Scripps Park on Sunday. Setup will begin as early as 6 a.m. Thursday, April 23.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board next meets at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Learn more at lajollacpa.org. ♦