Pismo Congestion Relief Pilot Project

Pismo Congestion Relief Pilot Project

Caltrans and the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments are proposing a 7-year pilot operational improvement project to address traffic delays that occur during periods of high traffic volumes on the southbound lanes of US 101 through Shell Beach and Pismo Beach. The proposed project would widen the inside shoulder of the highway from the vicinity of San Luis Obispo Creek to the railroad overhead in Pismo Beach to serve as a travel lane strictly during periods of heavy traffic volumes. The California Vehicle Code prohibits general purpose travel on the shoulder of state highways. Therefore, the project is being proposed as a pilot project during its initial 7 years of operation, after which Caltrans would pursue legislative approval to make the part-time travel lane a permanent feature. If approval is not granted, the part-time travel lane would likely be reverted to a 14-foot-wide full-time shoulder. The project also proposes a new park-and-ride lot in Pismo Beach. Soundwalls are also being evaluated as a noise abatement feature.

Pismo Beach

San Luis Obispo

Citywide, Unincorporated

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Region 7 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 5 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region 3 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, California Highway Patrol (CHP)

California Highway Patrol (CHP)

Transportation:Highway/Freeway ((operational improvement to reduce southbound congestion))

Coastal Permit

Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Coastal Zone, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildlife