News Flash

The City of Malibu will hold a Ribbon Cutting and Press Conference on February 4 to celebrate the completion of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Signal Synchronization Project, the City’s most significant investment in traffic safety and mobility to date.  

“This innovative system leverages cutting-edge technology and collaborative traffic safety planning to fulfill the City’s commitment to making PCH safer,” said Mayor Marianne Riggins. “The Signal Synchronization Project is about protecting the lives of the thousands of residents, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists who use our Main Street every day.”  

This project was selected by the American Public Works Association (APWA) Ventura County Chapter as the 2025 Project of the Year in Transportation, which recognizes excellence in design, construction, and management of public works projects.  

The PCH Signal Synchronization Project uses state-of-the-art technology to transform the scenic yet congested corridor into a “Smart Corridor” by linking 12 traffic signals between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and John Tyler Drive. The advanced system allows Caltrans’ Traffic Management Center to remotely adjust signal timing in real time, optimizing coordination to improve traffic flow and minimize delays at signalized intersections, regulate speeds, and enhance safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians—offering a more efficient travel experience while preserving the beauty of California’s iconic coastline.  

The project is a major step toward achieving the top priority of the City’s PCH Safe Study.  

The event is being held on Wednesday, February 4, 10:00 AM at Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Webb Way (Triangle Lot). Guests should enter the lot to park at 23835 Civic Center Way, just north of Webb Way. See map here.  

The $19.1 million project, funded by Los Angeles County Measure R and Measure M, is the culmination of over seven years of planning and coordination with Caltrans and Los Angeles County. It is a centerpiece of the City’s broader, ongoing effort to make PCH safer, which includes: 
 

• Legislative and technology-based law enforcement -Senate Bill 1297, authorizing the City’s automated speed citation camera system at high-risk locations along PCH.
• Increased law enforcement -with a new CHP Task Force patrolling PCH seven days a week in coordination with LASD.
• Infrastructure upgrades -Quickbuild temporary roundabouts at El Matador State Beach and Encinal Canyon Road to improve cyclist, pedestrian. and motorist safety. Completion is expected in early 2026.
• Public education campaigns –In partnerships with state agencies, LASD, CHP, traffic advocacy groups, and community members, to raise awareness about safe driving and pedestrian safety along PCH.
• Caltrans measures –Caltrans launched a PCH Master Plan feasibility study to identify priority areas and long-term measures to improve safety on PCH for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Input from residents, businesses, and stakeholders is being gathered through multiple meetings, surveys, and an interactive website. The project aims to re-envision PCH from a highway into a safer main street corridor. Caltrans also implemented $4.2 million in short-term safety improvements to road striping, signage and cross walks quickly after the October 2023 Pepperdine student tragedy.

These measures collectively represent a multilayered approach to PCH safety, combining legislative action, enforcement, infrastructure improvements, and public education. The Signal Synchronization Project complements these efforts, addressing long-standing safety concerns along one of Southern California’s busiest coastal corridors.  

Speakers at the Ribbon Cutting and Press Conference will include Mayor Marianne Riggins, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, representatives from Caltrans, Damian Kevitt of Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE), and Michel Shane of the Emily Shane Foundation. 

For more information about the project, click here.

For more information on Malibu’s ongoing PCH safety initiatives, click here.