Caltrans Says Roundabouts Are Only Possible Way ToLegally Redice Speeds On PCH West Of Broad Beach, Neighbors Fear Changes

Caltrans officials says that the two roundabouts that they propose for western Malibu will include more than a mile of one lane section … where there are now two lanes in each direction.

But they assured worried residents last night that the traffic capacity of the road could handle an emergency evacuation of Malibu residents out to the west.

The roundabout is the only legal way to put in an obstacle … a way to slow down traffic that routinely speeds well above the 55 mile an hour speed limit … said a high ranking Caltrans engineer.

If it is built …speed limits will drop from 55 to 40 … and then down to 25 miles per hour.

And that low speed limit and reduced speed limits will extend for almost a mile … in each direction … starting just west of Broad beach … and also starting just east of Decker Canyon Road.

In the middle … a half mile of two lane road … speed limit 25 … wide bike lanes … parking where there is now a 55 mile an hour five lane expressway. 

Caltrans Safety Director Lee Faber says state speed trap laws make the use of different roadway layout is the only way state law will allow officials to bring speed limits below 55.

And Faber says the state engineers have concluded … the roundabouts are the best tradeoff. 

FABER SMALLER ROUNDABOUT 71641

“They’re working to come up with an overall good design that effective the pull speeds down it look carefully at the bicycle lane configuration and the pedestrian.

“We’ve been working through this extensively because I understand there’s a lot of trepidation specially with it being 55 mile an hour route state of California we are looking at low cost roundabout that are smaller in diameter.”

But Wednesday  night … a handful of residents hammered away with questions.

One woman worried that her driveway opposite El matador Beach would become an exit ramp from a traffic circle on a state highway.

Her name is E Oliver

“I understand that there is going to be raised area on one end, but is there going to be a raised area on both sides.

“I mena, are people going to spill right into my driveway?”

The Caltrans engineers said the temporary paint and plastic pavement markings will allow access to driveways, and should not confuse drivers.

The proposal to add the two traffic circles came from State Highway engineers… When they were talking about the 22 miles of Malibu that need safety improvements as part of a master Caltrans construction plan.

That plan has been delayed for more than two years now, due to the palisades fire and other factors.

County supervisor Lindsey Horvath has released $2 million from her discretionary fund to do something to slow down traffic in Western Malibu immediately, following the deaths of four Pepperdine students in Eastern Malibu two years ago.

Some resident Wednesday night said they could not understand why the two western Malibu roundabouts are planned so far away from the death scene in eastern Malibu.

Engineers said the western Malibu roundabouts are pilot projects… And would be closely monitored for safety impact and motorist behavior.

They could be removed if they don’t work.

Pipeline repaired water again, flowing into Malibu

L A County water is again flowing into Malibu.

Last night at 6 … the county completed the water main replacement on the only pipe flowing into Malibu from the state water project.

This was the second replacement project there … and a third one will be necessary in a few weeks.

It turns out that a whole series of leaks in that one water supply happened on October 15.

Four locations of pipeline were damaged … apparently in a water pressure surge from the MWD supply line at CulverCity. 

One blowout at Sunset Mesa.

Tow blowouts on PCH just east of Big Rock. 

And one blowout on Rockport Drive on Big Rock. 

On December First … there water will again be shut off and another section of damaged pipe will be installed along PCH on the construction zone. 

Expect to get warnings late in November … about the need to conserve water during the repair work … when the only water available in Malibu will be what is stored in the limited capacity in local tanks. 

City Council to discuss changes for fancy bed and breakfast under ‘Taco Guy’

What’s the difference between a hotel and a motel?

In Malibu, the difference is a hotel has a restaurant… And a motel doesn’t.

Restaurants attract traffic… And that’s the issue for a rezoning and unusual rezoning case that goes before the Malibu city Council next Monday night.

The Ryokan Bed and Breakfast Inn is a 13-room bed and breakfast … affiliated with Nobu … sitting just west of the restaurant’s overcrowded parking lot. 

It’s been operating for years … but the owners want to remodel a vacant gym on the site and make other changes.

To do that .. the Planning Commission recommended that they rezone the hotel to a motel … to prevent a restaurant rom opening there in some future date.

Cleaning uo the zoning would allow a liquor license to be obtained … for guests of the expensive Japanese style bed and breakfast.

The biggest question for Malibu residence might be the 30 foot high taco guy statue that’s been standing for 40 years over the front of the lot… Where a Mexican restaurant was abandoned to decades ago.

The taco guy is not mentioned in the rezoning.

But the city will make an additional 150 thousand dollars year in tourist taxes if the proposal is granted.

The city Council will sort this out Monday night.

RAND Corp Lays Off 72 Workers In Santa Mnnica

72 employees in Santa Monica have been laid off by one of the city’s largest private employers … the RAND Corporation. 

RAND is a think tank and research company … based in Santa Monica for more than 60 years.

The RAND Corporation is highly dependent on federal funding.

And it shed more than 11% of its global workforce on Tuesday.  That’s 192 people.

RAND has employed almost 24 hundred people in 2023.

The nonprofit is laying off 72 employees at its Santa Monica headquarters … at 1776 Main St.

Man, accused of child abuse at Thousand Oaks no kings day protest and Trump counterprotest

An arrest has been made in connection with an assault that happened at a No Kings Day demonstration at the center of Thousand Oaks … just over the hill.

A 57-year-old man … a resident of Thousand Oaks … is accused of pushing two children into the street … in front of traffic.

The suspect is named Darryl Lutz.

He faces battery, assault, and child abuse charges.

 following an incident at conflicting political demonstrations in the Conejo Valley.

The confrontation occurred on Saturday evening at the corner of Lynn Road and Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. 

There were “No Kings” and pro-Trump demonstrations taking place simultaneously. 

Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies allege the suspect, Darryl Lutz, attacked two boys, one aged 12, the other 15, and shoved one of them into the street. 

They suffered minor injuries, as did the man.

He was immediately arrested by sheriff’s deputies who were monitoring the demonstrations.

It is not clear if Lutz was protesting for or against the president.