Encinitas residents demand urgent redesign of unsafe Santa Fe Drive corridor

Concerns over safety and traffic flow dominated the City of Encinitas Regular City Council Meeting on May 28, 2025, as residents voiced their frustrations regarding the recent changes to Santa Fe Drive. The meeting highlighted significant issues with the street's design, particularly the back-end angled parking and the inadequate infrastructure for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Residents, including Natalie Cattoon, emphasized the dangers posed by the current layout, which has led to near-misses involving emergency vehicles and everyday drivers. Cattoon described chaotic scenes where school buses and emergency trucks struggle to navigate through stacked traffic, raising alarms about potential life-threatening situations. “This design is a serious mistake,” she stated, calling for immediate modifications to improve safety.

Dr. Kathy Santone, a local dentist, shared her experiences with the impact of the construction on her practice, noting a loss of dedicated parking spaces that has made access difficult for her patients. “Our practice has lost multiple families due to the year-long construction,” she lamented, urging the council to restore the five front-end parking spots that were removed.

Mark Herman added to the urgency of the discussion, stressing the critical need for emergency vehicles to have clear access. He warned that the current design could delay response times in emergencies, potentially leading to dire consequences. “You cannot say go to the side street where there’s stop signs; it’s going to take longer,” he cautioned.

The council members listened intently as residents presented their concerns, with many calling for a redesign that includes wider bike lanes, clearer pedestrian crossings, and the restoration of parallel parking. The meeting underscored a growing consensus among community members that the current design is flawed and requires immediate attention to ensure the safety of all road users. As discussions continue, residents are hopeful that their voices will lead to meaningful changes on Santa Fe Drive.