Council approves Grand Avenue restriping pilot after debate over bike access and queues

San Luis Obispo City Council on Oct. 21 approved a construction contract to implement temporary sign and striping changes on Grand Avenue intended to reduce northbound vehicle queues that have backed up to the U.S. 101 ramps during morning peak periods.

The 3-2 vote authorized a pilot that uses temporary, low-cost materials to extend two northbound travel lanes farther north — adding storage length up to the McCollum intersection — while retaining on-street bicycle facilities. The pilot is intended to be monitored and revisited before any permanent restriping is installed in 2027.

Why it mattered: City staff presented video and field observations showing that, during weekday morning peaks, northbound traffic stacked past the McCollum crosswalk and, on some days, reached the freeway ramps. Staff said extending two lanes northbound for a longer distance would increase lane utilization and shorten queue lengths. Supporters argued the pilot is a relatively low-cost test to reduce hazardous queueing; opponents warned the change could make conditions more hazardous for cyclists and pedestrians.

Transportation planner Dana Eby, presenting staff observations and the pilot design, said the team observed queuing "primarily in the morning commute, specifically between 07:50 and 08:05 in the morning," and added that the pilot uses temporary materials so the city can measure effects before any permanent work. Interim Public Works Director Aaron Floyd said the temporary pilot will allow staff to gather data and later return to the council and advisory committees before making permanent changes.

Council debate focused on safety tradeoffs. Vice Mayor Shorzman and Council Member Francis both said they opposed the measure because they believed it would make cycling less safe and would sacrifice neighborhood livability for shorter car delays. Council Member Marks and Council Member Boswell supported the pilot as a pragmatic step that could reduce the duration of hazardous vehicle queues; Marks also urged the city to keep the flex posts and reflective material highly visible. Marks moved to award the contract; Council Member Marx seconded. The roll call vote recorded yes votes from Marks, Marx and Boswell and no votes from Francis and Vice Mayor Shorzman; the motion passed 3-2.

What’s next: Staff said the pilot will be implemented with temporary paint and posts, monitored during the next months (including during Cal Poly special events), and presented back to the Active Transportation Committee and council with data before any permanent 2027 changes are made.