Council authorizes eminent-domain resolution to build roundabout at California and Taft after years of negotiations

The San Luis Obispo City Council voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution of necessity to acquire property needed for a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of California Boulevard and Taft Street, a location council and staff identified repeatedly in city planning documents as a high-crash, congested intersection.

Transportation manager Luke Schwartz, who led the staff presentation, told council the roundabout is the city’s preferred solution in adopted plans and engineering guidance because it reduces conflict points and, according to federal safety data cited in the presentation, “on average reduces the rate of fatal and injury crashes by over 80 percent.” The project would also provide a formal pedestrian and bicycle crossing near the Railroad Safety Trail and improve access to commercial properties along that corridor.

Right-of-way details and compensation: the city said it needs two…