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Encinitas council OKs using idle electronic message signs to promote traffic safety
Summary
Council approved a proposal to deploy the city's unused variable message signs (VMS) to display traffic-safety messages when not in use on projects; staff and the sheriff would coordinate placement and messaging, and staff provided rental-cost estimates.
The Encinitas City Council unanimously approved a plan to use the city’s idle variable message signs to display traffic-safety messages when the signs are not deployed on public-works projects.
Councilmember Jim O’Hara proposed the idea after a string of public comments about street safety. O’Hara said the city owns a number of VMS devices that often sit unused and that putting them to work on safety messages would produce a higher return on investment and help reduce risky driving behavior. "To take a resource that is sitting there and do some good with it," O’Hara said.
Staff and council members discussed placement, messaging and safety. Several public speakers urged caution and recommended study before large-scale deployment. Scott Campbell, a resident, warned there is research showing that poorly placed or wordy messages can backfire: "Messaging can be unclear. They can be a distraction," he said. Other speakers and council members emphasized the need to avoid blocking bike lanes or creating new hazards.
City staff reported there are seven VMS "ports" in the public-works fleet and one device currently deployed, leaving six available for other use. The city manager told council that renting a full set of seven units would cost about $7,700 per month; staff estimated a three-month rental would be about $23,000. Councilmembers said they expect coordination with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department on site selection and messaging to maximize safety and effectiveness.
Nut graf: The measure responds to repeated public concern about pedestrian and cyclist safety and is intended to be a relatively low-cost, quickly deployable education and compliance tool; council members and speakers stressed that placement, messaging and coordination with enforcement will determine whether the signs are effective.
Council approved the motion without recorded dissent; the clerk announced the motion carried unanimously with Deputy Mayor Lyons absent. Staff said public-works and the sheriff’s office will coordinate pilot deployments and that the city manager can authorize rentals within the existing public-works budget if additional signs are needed.
Ending: Councilmembers described the action as an administrative, short-term tool that can be adjusted as staff collects data and public feedback. The council asked staff to return with any necessary implementation details and monitoring plans.
