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Encinitas approves bollards with wood facades, rumble strips and added signage at El Portal roundabout
Summary
After collision analysis and public comment, the council approved a package of safety upgrades for the North Coast Highway 101–El Portal roundabout including solid bollards with wood facades, rumble strips, RRFBs and revised signage.
The Encinitas City Council approved a safety-improvement package for the North Coast Highway 101 and El Portal roundabout that includes solid bollards (with decorative wood sleeves), rumble strips, new signage and rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) for crosswalks.
City traffic staff presented collision data dating to the roundabout’s conversion and reviewed options for protecting pedestrians and nearby property after repeated crashes at the roundabout. Two protection alternatives were evaluated: a continuous wood-faced wall (higher cost, more involved construction) and individual solid bollards. Staff’s estimate: a continuous wood wall would cost roughly $130,000, while the bollard option would be roughly half that cost; however the wooden façade option was offered to meet aesthetic concerns raised by council and residents.
Council approved the bollard option with wood-style sleeves that make the bollards visually consistent with the streetscape and directed staff to install additional signs, rumble strips and RRFBs. Council also asked staff to consider measures to improve nighttime visibility on the roundabout central island and to evaluate the placement and visibility of the RRFBs to ensure pedestrian crossings are apparent to approaching drivers. The council motion directed staff to proceed with design and engineering for construction.
Public commenters and local merchants said the roundabout had become a local safety concern. One resident and former traffic commissioner reviewed staff collision figures and said 18 of 19 recorded collisions were after dark and a high share involved DUI; he urged stronger measures than signage alone. Another commenter described close calls involving crossing guards and pedestrians.
Traffic staff noted the improvements are intended to provide additional driver warning and physical protection for the crosswalks and corners; they cautioned that substantial structural elements (a continuous wall) would be more costly to repair if struck. Council members favored the lower-cost bollard option with wood sleeves to balance safety, repairability and streetscape appearance.
