Encinitas council directs staff to move forward with Option 3 for Santa Fe Drive 50% design after public debate

The Encinitas City Council on June 24 voted 4–1 to accept the 50% design update for the Santa Fe Drive Western Phase modification and directed staff to proceed with design Option 3, adding conflict striping near the San Diego Academy (SDA) driveway. Deputy Mayor O'Hara made the motion; the mayor seconded it.

Staff engineer Badder Suleiman presented the 50% design and a project history, saying the project spans Gardena Road to Evergreen Drive and that the November 2025 council-selected baseline had converted existing reverse-angle parking to parallel parking, widened travel lanes and installed a south-side parkway alongside a continuous eastbound Class 2 (painted) bike facility. At the 50% stage staff showed three variations (Options 1–3) that differ mainly in bike-lane widths, parking width and whether buffer inches are taken from the parking lane or the center turn lane. Staff said the timeline calls for final design by October, advertising for bids, a return in early 2027 to award a construction contract, and construction in summer 2027.

The public comment period ran more than an hour and drew divided testimony. Supporters of retaining physical protection said removing the separated (Class 4) bikeway on the south side would increase right‑hook and door‑zone risks; a representative of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition warned that “Class 4 separated bikeways reduce crashes by 52% compared to painted bike lanes,” and urged the council not to replace protected facilities with painted lanes. Karen Freeman, who said she survived a serious crash, told the council that painted lanes are not enough: “As a cycler… having just the green painted bike lanes… is not safe enough for cyclists.”

Opponents of the separated south-side bike lane urged caution around intersections and driveway conflict points and supported Option 3 as a compromise that preserves a continuous travel path, emergency access and a westbound Class 2 lane on the north side. Ed Sprague, a local resident, said he favored Option 3 because it preserves a center lane where emergency vehicles can pass: “I would prefer to see option 3 where we have the ability for vehicles to pull off the side… and give some room for the emergency vehicles to go down that center lane.” Several speakers also urged lower speed limits on Santa Fe Drive in the school area.

Some residents emphasized cost and disruption. Council member Lyons urged caution and questioned whether the city had adequately vetted the need to remove the existing protected lane, pointing to the first construction contract and state funds previously spent on the corridor. Lyons said public sentiment had shifted toward 'improve, don't remove' and warned against spending several million dollars to undo recent work.

Council members debated safety, consistency and fiscal concerns. Mayor Ehlers and other council members noted local incidents involving separated bikeways and raised operational issues where high driveway and intersection density create right‑hook hazards on the south side in front of San Diego Academy. Staff confirmed there is a letter from the California Coastal Commission received earlier that day; staff said the commission’s position and whether a coastal development permit modification is required will be determined after final plans and council direction.

The motion approved by the council directed staff to proceed with Option 3 for the Santa Fe Drive Western Phase 50% design in the project area in front of San Diego Academy and to add conflict striping on the east side of the SDA driveway. The clerk read back the motion as "accepting the 50% design and directing staff to proceed with design Option 3 with the addition of conflict striping near San Diego Academy." The motion passed 4–1; the transcript does not record roll‑call votes by individual councilmember name.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the council direction into final plans, post the Coastal Commission letter and related public comments to the project web page as part of the public record, complete final design by October, and return to council in early 2027 to seek authorization to advertise and to award a construction contract for anticipated construction in summer 2027.