Council approves full traffic signal at South & King after months of study and neighborhood concern

The San Luis Obispo City Council unanimously approved moving the South & King Crossing project from a pedestrian hybrid beacon to a full traffic signal, citing traffic warrants, improved driver compliance and new emergency‑vehicle preemption technology that staff said would reduce response delays.

Luke Schwartz, the project manager, told council the intersection met signal warrants in updated traffic studies and that the city has secured a SLOCOG grant that covers roughly half of the estimated $1 million project cost. He said the bulk of the construction work — curb ramps, underground conduit and signal poles — is common to either the hybrid beacon or a full signal and that poles are already ordered. Staff explained the tradeoffs: a full signal would stop South Street traffic more frequently but those stops would often be shorter, and the signal can be programmed to limit impacts by using actuated operation and emergency‑vehicle preemption.

Residents from King Court, Woodbridge and Corita urged a full signal and quicker delivery; some speakers warned about potential neighborhood cut‑through and asked for rapid deployment of traffic calming measures on nearby parallel streets. Staff said a Higuera Complete Streets project will add speed humps and other calming measures on some neighborhood streets and that staff will monitor traffic patterns after installation and recommend further mitigations if needed. Staff also noted the need to spend grant funds within the calendar year and the long lead time on signal equipment as reasons to decide now rather than defer to the Active Transportation Committee.

Mayor Stewart moved the staff recommendation to modify the project to a full traffic signal with the minor hybrid‑beacon adjustments staff recommended; Councilmember Shoresman seconded. The motion passed 5–0 by roll call.

Next steps: staff will finalize signal plans and proceed with final plans, specifications and construction within the existing budget; they will also monitor post‑installation traffic patterns and coordinate the Higuera Complete Streets traffic‑calming schedule to limit cut‑through impacts.