SUBJECT
Title
TRAFFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND RELATED CEQA FINDING (08/27/2025 - ADOPT RECOMMENDATIONS) (DISTRICTS: 1, 2, & 4)
Body
OVERVIEW
The Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) supports the Department of Public Works (DPW) traffic engineering program. The TAC was established by the Board of Supervisors (Board) in the 1950s to provide traffic regulations and recommendations within the unincorporated areas of the region. To be effective, the TAC proposes policies that will enhance safety, reduce congestion, and be legally enforceable. The TAC meets every two months to review proposed additions, deletions, or changes to regulatory traffic control devices such as speed limits, stop signs, traffic signals, and parking regulations on County of San Diego (County) maintained roads. Upon receipt of a request or recommendation for the implementation of a traffic safety measure in unincorporated areas, the TAC reviews and investigates the requested item, including engineering and traffic condition studies. The TAC recommendations are provided to the Board for consideration. The TAC recommends the Board act on four items from the April 4, 2025, TAC meeting:
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District. Item |
Description |
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1. 1-A |
Quarry Road from 950’ east of Sweetwater Road to cul-de-sac in Sweetwater. Review requested by DPW staff. Extend temporary highway closure an additional 18 months. |
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2. 2-A |
Camino Monte Sombra from 275’ east of Calle de la Sierra to end in La Cresta. Review requested by DPW staff. Extend temporary highway closure an additional 18 months. |
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2. 2-B |
Pepper Drive and Mollison Avenue/Lindenwood Drive in El Cajon. Review requested by residents. Place the intersection on the County’s traffic signal list for design and construction. |
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4. 4-A |
Whitestone Road from 130’ north of Lake Ridge Court to cul-de-sac in Casa de Oro. Review requested by DPW staff. Extend temporary highway closure an additional 18 months. |
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These items have no impact on tribal lands. |
Approval of Item 1-A on Quarry Road in Sweetwater (District 1), Item 2-A on Camino Monte Sombra in La Cresta (District 2), and Item 4-A on Whitestone Road in Spring Valley (District 4) would extend temporary road closures previously established by the Board for an additional 18-month period to eliminate continual and serious criminal activities as identifed in the California Vehicle Code at the request of the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. These items will allow barriers to assist in preventing the recurrence of loitering, crime, and dumping.
Approval of Item 2-B on Pepper Drive and Mollison Avenue/Lindenwood Drive in El Cajon (District 2) will add the intersection to the County's traffic signal installation or modification list. The County's Traffic Signal List allows staff to seek funding for subsequent design and construction. Traffic control signals will provide safety enhancement measures for pedestrians, bicyclists, and all other road users. Properly designed traffic control signals help manage intersections safely and efficiently by coordinating vehicle and pedestrian movements.
The Board’s action on Item 1-A on Quarry Road in Sweetwater (District 1), Item 2-A on Camino Monte Sombra in La Cresta (District 2), and Item 4-A on Whitestone Road in Spring Valley (District 4) does not revise the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances (County Code) and therefore does not require a second reading of an ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
TRAFFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
District 1:
Item 1-A. Quarry Road from 950’ east of Sweetwater Rd to cul-de-sac in Sweetwater - Extend the existing temporary highway closure for an additional 18-month period.
District 2:
Item 2-A. Camino Monte Sombra from 275’ east of Calle de la Sierra to the end in La Cresta - Extend the existing temporary highway closure for an additional 18-month period.
Item 2-B. Pepper Drive and Mollison Avenue/Lindenwood Drive in El Cajon - Place the intersection on the County’s traffic signal list for design and construction.
District 4:
Item 4-A. Whitestone Road from a point 130’ north of Lake Ridge Court to the end of County maintenance in Spring Valley - Extend the existing temporary highway closure for an additional 18-month period.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find that the proposed project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as specified under Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines because the proposed action involves minor alterations of existing public facilities relating to regulatory traffic control on County of San Diego maintained roadways, resulting in negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.
2. Adopt the Traffic Advisory Committee’s recommendations.
3. Adopt the following resolution: RESOLUTION AMENDING TRAFFIC RESOLUTION NO. 2663 RELATING TO THE TEMPORARY CLOSING TO THROUGH TRAFFIC ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY AS A RESULT OF SERIOUS AND CONTINUAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO. (Items 1-A, 2-A, & 4-A)
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The review of traffic signs, intersection controls, and roadway markings supports vehicle safety on the County of San Diego maintained roads. The transportation system must be safe for all road users, for all modes of transportation, in all communities, and for people of all incomes, races, ethnicities, ages, and abilities. Understanding travel patterns, where correctable crashes are occurring, and the disproportionate impacts on certain communities allows the Department of Public Works (DPW) to identify actions to address the underlying causes, improve safety, and ensure there is justice in the enforcement of traffic regulations.
DPW’s Local Roadway Safety Plan reviews correctable collisions along road segments within the unincorporated areas of the region and uses the Healthy Places Index (3.0) and CalEnviroScreen (4.0) to ensure underserved populations are prioritized. The Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) relies on the Local Roadway Safety Plan and performs reviews of regulatory traffic control devices such as signs and markings. While adherence to sign and marking standards developed by the California Department of Transportation is crucial to obtaining the compliance of most drivers, the TAC also relies on various community engagement methods such as the Tell Us Now! Mobile app, toll-free hotlines, and a customer service request program to intake reports on a wide variety of traffic concerns and ensure the concerns are addressed.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions have social, health and well-being, and environmental sustainability benefits. The Traffic Advisory Committee has made addressing sustainability a top priority by partnering with local communities and industry leaders in a public forum every two months to find timely, reasonable, and cost-effective in-road traffic solutions that reduce costly traffic delays, mitigate vehicle idling to reduce emissions, improve fire response times and regional readiness, ensure justice in enforcement of traffic regulations.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with these recommendations. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
The Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) agenda items are provided to the 28 Community Planning and Sponsor Groups. The items associated with this report are located within the Sweetwater (Items 1-A), C-D-GH-HC (Item 2-A), Lakeside (Item 2-B), and Spring Valley (Item 4-A) Community Planning Group areas. TAC staff engaged each community group with items on the TAC agenda to solicit their interest in community review. The Community Planning and Sponsor Groups did not provide input on any items.
BACKGROUND
The County of San Diego (County) Department of Public Works (DPW) operates a traffic engineering program that includes services such as establishing all traffic regulations, operating, and maintaining traffic signals and streetlights, issuing traffic control and special event permits, and addressing traffic-related customer service concerns. Members of the public and other agencies can make requests or recommendations for transportation needs within the unincorporated areas of the region. Requests or recommendations such as changes to traffic control, speed limits, stop signs, traffic signals, or parking regulations require direction and approval from the Board of Supervisors (Board).
The Board established the Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) in the 1950s as an aid in providing uniform traffic regulations throughout the unincorporated region. The goal of the TAC is to provide unincorporated communities with a road system that strives to enhance safety and reduce congestion. To accomplish this, traffic policies are established to provide people using the road system with consistent and uniform regulations. To be effective, these policies are designed to be legally enforceable.
The TAC is composed of 17 representatives from different agencies including five members-at-large appointed by the Board, one representing each supervisorial district. The members-at-large typically have an interest in transportation planning or engineering issues. Represented agencies include the California Department of Transportation, California Highway Patrol (CHP), Insurance Brokers and Agents of San Diego, Pacific Safety Center, County Office of Education, San Diego Bicycle Coalition, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff’s Department), the San Diego County Fire Authority, and DPW. Agenda items are sent to Community Planning and Sponsor Groups, posted online, and emailed through an interested person distribution list prior to the scheduled meeting.
The TAC meets every two months to review traffic control requests, such as speed limits, stop signs, traffic signals, and parking regulations, submitted by any member of the community, Community Planning and Sponsor Groups, County staff, or other agencies. Upon receipt of a request for the implementation of a traffic safety measure, the TAC reviews and investigates the requested item by gathering and analyzing information such as photographs, prevailing speeds, traffic volume, collision reports, and public testimony. The TAC investigates the request from the perspective of traffic engineers, motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, law enforcement, school officials, auto insurance representatives, community representatives, and the public. After reviewing the data and discussing alternatives, the TAC submits a recommendation to the Board based upon traffic engineering principles, the California Vehicle Code, and driver expectations. The Board then makes the final decision as to what action will be taken.
The TAC recommends the Board act on four items from the April 4, 2025 TAC meeting.
Temporary Road Closure Items
The following items are temporary road closure reviews brought forward by DPW staff at the request of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. These items extend existing temporary highway closures that were previously established for 18 months, due to continual and serious criminal activity as identified in the California Vehicle Code . State law requires that the highway closure will not include a through highway or arterial street, will be located where vehicle or pedestrian activity on the highway contributes to the criminal activity, and will not adversely affect traffic flow, safety on adjacent streets or in the surrounding neighborhoods, the operation of emergency vehicles, the performance of municipal or public utility services, or delivery services. Further, State law allows temporary closures of not more than 18 months, and this period may be extended for eight additional consecutive periods if the local authority holds a public hearing and makes the same safety findings:
• Item 1-A: This review was requested by DPW staff. Quarry Road in Sweetwater from 950’ east of Sweetwater Rd to cul-de-sac has been temporarily closed since January 24, 2024, because of serious and continual criminal activity (including illegal dumping, reckless driving, illegal exhibition of speed, etc.) occurs. The TAC recommends extending a temporary highway closure for an additional 18 months based on a joint recommendation from the Sheriff’s Department and CHP and supported by State Law. This would be the first of eight extensions allowed.
• Item 2-A: This review was requested by DPW staff. Camino Monte Sombra in La Cresta from a point 275 feet east of Calle de la Sierra to the end of County maintenance has been temporarily closed since October 10, 2001 because of serious and continual criminal activity (including underage drinking, illegal dumping, drug use, loud music, DUI, vandalism, and stolen property). After the Board approved the maximum eight extensions allowed under law, the road closure was reestablished on April 12, 2017 based on a new joint recommendation of the Sheriff’s Department and the CHP and is supported by State Law. The TAC recommends extending the existing temporary highway closure for an additional 18 months based on a joint recommendation from the Sheriff’s Department and CHP. This would be the fourth of eight extensions allowed.
• Item 4-A: This review was requested by DPW staff. Whitestone Road in Spring Valley from a point 130 feet north of Lake Ridge Court to the cul-de-sac has been temporarily closed since February 27, 2019 because of serious and continual criminal activity and continual illegal dumping (including drug sales, frequent law enforcement action, neighbor retaliation). The TAC recommends extending the existing temporary highway closure for an additional 18 months based on a joint recommendation from the Sheriff’s Department and CHP. This would be the third of eight extensions allowed.
Traffic Control Signal Item
The following item is a review to establish a traffic signal. The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) provides nine warrants for consideration of a traffic signal based on intersection operating conditions (i.e., traffic volumes or recent collision history).
• Item 2-B: This item is a review requested by area residents to establish a traffic control signal. This item will place the intersection of Pepper Drive and Mollison Avenue/Lindenwood Drive in the unincorporated community of El Cajon on the County’s Traffic Signal List for design and construction. This allows the County to seek funding to initiate design. Subsequent environmental review would be conducted for the proposed traffic signal before construction. Three of the CA MUTCD warrants for traffic signals are satisfied at this intersection (eight-hour vehicular volume, four-hour vehicular volume, and peak hour). The TAC recommends placing this intersection on the traffic signal list to enhance road safety by interrupting heavy traffic at intervals to permit other traffic, vehicular or pedestrian, to cross, provide for the orderly movement of traffic, and improve the intersection’s existing operating conditions. There are no schools in the vicinity of this item.
A summary of TAC recommendations is provided in Attachment A. Resolutions required to implement the Board’s direction are presented in Attachment B. Sheriff and CHP input received for TAC items is provided in Attachment C.
The Board’s action on Items 1-A on Quarry Road in La Presa (District 1), 2-A on Camino Monte Sombra in La Cresta (District 2), 2-B on Pepper Drive and Mollison Avenue/Lindenwood Drive in unincorporated El Cajon (District 2), and 4-A on Whitestone Road in Spring Valley (District 4) does not revise the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances (County Code) and therefore does not require a second reading of an ordinance. Board direction on August 27, 2025 would allow implementation by DPW.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The proposed action consists of the approval of recommendations from the Traffic Advisory Committee relating to regulatory traffic control on County of San Diego maintained roadways (e.g., establish parking prohibitions, install traffic control signage, establish and certify/recertify speed limits for enforcement). Section 15301 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use. The proposed action involves minor alteration of existing public facilities resulting in negligible or no expansion of existing or former use and is therefore categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review in accordance with Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to extend temporary road closures and establish a traffic signal supports the Community Quality of Life Initiative in the County of San Diego’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan with the objective of providing services that enhance communities through increasing the well-being of our residents and our environments. Today’s requested action fulfills this initiative by improving the opportunity for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists to interact safely with the roadway and each other.
Respectfully submitted,
Dahvia lynch
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Summary of Traffic Advisory Committee Recommendations from the April 4, 2025, Meeting
B. Resolutions Amending County Resolutions to Implement the Boards Direction
C. Sheriff and CHP Input Received for TAC Items