Council Agrees to Six New Speed Advisory Signs on PCH

BY BILL KOENEKER

Six new signs that were supposed to cost less than $100,000 will be installed along Pacific Coast Highway at various locations along the City of Malibu’s coastal strip to advise motorists of their speed. The Malibu City Council, at a recent meeting, agreed to use general fund monies in lieu of immediate funding from federal dollars slow in coming for the construction of the speed advisory signs.

At the council’s next meeting, members are expected to award a contract and authorize the locations for placing the signs on PCH.

The current federal funding, council members were told, does not allow for the construction to start until much later.

Council members were criticized by some of the public for allocating general fund money for the expenditure, but some members defended the action.

“If it saves one life, it is worth it [even] if we do not get reimbursed,” said Councilmember Sharon Barovsky.

The reimbursement is expected to come from federal funds more formally known as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, also known as TEA-21. Councilmember Jeff Jennings said he wanted to know where TEA funds were being spent, given the promises made about how the money would be used for improvements on PCH that are not evident. He asked the staff to provide a list of how the money has been spent to date.

The mobile speed advisory boards are expected to cost possibly as much as $130,000.

The staff told council members they are currently working on getting the federal funds, but the process will not be completed until about July.