Council amends resurfacing project to remove some bollards, tighten Mountain Vista lanes and expand bike buffers

Encinitas City Council adopted amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025–26 pavement rehab restriping package after an extended set of public comments and technical discussion about bike‑lane delineation. Advocates and local researchers said flexi‑post bollards can be vertical crash hazards for cyclists and cited local crash counts; they urged alternatives such as profiled thermoplastic buffers or audible tactile strips.

Traffic staff said federal grant (HSIP) requirements for two projects require a protected bike facility and that the city historically has used flexi‑posts and curb elements as delineators. Staff described changes already made in spacing (40–50 feet) and height (new flexi posts at 28 inches). Councilmember O’Hara offered an amendment to remove bollards in the resurfacing project limits on Leucadia Boulevard and replace them with scribed or thermoplastic buffering, and to adjust Mountain Vista Drive cross‑sections to 10.5‑foot travel lanes with a wider bike lane (effectively a 2‑foot buffer achieved by widening the bike lane). Staff confirmed the 2‑foot bike buffer is the minimum striping buffer in city practice and that excess width can be added to the bike lane itself.

Staff also agreed to develop design standards for protected bike facilities, including criteria for when to pilot thermoplastic raised profiles or other non‑post devices. The council approved the amended restriping package and asked staff to return with standards and a list of locations for potential pilot work.

The vote to approve the amended restriping and pilot direction was unanimous. Staff will incorporate MTSC input and return with recommended standards and, as directed, will examine targeted uses of bollards where they demonstrably improve safety.