Project Overview

The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) has launched the Highway 1 North Coast Corridor Plan to study a 12-mile segment of Highway 1 from San Simeon to Cambria and provide recommendations to make it safer for everyone who travels along that stretch of road. 

The Highway 1 North Coast Corridor Plan will evaluate the roads, bridges, and crossings along this portion of Highway 1 as well as adjacent land and roadways that influence the wildlife, environmental, and mobility experience along Highway 1.  

A community driven project

This project responds to community feedback from residents in Cambria and San Simeon, where more than 600 residents signed a petition requesting transportation improvements to address safety issues, especially car collisions with wildlife (known as “wildlife strikes”) that happen along this stretch of Highway 1. 

Around the same time, SLOCOG’s Regional Safety Action Plan also identified opportunities to improve safety on Highway 1 and nearby roadways, particularly for bicyclists and pedestrians. 

This, combined with increasing concern around environmental events like storm surges, coastal flooding, sea level rise, wildfires, landslides, and other highway impacts seen along other parts of the California coastline led to the prioritization of this project.

What will this project do?

Understand wildlife patterns around and across Highway 1 and reduce the frequency and severity of automobile collisions with wildlife.

  • 49 deer strikes have been reported since 2018 along this portion of Highway 1
  • Wildlife is abundant in the area, driving the need for road ecology solutions   

Enhance safety for all road users and enhance bicyclist and pedestrian connectivity options to improve access to and enjoyment of coastal recreational opportunities along the corridor.

  • 17 fatal/severe injury crashes occurred between 2019-2024, including 5 involving bicyclists
  • Crossing Highway 1 on foot or bike is challenging, and is a desired path for access to schools, beaches, parks, and shops

Recommend ways to minimize climate change vulnerabilities like storm surges, coastal flooding, sea level rise, wildfires, landslides, and other impacts.

  • Caltrans has identified sections of Highway 1 as priority assets due to high cross-hazard vulnerability 
  • Many parts of Highway 1 and the surrounding communities are in the 100-year flood plain

The Highway 1 North Coast Corridor Plan will result in actionable recommendations for short-term and future projects to improve the corridor’s functionality, increase resilience to climate change impacts, and bring overall benefit to surrounding communities. 

Community Engagement

Community feedback is crucial to the success of the project. There will be opportunities for public engagement throughout the project.

Visit the Get Involved page to learn more and sign up. 

Project Advisory Committee 

The project will also benefit from input from a broad stakeholder group.

Including Caltrans, communities of San Simeon and Cambria (North Coast Advisory Council, Cambria Community Services District, Chambers of Commerce, residents), California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Coastal Commission, SLO County, Northern Chumash Tribal Council, and other interested stakeholders.

Funding

Funding for this project comes from the FY2025/26
Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program.  

Stay Up To Date

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