Caltrans seeking consensus, not approval, from HMB on traffic light

Caltrans is not asking for Half Moon Bay’s approval of the proposed traffic light at the intersection of Highways 1 and 92.

The agency is performing a traffic study requested by the city next week, and waiting until the HMB City Council has a chance to review and discuss the study at its June 6 meeting. However, it is not seeking approval from the city before turning on the light.

"We want to work on a collaborative basis," Caltrans spokesman John Cunliffe told Coastsider.  Once the study is complete, he says, "The most logical decision should be pretty straightforward—What’s best for the efficiency of the intersection?"

Cunliffe reiterated Caltrans’s position that in this emergency it does not need a Coastal Development Permit from the city to install the light.  He declined to say whether Caltrans maintains it would need permission if there were no emergency.

When asked who was representing the unincorporated Midcoast, all of which is north of the intersection, in this collaborative process, Cunliffe said he’s getting plenty of input from people who live north of the intersection.