The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans to reduce Topanga Canyon to one lane with alternating traffic so they can work on the damge done by the bug landslide that happened in March.

The lane closures are at postmile 1.8 and will be from 9PM - 6AM, for next 2 weeks.

Crews will be installing anchors on the steep hillside this week. These anchors will allow crews to tether themselves to them, so they secure straw wattles on the bare slope to prevent soil erosion during the upcoming rainy season.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans to reduce Topanga Canyon to one lane with alternating traffic so they can work on the damge done by the big landslide that happened in March.

The closure of the Northbound lane will be at postmile 1.8 and will be from 9PM - 6AM, starting on Tuesday 9/10 and will last for 3 weeks.



Crews will be installing anchors on the steep hillside this week. These anchors will allow crews to tether themselves to them, so they secure straw wattles on the bare slope to prevent soil erosion during the upcoming rainy season.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

On Tuesday, a Pruis invovled in an accident ended on falling onto the Ballona Creek Bikev Path.

"Dude drove off Inglewood Blvd, crashed through a fence and landed on the bike path. Thank goodness nobody was seriously injured." stated the witness who took the photo.

The driver was trapped in his vehicle, but not injured. The other vehicle took off. LAPD said they will be investigating the crash, which they said is just a misdemeanor since no one was injured.

Speed limits on more than 30 miles of Santa Monica streets will be lowered, following unanimous approval by the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday.

These reductions are the results of a speed survey conducted earlier this year to ensure the speed limits remain valid. The survey, conducted from Jan. 27 through Jul. 29, includes measurement of vehicular speeds along roadway segments to determine the speed of a majority of drivers, which is the most effective attribute in establishing speed limits.

The study recommended only one increase in speed limit, from 25 to 30 miles per hour, on a 0.3-mile segment of California Avenue. A full list of approved speed adjustments, recommended in consultation with the Santa Monica Police Department, is included below.

The city will begin rolling out new signage exhibiting the updated speed limits this fall.

The proposed speed limit changes support the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and severe injury crashes on city streets by improving safety for all roadway users.

Council adopted Vision Zero in February 2016. Unsafe speed is the second most common violation cited in fatal and severe crashes in the city, at 14 percent of the total. Crashes at slower speeds are less likely to result in fatalities, and the application of reasonable and safe speed limits allows for effective enforcement of speed limits throughout the city.

“Reducing vehicle speeds on our roads is vital to create safer conditions for getting around in our city,” Department of Transportation Director Anuj Gupta said. “It is one of the many ways Santa Monica is creating a street network that is more safe, connected and attractive for all roadway users.”

The ordinance will be adopted 30 days after the second reading, which is anticipated for Sept. 10. For more information, view the staff report here.

Reduction to 35 mph

1. Olympic Boulevard between 11th Street and Centinela Avenue – from 40 to 35 mph

Reduction to 30 mph

2. Lincoln Boulevard between I-10 Freeway and Pico Boulevard – from 35 to 30 mph

3. Ocean Park Boulevard between 23rd Street and Centinela Avenue – from 35 to 30 mph

4. Pico Boulevard between Lincoln Boulevard and Centinela Avenue – from 35 to 30 mph

Reduction to 25 mph

5. 2nd Street between Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue — from 30 to 25 mph

6. 4th Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph

7. 11th Street between San Vicente Boulevard and Marine Street — from 30 to 25 mph

8. 14th Street between San Vicente Boulevard and Ashland Avenue — from 30 to 25 mph

9. 20th Street between Wilshire and Pico boulevards — from 30 to 25 mph

10. 26th Street between San Vicente and Cloverfield boulevards – from 30 to 25 mph

11. Colorado Avenue between Ocean Avenue and 17th Street — from 30 to 25 mph

12. Dewey Street between Robson Avenue and 23rd Street — from 30 to 25 mph

13. Main Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph

14. Marine Street between Lincoln Boulevard and 17th Street — from 30 to 25 mph

15. Montana Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Stanford Street — from 30 to 25 mph

16. Neilson Way between Pico Boulevard and Marine Street — from 30 to 25 mph

17. Ocean Avenue between the north city limit and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph

18. Ocean Park Boulevard between Barnard Way and 23rd Street — from 30 to 25 mph

19. Pico Boulevard between Appian Way and Lincoln Boulevard — from 35 to 25 mph

20. Stewart Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph

21. Wilshire Boulevard between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph

Reduction to 20 mph

22. 6th Street between Pico Boulevard and Pier Avenue — from 30 to 20 mph

23. 20th Street between Pico and Ocean Park boulevards — from 25 to 20 mph

24. Appian Way between Pacific Coast Highway and Bay Street — from 25 to 20 mph

25. Ashland Avenue between Neilson Way and Lincoln Boulevard — from 25 to 20 mph

26. Barnard Way between Hollister Avenue and Neilson Way — from 25 to 20 mph

27. California Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard — from 25 to 20 mph

28. Michigan Avenue between Lincoln Boulevard and 19th Street — from 25 (statutory) to 20 mph

29. Washington Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Stanford Street — from 25 to 20 mph

Increase to 30 MPH

1. California Avenue between Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue (also known as the California Incline) — from 25 to 30 mph

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans to reduce Topanga Canyon to one lane with alternating traffic so they can work on the damge done by the bug landslide that happened in March.

The lane closures are at postmile 1.8 and will be from 9PM - 6AM, stating on Tuesday and lasting till Friday.

Crews will be installing anchors on the steep hillside this week. These anchors will allow crews to tether themselves to them, so they secure straw wattles on the bare slope to prevent soil erosion during the upcoming rainy season.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

The Santa Monica Police Department will have extra officers on patrol August 23, 2024 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm, looking specifically for violations made by drivers and motorcycle riders.

The top primary crash factors for motorcycles are unsafe speed, improper turning, right-of-way violations, driving under the influence and unsafe lane changes. Speeding is the most common factor, accounting for nearly a third of all crashes in the state.

To help protect you and your family, keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

• Always check twice for motorcycles in your mirrors and blind spots.

• Use your signal when changing lanes.

• Never follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance.

• When at an intersection, allow enough space before turning.

Motorcyclists

• Always wear a DOT compliant helmet and protective gear.

• Consider adding reflective tape to make it easier for other drivers to see you.

• Always keep your lights on, even during the day.

• Don’t assume drivers see you: signal well in advance before changing lanes and watch for turning vehicles.

• Although lane splitting is legal, the practice is not encouraged at high speeds in free-flowing traffic.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

By City News Service

A 29-year-old woman who was struck and killed by a vehicle in Marina del Rey whose driver fled was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner Tuesday.

Officers were dispatched Sunday at about 12:30 a.m. to Lincoln and Washington boulevards regarding a “possible vehicle versus pedestrian” call, according to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was later identified by the medical examiner as Kruti Pandya.

On Wednesday morning, Pacific Coast Highway was closed between Heathercliff Road and Busch Drive while Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau personnel assised the Malibu/Lost Hill’s Station with a barricaded assault with a deadly weapon suspect in his vehicle.

The standoff began about 5 a.m., when deputies attempted to cite the suspect for a parking violation. Deputies checked the man's license plate information and discovered he had a no-bail felony warrant, sheriff's spokesperson Adam Zeko said.

He assaulted the deputies with a fire extinguisherwhen they approached his white van, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Zeko told the press.

Deputies called in other resources, including "our special weapons team, who are on the scene right now," he said. The man was taken into custody without incident around 8:30 a.m. and the road was reopened to traffic about an hour later.

Investigators are still poring over the scene in #Malibu where a man was barricaded in his camper van for a couple of hours. He was taken into custody by #LASD. This stretch of #PCH is still closed. @knxnews pic.twitter.com/lyZdb2HmKb

— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) August 21, 2024

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans a slope restoration project at postmile 4.9 on State Route 27 (SR-27) south of Circle Trail beginning Tuesday, Aug. 20. The work will require reducing about a half-mile of SR-27 to one lane with flaggers directing alternating traffic during off-peak hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., for four weeks. Signs will be posted. Motorists can expect delays.



The slope along Topanga Creek was seriously eroded by February rainstorms, which undermines a section of the southbound roadway shoulder. Caltrans' aim is to rebuild the slope with native dirt and rocks before the rainy season. What the work involves:

One lane closure from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Extended one lane closure Friday to Saturday - 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Hours were determined to avoid disrupting peak commuting periods. • K-rails will be installed along the southbound fog line as a safety measure. • Daytime slope repair work behind k-rails.

Flaggers will communicate via radio to minimize traffic delays in both directions. Motorists will have access to Circle Trail.

In the event of an emergency such as evacuation due to fire danger, work will be suspended to open lanes in both directions.

All work is subject to change due to weather or construction-related issues. Residents and businesses located near the freeway may experience noise, vibrations and dust associated with construction activities.

Caltrans reminds drivers to "Be Work Zone Alert" and to "Slow for the Cone Zone."

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Venice Beach saw an unusual scene on Monday, August 5, 2024, as the Los Angeles Police Department and firefighters responded to a vehicle stuck in the sand. An elderly man had inadvertently driven his car onto the beach, leading to the vehicle becoming entrenched in the sand.

The front end of the vehicle displayed damage from a prior incident. Emergency services, including fire paramedics, attended to the scene, ensuring the elderly driver was unharmed. He waited in an ambulance for his family to arrive and take him home. A tow truck successfully extricated the car from the sand before impounding it."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Expect one lane to be blocked on northbound or southbound Pacific Coast Highway by a moving closure between Sunset Blvd & Topanga Cyn Blvd from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. & between Puerco Canyon Rd & Corral Canyon Rd 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Mon 8/5 - Fri 8/9.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

According to RMG News, a pedestrian was killed after being struck by two vehicles, one of which dragged him down the street in a Venice neighborhood.

The person was crossing the street in an unmarked crosswalk in the 700 block of Venice Boulevard at 11:19 p.m. when he was hit by a vehicle. That vehicle took off after striking the pedestrian.

Then a second vehicle hit the pedestrian dragging and pinning the victim under the car. Police said the car stopped not too far from the collision.

Firefighter arrived and raised the BMW off the victim and the paramedics pronounced the victim dead.

Police currently are investigating the incident.

An not shocking update to that Social Media Influencer, Summer Wheaton, who killed a person while driving drunk in Malibu.

Malibu Global Media has uncovered one of her Instagram Stories of her drunk on the side of the road in September 2023, mocking law enforcement as “at least 20 of her friends drove by drunk”.

EXCLUSIVE: Social media influencer Summer Wheaton, drunk on the side of the road in September 2023, mocking law enforcement as “at least 20 of her friends drove by drunk”. Wheaton was behind the wheel when she drifted into oncoming traffic causing the fatal Fourth of… pic.twitter.com/l0zKohWPxh

— Cece Woods (@ceceswoods) July 13, 2024

On Thursday, July 4th, just after 10 p.m., Wheaton's Mercedes sedan was travelling eastbound on Pacific Coast Highway reportedly crossed into the path of a 2020 Cadillac Escalade. The two vehicles collided head on and the driver from the Cadillac suffered major injuries. Unfortunately, the motorist was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

It happened in the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway, west of Carbon Canyon.

A passenger in the Cadillac Escalade also had major injuries. Paramedics transported the passenger as well as Wheaton with serious injuries to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for treatment.

The preliminary investigation indicates that speed and/or alcohol are possible causes of the accident. Reports say that Wheaton was a guest at the infamous Nobu "Red, White, & Bootsy" event sponored by wine, tequila, and Champagne bottlers. A table at the event cost range from $10,000 to $75,000 and include liquor.




Wheaton has an Instagram with 102K followers and claims to be a "wellness advocate" and "Luxury Realtor" who sells or rents real estate in Malibu and Beverly Hills. But following the crash, her Instagram has made turn to Private:




"Imagine not liking me and I'm just floating from one successful meeting to the next like this" was one of her last Instagram post captions.

The driver of the Escalade that was killed has been identified as 44-year-old Martin Okeke, a ride share driver.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriffs Station identified 32-year-old "social media influencer" Summer Wheaton as the driver of the car that drove head on into oncoming traffic on Pacific Coast Highway killing one person and injurying another.




On Thursday, July 4th, just after 10 p.m., Wheaton's Mercedes sedan was travelling eastbound on Pacific Coast Highway reportedly crossed into the path of a 2020 Cadillac Escalade. The two vehicles collided head on and the driver from the Cadillac suffered major injuries. Unfortunately, the motorist was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

It happened in the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway, west of Carbon Canyon.

A passenger in the Cadillac Escalade also had major injuries. Paramedics transported the passenger as well as Wheaton with serious injuries to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for treatment.

The preliminary investigation indicates that speed and/or alcohol are possible causes of the accident. Reports say that Wheaton was a guest at the infamous Nobu "Red, White, & Bootsy" event sponored by wine, tequila, and Champagne bottlers. A table at the event cost range from $10,000 to $75,000 and include liquor.

Wheaton has an Instagram with 102K followers and claims to be a "wellness advocate" and "Luxury Realtor" who sells or rents real estate in Malibu and Beverly Hills. But following the crash, her Instagram has made turn to Private:




"Imagine not liking me and I'm just floating from one successful meeting to the next like this" was one of her last Instagram post captions.

The driver of the Escalade that was killed has been identified as 44-year-old Martin Okeke, a ride share driver.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

Pacific Coast Highway was closed for sewveral hours in both directions at Carbon Canyon Road in Malibu on Friday morning due to a fatal car crash.

One person died and two others were injured in a Fourth of July car accident on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Two vehicles were involved in the head-on collision just after 11 p.m. on Thursday, July 4th, according to the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station and MyNewsLA.

It happened in the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway, west of Carbon Canyon, police said.

A driver in a 2019 Mercedes Benz sedan travelling eastbound on Pacific Coast Highway reportedly crossed into the path of a 2020 Cadillac Escalade. The two vehicles collided head on and the driver from the Cadillac suffered major injuries. Unfortunately, the motorist was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Meanwhile, the passenger in the Cadillac Escalade also had major injuries. Paramedics transported the passenger as well as the driver of the Mercedes Benz with serious injuries to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for treatment.

Authorities closed down all traffic lanes on Pacific Coast Highway in the area due to the crash and investigation.

The roadway did not fully reopen until the next morning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

The cause of the fatal Malibu car accident over the Fourth of July remains under investigation.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will conduct a Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation with focused enforcement efforts on primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Police Department identifies locations where pedestrian and bike collisions are prevalent, along with the violations that led to those collisions. Traffic officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Officers will be looking for violations committed by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

These extra enforcement efforts will take place the week of July 1, 2024.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car. Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”

Pedestrians

· Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.

· Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.

· Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

· Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.

· Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers

· Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

· Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

· Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

· Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.

· Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

· Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.

· If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.

Expect one lane to be blocked on northbound or southbound July 1 & Tuesday, July 2 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. by a moving closure between Sunset Blvd & Topanga Canyon Blvd for drainage upgrades Monday, July 1 & Tuesday, July 2 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

Expect one lane to be blocked on northbound or southbound July 1 & Tuesday, July 2 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. by a moving closure between Sunset Blvd & Topanga Canyon Blvd for drainage upgrades Monday, July 1 & Tuesday, July 2 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

The City of Malibu is pleased to announce that Senate Bill 1297 (SB 1297), which authorizes the use of speed camera systems in designated areas of Malibu, has successfully passed out of the Assembly Transportation Committee June 17. This pivotal legislation aims to enhance road safety and reduce speeding-related incidents in the community.

SB 1297, introduced by Senator Ben Allen, whose 24th District includes Malibu, received support from several Committee members, community and safety advocates, and law enforcement officials. The bill will now advance to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee for further consideration.

"We are thrilled that SB 1297 has taken this significant step forward," said Mayor Steve Uhring. "The implementation of speed camera systems is a crucial measure to protect our residents, pedestrians, and visitors from the dangers of speeding. This technology will serve as a deterrent, encourage responsible driving, and ultimately save lives."

Senator Allen expressed his gratitude for the Committee's support, stating, "Passing SB 1297 out of the Assembly Transportation Committee is a major victory for public safety in Malibu. Speed cameras have proven effective in reducing speeding and saving lives in other communities, and I am confident they will do the same here.

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (whose 42nd District includes Malibu), co-author of SB 1297, joined Senator Allen at Monday’s hearing, also commented, "This legislation represents a critical step towards making our roads safer. I am proud to support SB 1297 and look forward to its continued progress through the Assembly."

The proposed speed camera systems will be strategically placed in five high-risk areas along Malibu’s 21-mile stretch, where speeding poses a serious threat to public safety. Data gathered from other communities and countries that have implemented similar measures show an average of 41% reduction in fatal or incapacitating injury crashes.

Bridget Thompson, a classmate of the Pepperdine students who were tragically killed on PCH back in October of 2023, testified in Sacramento in support of the bill. She shared, "This legislation is a necessary step towards ensuring that no other family or community has to endure the pain we have experienced. Speed cameras will make our roads safer for everyone."

Michel Shane, father of Emily Shane who was killed in 2010 on PCH, also testified, saying, "The passage of SB 1297 out of committee is a beacon of hope for those of us who have lost loved ones to reckless driving. It is a crucial step towards preventing future tragedies on our roads."

"We thank the Assembly Transportation Committee for their support and recognition of the importance of this bill," added Mayor Uhring. "We look forward to continuing our efforts to make Malibu a safer place for everyone."

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

Heads up Topanga motorists! Caltrans will close a portion of southbound Topanga Blvd on postmile 1.9 near the area of the recently opened highway which was closed due to a slide. The closure will allow crews to safely install k-rail near the location of the slide.

The closure will be on Thursday 6/20 from 9 am to 11 am., and there will be one-way traffic control near the location of the work.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.