As part of an effort to improve safety, create a pedestrian-friendly space and encourage more alternative modes of transportation, the City of San Diego planned to add traffic calming measures on Diamond Street in Pacific Beach, starting near the Pacific Beach Recreation Center and Pacific Beach Middle School, to Mission Boulevard and the beach. But a public outcry from Diamond Street residents in Pacific Beach has led to a delay in the start of construction.

“Councilmember Joe LaCava had a meeting (on June 20) with the residents and neighbors on Diamond Street,” said District 1 chief-of-staff Vicky Joes at Pacific Beach Town Council’s June 21 meeting. “We have met now with folks both in favor and against. Both groups have asked us questions that the council member doesn’t have solid answers to. So, he reached out to the mayor’s office last night and we were able to put a temporary pause on the (traffic-calming) installation today.”

Added Joes: “An internal (City) meeting of all the appropriate departments, who will be able to answer the questions, will take place (on June 23) at 4 p.m. So we’ll be reporting out an update on Monday (June 26).”

The City’s plan would add flexible posts to limit continuous vehicular traffic down Diamond Street to right-turn only at the Cass and Fanuel Street intersections, along with signage along the entire corridor to inform drivers and users of this new roadway design.

“Pacific Beach is a community that loves to walk and bike, and we know how much our residents value the safety improvements this project will provide,” said beautifulPB board president Katie Matchett.

At the two intersection crossings, there would be pass-throughs for pedestrians, cyclists, and shared mobility device users. Rules of the road for stop signs and looking both ways are still required and will be enforced. Installation of the new traffic calming measures (signage, flexible posts, and pavement markings) will begin on June 21 and is expected to be finished within two days, with limited traffic interruptions during the work.

Some neighbors claim making the slow street project near them permanent will diminish their quality of life, cause more problems than it solves, and exemplifies the City’s unwillingness to listen to those contending it is an ill-fated change.

“I feel like I’m wasting my breath at this point because the City obviously doesn’t care about what the residents think, nor do they want to hear from us,” said Michael Moore, who lives on Missouri Street near Diamond. “They’ve proven this through their actions (and lack of actions). I wish the entire transportation department had this type of ill-advised action happening on their streets with no input so they could see what it’s like themselves.”

Another Missouri Street resident, Doug Sovinsky, claimed slow streets will be dangerous, unenforceable, and exacerbate traffic congestion. “Who is going to enforce any rules on electric bikes flying down these so-called slow streets?” he asked. “There are so many Amazon, FedEx, UPS trucks that are making deliveries that the packed streets will be even more dangerous with an influx of walkers, bikers, etc.”

“I am disappointed to hear the City is continuing with this traffic-calming project,” agreed Aracely Sampson, a Diamond Street resident. “They have not taken the time to analyze, study and ask the residents for their input.”

The Diamond Street traffic calming project is a type of Quick-Build, where materials are easily installed and modified as necessary in response to any changes or issues that may arise. The flexible posts are designed to allow access to emergency vehicles if needed, so response times will not be impacted.

“I have listened to residents and community leaders, and it is evident that the concern is the safety along Diamond Street,” said District 1 Councilmember and Environment Committee Chair Joe LaCava. “Traffic calming measures on Diamond Street support the City’s Vision Zero goals by slowing the speed of cars and improving safety for people of all ages and abilities. They provide a safer route for people who walk, roll or ride to the beach, boardwalk, and local businesses.”

Another benefit of the project is the creation of a pathway and connection for youth attending Pacific Beach Middle School, by encouraging biking and walking to and from school to reduce congestion experienced during those times.

“As a resident directly impacted by the proposed bollards, I am vehemently opposed to the install,” said Diamond Street resident Jessica Moore. “This bollard project will create more vehicle traffic on neighboring streets, which negates Vision Zero for safety. The city should follow its own traffic calming initiatives and survey those residents directly impacted (Diamond, Missouri, and Emerald).  Most impacted residents do not want them and believe that Diamond should remain as it was originally intended – a street.”

This traffic calming project builds off the PB Pathways system, a community-driven effort that was started in 2015. Decals and signage were placed along the first phase of roadways within the community, funded by the City and community nonprofit organization, beautifulPB. Subsequently, Diamond Street was used as a “Slow Streets” pilot during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through a series of meetings between 2021 and 2023, the City heard ideas from the community on a future phase of the Diamond Street Slow Street. City Transportation engineering staff worked to align the Slow Street functionality experienced during COVID-19 and the community input for design ideas with federal and state engineering design requirements and guidelines.

The proposed Quick-Build design was identified as an opportunity to continue to elevate the use of alternative ways to get around Pacific Beach, implement new techniques to address Vision Zero and create a community connection building on the PB Pathway.

Added Moore: “If the city is trying to create an environment of ‘fewer carbon footprints or emissions,’ why would they create blockades that force vehicles to drive around the block just to access their own residence? What is ironic about this is that Diamond has not ever had any collisions with vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians from Haines to the ocean in all the years of the city’s Vision Zero tracking (sandiego.gov/vision-zero/strategic-plan).”

The Pacific Beach community group beautifulPB, which advocates for projects and policies that promote sustainability, equity, and safe mobility in the community – is supportive of the Diamond Street traffic calming measures. For more information about Diamond Street, including a video animation of how traffic calming will function, visit the City’s sitio web.