Agenda Item No. 9
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council DATE: May 27, 2025 FROM: Megan Martin, Community Development Director
PREPARED BY: Kyle Bell, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: General Plan Circulation Element Status Update (GPA-25-0001)
RECOMMENDATION
Receive a status update on the City’s update to the General Plan Circulation Element.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the City’s General Plan Circulation Element is to guide the growth and expansion of transportation and circulation facilities within the City’s planning area. The intent of the Circulation Element is to ensure that the current circulation system evolves in tandem with anticipated land use changes and community growth over the next 20 years.
The City’s Circulation Element was last updated in 2005. The adopted Circulation Element contains goals, policies, and programs that guided growth and expansion of the transportation and circulation facilities that corresponded with the City’s land use development. Since the adoption of the 2005 Circulation Element, the City has adopted a 2011 Bicycle Master Plan, adopted the 2011 West Grand Avenue Master Plan, Climate Action Plan 2014, adopted an updated Housing Element and Land Use Element in 2020, performed a comprehensive update of its Land Use Element and updated the City’s Development Code in 2022. In addition to these resources, the State of California has enacted significant laws regarding transportation, including the following:
• AB 1358 “The Complete Streets Act of 2008”, which requires a balanced multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets roads and highways. • SB 743, which requires that municipalities shift focus of environmental analysis from impacts of projects utilizing a Level of Service (LOS) analysis to a Vehicles Mile Traveled (VMT) methodology. This metric will be key in analyzing all future development projects for consistency with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The Circulation Element Update will establish a comprehensive strategy to enhance mobility, safety, and connectivity for all modes of travel (vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and trails) while aligning State mandates and regional transportation planning efforts. In addition to shaping future infrastructure investments and supporting sustainable development patterns, the updated Circulation Element will better position the City to compete for regional, State, and Federal grant funding aimed at improving transit connectivity and multimodal circulation. As the community continues to grow and evolve, this effort will provide the technical analysis and policy direction necessary to address existing challenges and prepare for future mobility needs.
Staff Report: General Plan Circulation Element Status Update Page 2 May 27, 2025
Project Strategy
The City Council received a presentation on June 26, 2023, about the need to update the Circulation Element and the proposed process to do so. To effectively guide this update of the Circulation Element (“Project”), the City has developed a strategic, goal-oriented approach that ensures both technical consistency and policy alignment. This strategy is intended to provide a clear framework for evaluating the City’s existing transportation network, forecasting future needs, and identifying targeted improvements that support a safe, efficient, and sustainable circulation system. The following key objectives have been identified to structure the Project’s scope of work and guide decision-making throughout the update process:
A. Evaluate Existing Circulation System: The Project will identify any deficiencies of the City’s circulation system, including areas of congestion or inadequate infrastructure.
B. Analyze the Circulation System: The Project will assess the City’s capacity to handle projected growth generated by infill development and accommodate future needs by evaluating the City’s existing circulation system and planned improvements.
C. Strategize Improvement Opportunities: The Project will identify opportunities to address improvements to the City’s circulation system and develop strategies that will help prioritize improvements that provide the greatest circulation benefit to the City.
D. Consistency with SLOCOG Regional Transportation Plan: The Project shall be fully compatible with the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) 2023 Regional Transportation Plan. The transportation technical analysis and modeling must be consistent with SLOCOG’s Countywide Transportation Demand Model and reconciled with the land use assumptions utilized by SLOCOG and current land uses of the City of Grover Beach.
E. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and Level of Service (LOS) Analysis: The Project will address the requirement of SB 743 that calls for utilizing VMT as a metric to address the impacts of new development as it relates to environmental review. The City will continue utilizing the LOS metric as a tool to measure the extent of traffic impacts for development projects.
City Partnerships and Contract Services
Based on the technical complexity of transportation engineering and planning, as well as the need to evaluate LOS and VMT in compliance with State regulations as part of the Project, the City entered into a contract in November 2024 with Linscott, Law & Greenspan, Engineers (LLG), a transportation consulting firm. LLG has demonstrated experience in transportation planning and traffic engineering. LLG will provide technical expertise in the development of several key studies, including a LOS Study, a VMT Study, an Existing Conditions Report, and a Build-Out Conditions Report. These deliverables will serve as foundational components to inform policy direction and infrastructure planning as part of the Project. Environmental review of the Project will be conducted separately by a qualified environmental consultant at a later stage in the process.
The City also partnered with the City and Regional Planning Studio from California Polytechnic State University (“Cal Poly”) to support public outreach and data collection for the Project. This collaboration has significantly advanced the data collection phase of the project through a combination of fieldwork and community engagement. Cal Poly conducted a comprehensive inventory of existing transportation conditions, which has since been compiled and transferred to the City’s transportation consultant to inform upcoming technical analyses. This collaboration highlights the City's efforts to engage academic resources and incorporate community perspectives early in the planning process.
Staff Report: General Plan Circulation Element Status Update Page 3 May 27, 2025
As part of the Circulation Element update, the City will also coordinate with SLOCOG to align with regional transportation planning efforts. SLOCOG’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) provides key data and priorities to support a shared vision for sustainable, multimodal mobility. This work is further guided by the 2020 San Luis Obispo County Regional Infrastructure and Housing Strategic Growth Compact (Regional Compact) and 2023 Regional Housing and Infrastructure Framework, which established a united regional framework to support the development of sufficient housing and infrastructure that drives long-term economic prosperity. The City is committed to this collaborative effort, actively working with SLOCOG and other local agencies to share tools, policies, and strategies that align with the goals of the RTP (https://www.slocog.org/programs/regional-planning/2023-rtp). Together, these efforts ensure the Circulation Element update reflects regional goals and is informed by broad community input.
Following the initial data collection and outreach efforts, the next phase of the Project involves the preparation of technical studies by LLG. While preliminary work is underway, full traffic data collection efforts are on hold until the West Grand Avenue streetscape improvements are completed in May. To ensure the traffic counts accurately reflect typical circulation patterns within the city, the consultant team will conduct these counts following the peak summer season. This approach is intended to provide more reliable baseline data to support the evaluation of existing conditions and inform future transportation planning efforts.
Community Outreach and Engagement
The City is committed to engaging the community in a meaningful, accountable, responsive, and equitable way throughout the Project consistent with the Council’s priority of Rebuilding community trust, community engagement, and civility in public discourse. Public engagement to date reflects a multifaceted approach designed to reach a broad cross-section of the community.
These initial efforts have focused on relationship building, open dialogue, and collection of feedback to guide the development of circulation-related goals, policies, and programs that reflect the community’s needs.
Community engagement is generally defined as the range of opportunities for public involvement in the decision-making process, relationship building, and community strengthening. This engagement is most successful when the community both is and feels like an active participant in shaping the outcomes. So far, the City’s outreach has included targeted focus groups, collaboration with academic partners, and broad public feedback through a citywide online survey.
These efforts are summarized below and further described in Attachment 1. • Website Homepage: In October 2024, staff created a webpage dedicated to sharing information with the community regarding the progress on the Circulation Element Update.
The webpage is regularly updated to include the latest information on the progress of the Project, and how community members can get involved.
• Technical Advisory Group: On October 16, 2024, the City brought together regional agencies, organizations, and stakeholders to provide technical expertise and input on the Project, with a strong emphasis on safety, multimodal access, and regional coordination.
Key themes from the discussion included alignment with the Road to Zero Program, prioritization of collision and VMT data analysis, enhancements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and planning for future mobility needs such as electric vehicles and evacuation scenarios.
• News Release: On October 18, 2024, the City sent out a release announcing the launch of the Circulation Element Update and partnership with Cal Poly (Grover Beach Launches Circulation Element Update with Support from Cal Poly City & Regional Planning).
Staff Report: General Plan Circulation Element Status Update Page 4 May 27, 2025
• Cal Poly-Led Public Engagement: As part of the Project, the City partnered with Cal Poly to conduct community outreach and assess existing transportation conditions. Through public tabling events, visioning workshop, bike tour, and participation in local events, the students gathered valuable input from residents on travel habits, infrastructure concerns, and future priorities. This feedback will help inform policies and programs that reflect the community’s needs and support a safer, more connected transportation network. • Online Community Survey: The City conducted an online survey from October 2024 through February 2025 to gather input from community members who were unable to attend in-person workshops. A total of 76 responses were collected. Key concerns identified included poor pavement conditions, limited pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and excessive vehicle speeds at key intersections. The survey results highlighted a strong reliance on personal vehicles, but also demonstrated community interest in expanding safe, accessible options for walking, biking, and public transit.
Future community engagement and outreach will include additional technical advisory and focus group discussions, community workshops, and public surveys to ensure that input from the community continues to shape the development of the Project. This ongoing engagement will help ensure the final document reflects local priorities and creates a safer, more efficient, and more equitable transportation network for all who live, work, and play in Grover Beach.
Local Coastal Program
As the project study area includes properties and roadways within the Coastal Zone, an update to the City’s Circulation Element will likely trigger the need for an amendment to the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP). In particular, circulation-related policies that affect coastal access, public transportation infrastructure, or other coastal resources must remain consistent with the California Coastal Act and are subject to review by the California Coastal Commission (Coastal Commission).
Staff will coordinate with Coastal Commission staff throughout the update process, which will ensure that the proposed circulation policies and improvements within the Coastal Zone comply with Coastal Act requirements.
Next Steps
Following the completion of initial tasks (data collection, consultant coordination, and early public outreach) the Project will enter the next phase. The steps outlined below represent key milestones that will guide the Project through technical analysis, environmental review, policy development, and ultimately, formal adoption:
• Completion of Technical Studies: Following the collection of updated traffic data, the consultant will prepare the technical studies necessary to inform the update. These will include analysis of transportation performance metrics such as LOS and VMT, as well as infrastructure needs and consistency with regional transportation plans. • Technical Advisory Group: Once the technical studies are complete, the reports will be distributed to the Technical Focus Group composed of representatives from key partner agencies and stakeholders, including SLOCOG, Caltrans, Regional Transit Authority, and City staff. This group will provide technical input and feedback on the findings, offer insight on regional transportation priorities, and help ensure consistency with broader planning efforts.
Staff Report: General Plan Circulation Element Status Update Page 5 May 27, 2025
• Environmental Review: Once technical studies are complete, the City will prepare an initial study to evaluate potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed policies and improvements.
• Joint Planning Commission and City Council Study Session: A study session will be scheduled this fall to present the results of the technical studies and summarize feedback gathered during the public engagement process. The session will provide the Planning Commission and City Council with an opportunity to offer input and help guide the development of the Draft Circulation Element policies and programs. • Public Review Period: The Draft Circulation Element and associated environmental review document will be released for public comment. This step will provide the community with an opportunity to review proposed updates and offer additional feedback prior to formal hearings.
• Planning Commission Review: A public hearing before the Planning Commission will be held in winter-spring 2026 to review the Draft Circulation Element and consider public comments. The Commission will make recommendations to the City Council based on its review.
• City Council Adoption: The final step will involve presenting the updated Circulation Element to the City Council in spring 2026 for adoption, along with the environmental review determination and all associated materials.
• LCP Certification: Depending on the results of data collection and the policy direction ultimately recommended by the Planning Commission and adopted by the City Council, submitting an LCP amendment may be required for certification by the Coastal Commission.
The City remains committed to ensuring that the process to update the Circulation Element is transparent, inclusive, and informed by robust community input. Additional focus groups, community workshops, and public surveys will be conducted to support each phase of the update and to ensure that the final Circulation Element reflects the priorities and values of the community.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This update is informational only and not considered a “Project” as defined in Section 15378 under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and therefore does not require an environmental determination. The City will complete the necessary environmental review in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws at the appropriate stage of the Circulation Element update process.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Attachments
1. Public Engagement Summary
2025 Circulation Element Update
Public Engagement Progress Summary
It is important that the City continue to maintain collaborative efforts with the community to ensure the amendments are transparent and easy to understand. Effective community engagement is essential in shaping the future of the City’s community development policies. To facilitate the public engagement process for the City’s Circulation Element Update and ensure a comprehensive and inclusive process, as of April 2025, the City conducted the following outreach initiatives:
Technical Advisory Group: On October 16, 2025, the City brought together regional agencies and organizations to provide input on the City’s Circulation Element Update, with a strong emphasis on safety, multimodal access, and regional coordination. Key themes from the discussion included alignment with the Road to Zero Program, prioritization of collision and Vehicle’s Miles Traveled (VMT) data analysis, enhancements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and planning for future mobility needs such as electric vehicles and evacuation scenarios.
Cal Poly Public Engagement: The City partnered with Cal Poly to conduct community outreach and assess existing transportation conditions. Through tabling events, a visioning workshop, a bike tour, and participation in local events, the students gathered valuable input from residents on travel habits, infrastructure concerns, and future priorities. This feedback will help inform policies and programs that reflect the community’s needs and support a safer, more connected transportation network.
Online Community Forum Survey: The City conducted an online survey from October 2024 through February 2025 to gather input from community members who were unable to attend in-person workshops, receiving 76 responses from a diverse cross-section of residents. Key concerns identified included poor pavement conditions, limited pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and excessive vehicle speeds at key intersections. The survey results highlighted a strong reliance on personal vehicles, but also demonstrated community interest in expanding safe, accessible options for walking, biking, and public transit.
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION
On October 16, 2025, the City convened a focus group meeting with various organizations and agencies to support the Circulation Element Update process. The purpose of the meeting was to foster collaboration and gather input on key aspects of the City's current and future circulation Attachment 1
2025 Circulation Element Update
strategies. Attendees were introduced to the scope, schedule, and objectives of the project, which aims to improve transit connectivity, street conditions, and multimodal access while aligning with regional transportation goals. The session served as an opportunity to discuss data collection methods, environmental review considerations, and innovative approaches to circulation planning. Participants engaged in a roundtable discussion to share insights on industry standards, regional consistency, and potential improvements.
Key Takeaways
SLO Council of Governments (SLOCOG): SLOCOG encourages the city to align its efforts in updating the Circulation Element with the goals of the Road to Zero Program, aiming to eliminate regional traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. The city should prioritize a thorough analysis of VMT and collision data to better understand and address these issues.
Additionally, it is essential to focus on improving mode share and to review licensed replica data regarding commuting patterns across the 5 Cities area and to the City of SLO.
The Circulation Element should reflect the vision set forth in the Regional Transportation Plan and Improvement Program by addressing the following key areas:
• Congestion management
• Infrastructure enhancement
• Safety goals and objectives
• Targets for reducing preventable collisions
• Strategies for increasing mode share
Department of Transportation – CalTrans: Caltrans supports SLOCOG's emphasis on prioritizing the Road to Zero program, asserting that safety must be a central focus in the update of the Circulation Element. Policies and programs should be proactive, addressing not only immediate safety concerns but also post-crash care. The city should aim to create complete streets that accommodate all modes of transportation and establish a local road safety program.
Additionally, the city should monitor Caltrans' maintenance project schedules and coordinate transportation improvements with these plans. This approach will enhance interagency collaboration and maximize shared funding opportunities.
For bicycle infrastructure, the city should prioritize low-stress improvements to enhance safety and consider best practices from the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide. Furthermore, developing a travel demand model that incorporates mode share opportunities, similar to Santa Maria’s recent initiative, would be beneficial.
2025 Circulation Element Update
Caltrans is also open to exploring options for improving pedestrian crossings along Highway 1, enhancing safety for all users.
Air Pollution Control Department (APCD): The City’s Circulation Element should incorporate policies and programs that address micromobility options, such as electric bikes and scooters, as well as autonomous vehicles. This includes implementing improved striping and marking to enhance recognition by autonomous vehicles. The city should also review best management practices from other jurisdictions, including San Jose and Santa Clara.
With the projected growth of electric vehicles (EVs)—expected to reach 5 million on the road by 2030 and with all new vehicles being electric by 2035—the Circulation Element must prioritize infrastructure to support this shift. This includes increasing the number of EV charging stations and expanding charging capacity throughout the city. Additionally, integrating more Reach Code initiatives into the City’s Development Code can further enhance EV infrastructure; resources such as the ICLEI list of Reach Code recommendations can provide valuable guidance in this effort.
California State Parks: State Parks has been gathering data on access to Pismo Beach State Park from Highway 1 and West Grand Avenue. This information will be shared with the City to support the development of policies and programs aimed at enhancing access to the State Park.
Bike SLO County: The Circulation Element should include policies and programs that focus on bicycle and pedestrian crash and violation data to enhance safety. The city's wide streets contribute to increased vehicle speeds, so policies must incorporate traffic calming measures to protect cyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, the city should identify opportunities to develop new Class 1 bike infrastructure and evaluate potential improvements for all four classes of bike facilities throughout the area. Providing educational materials to schools is also essential for informing students about safe routes to school.
Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR): UPRR indicated that they are unlikely to support new at-grade crossings. Instead, any pedestrian or bicycle crossings should be designed as overpasses where feasible. UPRR acknowledges the importance of enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists and is actively collaborating with communities across the Central Coast to improve existing infrastructure for the safety of all users.
2025 Circulation Element Update
SLO County Office of Emergency Services (OES): The Circulation Element should be updated to align with PG&E's latest Evacuation Planning initiatives. This alignment will help identify transportation improvements aimed at reducing congestion during evacuation scenarios.
CAL POLY OUTREACH
As part of the Circulation Element Update, the City partnered with the Cal Poly City and Regional Planning Studio to support
public engagement and help assess
existing transportation conditions
throughout the city. From Fall 2024 to
Spring 2025, the Studio conducted a
series of outreach events that
engaged residents through a variety of
creative and interactive methods.
These efforts provided valuable
insight into travel patterns,
transportation preferences, and safety
concerns, helping shape communityinformed policies and programs for the Circulation Element.
Existing Conditions Tabling Events: On October 14, 2024, the Studio hosted citywide outreach at four public locations: Grover Heights Park, 16th Street Park, Vons Grocery Store, and Julie’s Juice Bar. These sites were selected for their high foot traffic and ability to reach a broad crosssection of the community. At each location, students facilitated two interactive activities designed to gather meaningful feedback on how people navigate the city and where key concerns exist.
• Dot Activity: Residents were asked to select from eight common destinations in and around Grover Beach and indicate which modes of transportation they used to reach them. Each participant received three dots to place next to their preferred destinations and modes—driving, walking, biking, or public transportation. Results showed that Vons, the beach, and local parks were among the most frequently visited locations. Driving was the dominant mode of travel, followed by walking and biking, with transit usage being the least common.
Figure 1: Overview of the Community Outreach Timeline
2025 Circulation Element Update
• Map Activity: Residents were invited to mark-up a large map of the city with sticky notes, markers, and stickers to indicate specific transportation challenges or opportunities. Common themes included the need for sidewalk expansion, concerns over unprotected bike lanes, and safety issues at high-traffic intersections. One particularly concerning location identified was the intersection of Oak Park Boulevard and the US-101 offramp, noted for both visibility issues and nearby encampments.
Participants also cited stormwater drainage problems and limited pedestrian crossings, particularly on key arterials like West Grand Avenue and 4th Street.
Trunk or Treat: Cal Poly also participated in the Grover Beach Annual Trunk or Treat event on October 31, 2024. This popular family-friendly event, co-hosted by the Grover Beach Rotary Club, allowed students to engage with children and their parents through a transportation-themed activity.
Cal Poly’s booth featured a decorated “trunk” with
transportation-related games and candy giveaways. A
ring toss activity asked children to identify the
transportation mode they use most to get to and from
school, prompting conversations about school commute
safety and habits. In addition to in-person engagement, handouts were distributed with a QR code linking to a
commute survey designed to gather input from parents
and older students. This event provided a unique
opportunity to reach families and younger residents in a relaxed, festive environment.
Figure 2: Images of students during the tabling event.
Figure 3: Trunk or Treat event.
2025 Circulation Element Update
Visioning Workshop: On November 19, 2024, the Studio hosted a Visioning Workshop at the Ramona Garden Park Community Center. The goal was to give residents the opportunity to shape a collective vision for the future of transportation in Grover Beach through guided group activities.
The workshop began with an overview of the Circulation Element Update’s purpose, followed by breakout sessions at four tables, each led by a student facilitator. City planning staff were also present to assist and answer questions.
Participants completed three structured activities:
1. Visioning Statements: Using a Mad Libs-style worksheet, participants created statements that reflected their aspirations for Grover Beach’s transportation future. Common themes included safety, improved connectivity, infrastructure maintenance, and a desire for more pedestrian- and bike-friendly development.
2. Walking & Biking Discussion: This activity asked participants to share thoughts on alternative transportation. Participants noted sidewalk gaps, unsafe or missing crossings, poor lighting, and the need for protected bike lanes. While many supported the idea of walking and biking more often, infrastructure limitations were cited as major deterrents.
3. Driving & Parking Discussion: Attendees
discussed current traffic issues and ideas
for improvement. Suggestions included
more speed enforcement, flashing
pedestrian lights, and enhanced traffic
calming measures on residential streets.
This workshop helped clarify the community’s
transportation priorities and demonstrated strong
public support for improving non-vehicular
mobility options and overall roadway safety.
Open House Event: On February 12, 2025, the Studio hosted an open house, also at the Ramona Garden Park Community Center. The event showcased seven poster stations presenting draft policy and program ideas tied to key transportation themes:
Safe Streets | Pedestrian Infrastructure | Safe Routes to School | Bike Infrastructure | Roadway Systems | Green Infrastructure | Micromobility Figure 4: Students and community
members at the Visioning Workshop
2025 Circulation Element Update
Participants were issued a “passport” with one section for each topic. At each station, attendees discussed proposals with students and provided feedback using a simple system: circling a rose (liked), thorn (disliked), or rose bud (neutral or mixed). They could also add written comments or questions to their handouts.
Additionally, participants filled out themed
“Valentine’s Day” cards based on their favorite
transportation mode. Each card included a
playful phrase (e.g., “I choo choo choose you” for
train travel) and space to write a short message.
These cards were posted on a wall display titled
“Show Your Love for Grover Beach.” The train
card received the most responses, with
participants praising the convenience and
comfort of rail travel.
This event encouraged meaningful one-on-one conversations, lighthearted engagement, and thoughtful input on proposed circulation policies.
Bike Tour: To further explore the city’s biking environment, the Studio organized a community bike tour on March 1, 2025, in partnership with Bike SLO County. The tour began and ended at Ramona Garden Park, with stops at key locations including Vons, Mentone Basin Park, Grover Beach Elementary, and the 4th & Grand Avenue intersection.
At each stop, participants discussed both strengths and weaknesses of the biking infrastructure. Observations
included a lack of protected bike lanes, difficulty navigating busy intersections, and inconsistent signage. However,
participants also noted the city’s compact layout and flat terrain as advantages for cycling, if safety improvements were made.
The bike tour was instrumental in collecting firsthand user experience and emphasized the need for low-stress bike routes and better connectivity across neighborhoods and commercial areas.
Figure 4: Show your love for Grover
Beach Open House Poster
Figure 5: Bike Tour Event
2025 Circulation Element Update
ONLINE COMMUNITY FORUM SURVEY
Staff prepared and distributed an online survey on the City’s website to solicit public input on specific amendments to the code, offering respondents an opportunity to provide direct feedback and share additional opportunities for improvements.
The online survey serves as an important tool for community engagement for those who were unable to attend and provide feedback at the community workshops. The survey was designed to gather a well-rounded understanding of how community members travel within and beyond Grover Beach, as well as their priorities and concerns related to mobility.
In addition to collecting demographic information and household driving habits, the survey invited respondents to share what they like about getting around the city, their top concerns, and the types of infrastructure they would like to see more of—such as pedestrian, bicycle, or transit facilities. Residents were asked to identify specific intersections that feel unsafe for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, and to explain why. The survey also explored transportation behaviors, including frequency of car, bicycle, and public transit use, as well as commute patterns and parking challenges. An open-ended question allowed participants to share any additional thoughts about their experiences navigating the city. Overall, the survey served as a key tool for engaging those unable to attend in-person events and helped collect meaningful, location-specific input to inform future circulation improvements.
Participants: The online survey garnered 76 responses, with 94% of respondents confirming residency in the City of Grover Beach. Respondents represented a range of age groups, with approximately 13% under the age of 34, 20% between ages 35 and 44, 16% between 45 and 54, and 50% aged 55 and older.
Question: What are your top concerns with getting around in the City? Among a range of responses, these five issues emerged as the top concerns that survey participants most commonly agreed with regarding mobility in Grover Beach. A majority (61.84%) identified potholes and pavement quality as a primary issue, followed closely by concerns about inadequate pedestrian infrastructure (56.58%). Speeding vehicles were flagged by 47.37% of respondents, while 39.47% pointed to poor visibility of bike lanes and crosswalks while driving. Additionally, 31.58% expressed concern about the lack of dedicated bike lanes and cycling infrastructure. While other concerns were also noted in the survey, these five stood out as the most consistently cited across participants. 2025 Circulation Element Update
Question: What intersection in Grover Beach makes you feel the least safe as a pedestrian/cyclist/driver?
Survey respondents identified several intersections in Grover Beach where they feel the least safe as pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. The most frequently mentioned locations included W Grand Avenue at 4th Street, W Grand Avenue at Oak Park Boulevard, 13th Street at Farroll Road, and N Oak Park Boulevard at Saratoga Avenue. Cyclists additionally flag W Grand Avenue and Highway 1, while drivers expressed concern about the Atlantic City Avenue area. Across all modes of travel, the most commonly cited reason for feeling unsafe was excessive vehicle speeds. These responses highlight the need for targeted safety improvements at key intersections throughout the city.
Question: Do you experience any parking challenges in the City? In response to the question about parking challenges in Grover Beach, most participants indicated that parking is generally not an issue throughout the city. Respondents noted that they are typically able to find parking near their destinations without significant difficulty. This suggests that, while mobility and infrastructure improvements are a priority, parking availability is not currently perceived as a major concern by the community.
Question: How long is your commute to work or school?
Survey responses indicated a wide range of commute times among participants. Approximately 21% reported a commute of less than 15 minutes, while 24% commute between 15 and 30 minutes, and 17% between 30 and 45 minutes. Only 1.5% of respondents have a commute longer than 45 minutes. Notably, the largest group (36% of participants) reported working from home, reflecting a significant portion of residents with no daily commute.
Question: What type of infrastructure would you like to see more of? When asked what type of infrastructure they would like to see more of, participants most commonly requested improved bicycle infrastructure and raised, high-visibility crosswalks to enhance safety. Additional feedback highlighted the need for more continuous and accessible sidewalks, improved ADA compliance, and a safe pedestrian crossing over the railroad to access the Monarch Grove. Some respondents also expressed interest in more frequent and reliable bus service to better support transit users.
2025 Circulation Element Update
Question: How frequently do you use public transit/car/bicycle? Survey results show that the vast majority of respondents rely on their personal vehicles as their primary mode of transportation, with most using a car daily or several times a week. In contrast, public transit is used infrequently, with nearly all participants reporting they use it less than once a month. Bicycle use varied more widely, while over half reported riding less than once a month, a notable portion indicated they bike regularly, with some using a bike daily or several times a week. These patterns reflect a strong dependence on car travel, with limited but present interest in active and alternative transportation.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the City has demonstrated its commitment to transparency and community engagement throughout the process of Circulation Element Update. The feedback received will directly inform updates to the Circulation Element, ensuring that policies and programs reflect local priorities, align with regional goals, and support long-term mobility improvements for all users. Moving forward, the City remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive and comprehensive approach that reflects the values and aspirations of the Grover Beach community.