Encinitas will replace bollards and curb stops along South Coast Highway 101 near the Solana Beach border with a pedestrian-activated signal, a 14-foot multiuse path and buffered bike lanes after a 3-2 council vote.

Deputy Mayor Jim O'Hara and Councilmembers Marco San Antonio and Joy Lyndes voted Oct. 21 to select Option 2A, which places a push-button signal where the Harbaugh Seaside Trail meets Highway 101, The Coast News first reported. Mayor Bruce Ehlers and Councilmember Luke Shaffer voted against, preferring a full traffic signal at the South Cardiff State Beach parking lot farther north.

The approved design includes 6-foot bike lanes on each side with painted buffers instead of physical barriers and four vehicle lanes measuring 10 or 10.5 feet wide, according to the Coast News.

A version with a full traffic signal failed 2-3 at the same meeting, with only Shaffer and Ehlers voting in favor.

San Antonio said he had previously supported the state beach driveway location but changed his mind after visiting the area with Solana Beach officials. He found himself using the unofficial Harbaugh Trail crossing when walking back to his vehicle, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

"The problem is people are crossing from Harbaugh Park over the 101 and we want to make sure it's safe," O'Hara said, according to the Coast News.

Solana Beach City Manager Alyssa Muto told the Coast News the selected option was "a step in the right direction" and aligns with plans the two cities discussed in 2025. City Engineer Dan Nutter said his team would ensure a consistent corridor design from Chesterfield to the Solana Beach border, including coordination with a planned rehabilitation of the Highway 101 bridge over San Elijo Lagoon.

The city accepted a $349,920 state Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant for the project in November 2025. Changing the design from the original grant proposal requires a scope change request to Caltrans. City staff will coordinate with Solana Beach and refine the engineering before returning to the council, according to the city's Council Rundown.

Crime drops, fire response lags

At the same Oct. 21 meeting, Capt. Shane Watts of the North Coastal Sheriff's Station reported crime declines across the board for January through September compared with the same period in 2025, according to the sheriff's presentation to the council. Crimes against people fell 3%, property crimes dropped 12% and crimes against society declined 19%. Burglaries decreased 44% and motor vehicle thefts fell 47%.

Deputy-initiated activities such as extra patrols and traffic stops rose 48%, reaching 37,105 through September. That figure already exceeded the full-year 2025 total. DUI arrests climbed 47% to 155, while DUI-related collisions fell 30%.

Fire Chief Josh Gordon reported 5,997 incidents through September, up 1.6% from 2025, with medical calls accounting for nearly 80% of assignments, according to city documents. Homeless-related fire incidents dropped about 33% to 270.

Two stations missed response-time goals every month through September. Station 3 averaged 9 minutes, 23 seconds at the 90th percentile, above its 8-minute target, the Coast News reported. Station 6 in Olivenhain averaged 11 minutes, 38 seconds, well above its 8-minute, 30-second goal. A planned relocation of Station 6 farther down Lone Jack Road is intended to improve coverage there.

Gordon told the council the department still has work to do on Station 6 response times but expressed confidence the numbers would improve, the Coast News reported.

The next regular Encinitas City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28.