SLO County town with no stoplights will finally get its first 2. But when?
In all of its history, San Miguel has been a town without stoplights.
But that’s going to change, even if it takes a bit of time.
The North County community of 3,000 people is on track to get the major upgrades in the coming years at two intersections that are expected to face increased traffic congestion as the town grows.
Unanimously approved at the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, the capital project proposes bringing traffic signals to a pair of crossroads on Mission Street, at the intersections 11th and 14th streets.
Since both intersections cross the Union Pacific Railroad line, the incoming signal systems would improve vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian safety when trains are passing by, according to Tyler English, a project manager with the Transportation Division of the SLO County Public Works department.
Preliminary designs and public engagement initiatives for the infrastructure project are expected to cost $500,000.
According to English, the project’s initial development phase will be paid for by the San Miguel Road Impact Fee program, a fund for transportation improvement and development projects that seek to aid future community growth.
Traffic issues forecast at 2 San Miguel intersections
The public works department conducted a study in 2020 that predicted traffic volumes at the intersections of Mission and 11th and Mission and 14th would continue to rise, deteriorating crossroads conditions and triggering the need for traffic signals, according to the staff report.
New and future development proposed within the San Miguel community are also driving the rapid rise in roadway use, the staff report said.
“Traffic forecasts indicate that, as growth continues, existing intersection controls at both locations will become less effective over time, leading to increased delays and congestion by approximately 2035,” English told The Tribune in an email.
As an interim measure to maintain road safety and efficiency in San Miguel, the 14th and Mission Street intersection was converted from a two-way stop to an all-way stop in 2024, English said.
Now that initial funding for the traffic signalization project has been secured, preliminary design plans can begin to get underway at the same time traffic is predicted to worsen.
“This will lead to a safer and more livable community,” the staff report said.
When will new traffic signals be constructed?
The project is projected to take several years to complete because the county must coordinate with the San Miguel Advisory Council and Union Pacific Railroad.
Work on the new San Miguel traffic signals could occur within five to 10 years, but there’s currently no set construction schedule, according to English.
Despite the lengthy timeline to completion, he said coordination with the railroad company is crucial to the project’s success.
“This coordination helps reduce the potential for vehicles queuing on the tracks, improves predictability for all road users, and provides clearer, more consistent traffic control as volumes increase,” English told The Tribune.
The project’s timetable will ultimately be subject to future board approvals and funding actions, he said.
According to the staff report, construction is estimated to cost $2,646,200, bringing the project’s total price tag to $3,146,200.
Leadership changes on county board of supervisors
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, District 4 Supervisor Jimmy Paulding was named the board’s new chairperson, while District 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson was voted vice chairperson for the 2026 term.
According to the board’s rules of procedures, supervisors shift leadership positions at the first regular meeting of the calendar year with a set rotation in place for determining the incoming chair and vice chair.
Both Paulding and Gibson were unanimously approved in accordance with the recommended rotation outlined in the board’s rules.
“I’m grateful for the honor and the privilege of serving as the chair of the SLO County Board of Supervisors,” Paulding said at the meeting. “My focus is simple — clear direction, steady leadership and making sure county government works best for the people we serve.”
