Council orders 4-way stop at Lighthouse, Congress and Central to address downtown safety

The Pacific Grove City Council unanimously directed staff on May 6 to install an all‑way stop at the downtown intersection of Lighthouse, Congress and Central, and to refresh pavement markings and signage to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety.

Public Works Director Daniel Gough presented traffic counts and observations: a midday sample showed about 1,200 vehicles in a two‑hour period with 225 pedestrians and 15 bicycles; the traffic commission reported five crashes in a 12‑month period and recommended an all‑way stop to reduce driver confusion and near misses.

Gough recommended posting advance warning signs, ordering infrastructure, installing stop signs (with the usual “4‑way” plaques) and monitoring the intersection before considering relocating the nearby postal drop box. He noted curb ramps and other curb treatments in downtown are not fully compliant with current standards and that a future downtown‑specific plan could address longer‑term geometric and sight‑line issues.

Residents who spoke supported the change. “This is gonna be a fantastic step in the direction of safety for our citizens,” said Nicholas Moreland, who offered a personal near‑miss as a reason to act.

A council member moved to direct staff to install the four‑way stop and associated pavement markings and signage; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously by voice vote. Staff said advance warning signs and a planned installation (with an observation period) would follow.

Next steps: staff will order materials, post advance warning signs, install the all‑way stop and refreshed markings, and observe impacts; further downtown traffic planning may follow.