Earlier editions: 2026-07
Title GP — General Plan›Chapter 4.0 — CIRCULATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENT
Malibu Municipal Code § 4.2 Circulation System
Malibu Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Malibu
Cite as: Malibu Municipal Code § 4.2 · Text as of 2026-10-04
4.2.1. Description of System.¶
The following section includes a brief description of circulation network found within the Malibu planning area. More detailed descriptions are contained in the Circulation and Infrastructure Background and Opportunities and Constraints Reports prepared for the City as part of the General Plan program.
The hierarchy of streets and highways in Malibu range from local streets to state highways. There are four classifications which summarize the existing roadway network in the City of Malibu: Major Arterials, Minor Arterials, Collectors, and Locals.
| • | Modified Major Arterial: Major roadways providing access from rural to urban areas and access to freeways. A typical major arterial consists of a 100-foot right-of-way with six lanes and controlled access, divided by a raised or striped median. Major arterials, serving as an intercity or community facility are expected to carry the majority of traffic between Malibu, adjacent communities, and the freeway system (see Figure CI-1). Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) would typically be designated a major arterial. However, given topographical and safety constraints, PCH in Malibu is limited to four lanes and is designated as a modified major arterial. |
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| • | Minor Arterial: Streets providing through service to commercial areas and between cities and/ |
| • | Collector: Streets that collect traffic from local streets within residential areas. Collectors are typically characterized by both two lane and four lane undivided roadways with 64-foot rights-of-way. Collectors within this classification move moderate volumes of traffic through the community and serve as routes for locally generated traffic to connect to major and minor arterials. They serve as access routes for local residents to reach activity areas in the city and may also provide direct access to commercial properties. |
| • | Local: Streets whose primary purpose is to provide access to individual properties. Locals are two-lane, undivided roadways with frequent driveway access and 48-to 58-foot rights-of-way, although many of the City's canyon access roads have less right-of-way. These roads are intended to provide access to adjacent residential land uses and to feed traffic to collectors and arterials. |
The existing roadway network in the City of Malibu and its vicinity is shown on Figure 4-1. The arterial network in Malibu consists of Pacific Coast Highway, a major four-lane state highway running the length of the City, and winding, mountainous, two-lane roadways with sharp turns, steep grades, and poor sight distance.
The following is a description of the existing roadway network serving the City of Malibu.
| • | Santa Monica Freeway (1-10) is a six-lane east-west freeway providing access to downtown Los Angeles. The freeway ties into the San Diego freeway (I-405) and, further to the east, the Harbor Freeway (I-110) and a chain of freeways in the vicinity of downtown Los Angeles. Near the coast, the Santa Monica freeway and State Highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) merge, serving the city as a fourlane roadway. The Santa Monica Freeway carries about 143,000 vehicles per day (Source: Caltrans, 1990) at its junction with PCH. Santa Monica Freeway is a designated route within the Congestion Management Program for Los Angeles County's roadway system. |
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| • | Ventura Freeway (US 101) is an eight-lane east-west freeway north of the City of Malibu. It provides access to Ventura County to the west and San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles metropolitan area to the east. Interchanges at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Las Virgenes Road (Malibu Canyon Road) and Kanan Road provide access to and from the City of Malibu. The Ventura Freeway carries approximately 187,000 and 149,000 vehicles per day (Source: Caltrans, 1990) at its junctions with Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Las Virgenes Road, respectively. |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) (State Route 1) is a four-lane state highway traversing the city from east to west along the Pacific Coast. The right-of-way includes an intermittent center turning lane. Within the city, PCH is about 25 miles long with a posted speed limit between 45 and 55 miles per hour. PCH is the only major arterial within the city. It serves mostly commuters during the weekday peak hours. In the summer months, it serves as an access route to the beaches along the coast. Peak periods for visitor traffic are on weekends and coincidental with the weekday afternoon commuter peak period. PCH has an average daily traffic level varying between 18,000 vehicles per day at its junction with Decker Canyon Road and 52,000 vehicles per day (Source: Caltrans, 1990) at its junction with Cross Creek Road. PCH carries approximately 47,000 vehicles per day (Source: Caltrans, 1990) at its junction with Las Flores Canyon Road. PCH also carries approximately 56,000 vehicles per day (Source: Caltrans, 1990) at its junction with Topanga Canyon Road. In the peak months, PCH carries approximately 57,000 vehicles per day in the vicinity of Cross Creek Road (Source: Caltrans, 1990). Left-turn lanes are provided at major intersections, and an intermittent center lane serves as a turn lane for developments along the highway. PCH is a designated bicycle route. Trucks over three axles are not permitted on PCH except for local delivery. PCH is a designated route within the Congestion Management Plan for Los Angeles County's roadway system. |
| • | Topanga Canyon Road (State Route 27) is a two-lane roadway just outside the eastern city border. Topanga Canyon Road starts at PCH and extends north to the San Fernando Valley, thus providing regional access to a predominantly residential neighborhood just outside the City of Malibu. It interchanges with the Ventura Freeway (Hwy 101), and further north with Highway 118. At Pacific Coast Highway, Topanga Canyon Road is signalized and left-turn lanes are provided. Near PCH, Topanga has an average daily traffic (ADT) of about 14,000 vehicles (Source: Caltrans, 1990). North of Malibu, in the Woodland Hills area, Topanga becomes a four-lane arterial carrying about 30,000 vehicles per day (Source: Caltrans, 1990) near the Ventura Freeway. The posted speed limit is 35 mph. Topanga Canyon Road is a designated route within the Congestion Management Plan for the Los Angeles County roadway system. |
| • | Malibu Canyon Road (County Highway N1) is a north-south arterial that extends from PCH to Highway 101 across the Santa Monica Mountains. Malibu Canyon Road has generally one lane in each direction. It is a four-lane roadway between PCH and Civic Center Way. It provides access to Pepperdine University, Malibu Creek State Park located just north of the City, and to Hughes Research Center, just inside the City Limits. At its intersections with Pacific Coast Highway and Civic Center Way, Malibu Canyon Road is signalized. Near Mulholland Highway, Malibu Canyon becomes Las Virgenes Road, which interchanges with the Ventura Freeway. It provides regional access to communities south of the Ventura Freeway including Soka University. It is estimated that Malibu Canyon Road carries about 9,400 vehicles per day near PCH (Source: Los Angeles County Public Works, 1991) on a typical weekday. Also, Malibu Canyon Road is estimated to carry 19,600 vehicles per day north of Civic Center Way (Source: Los Angeles County Public Works, 1991). Malibu Canyon Road serves both local and through trips. Through trips are those trips which have both origin and destination outside the City of Malibu. A significant portion of through trips access western portions of Los Angeles County outside Malibu from the areas around the Highway 101 corridor through the various canyon roads like Malibu Canyon Road. This is also referred to as Z-traffic. Further, a significant number of Z-trips access PCH from Malibu Canyon Road via Civic Center Way, thence Webb Way. |
| • | Corral Canyon Road is a two-lane north-south arterial connecting the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, located north of the city, with Dan Blocker State Beach and Solstice Canyon Park. Further north, Corral Canyon Road provides access to Malibu Creek State Park, where it ends. Corral Canyon Road carries approximately 120 vehicles during the A.M. Peak Hour (Source: Los Angeles County Public Works, 1991). |
| • | Latigo Canyon Road is a two-lane roadway oriented in the southeast/ |
| • | Kanan Dume Road (County Highway N9) is a four-lane highway extending from PCH in the south to Ventura Freeway in the north. It provides on/ |
| • | Decker Road (State Route 23) is a two-lane winding undivided roadway extending from Pacific Coast Highway to Mulholland Highway just north of the city limit. Decker Road merges with Mulholland Highway just north of its intersection with Lechusa Road. At Pacific Coast Highway, Decker Road is stop-controlled, and has an ADT of approximately 1,200 vehicles (Source: Caltrans, 1990). Decker Road is a designated scenic route. It is also a designated route within the Congestion Management Plan for Los Angeles County's roadway system. |
| • | Encinal Canyon Road is a north-south, two-lane roadway providing a connection between PCH and Mulholland Highway. Near Decker Road, Encinal meets Lechusa Road, which meets Decker Road, and continues east to Saddle Rock where it merges with Mulholland Highway. Encinal Canyon Road is stop-controlled at PCH. It is estimated from counts that Encinal Canyon Road carries about 1,200 vehicles per day near PCH (Source: Los Angeles County Public Works, 1991). |
| • | Mulholland Highway is a two-lane arterial which extends southeast from PCH to Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Mulholland Highway starts as a north-south route just west of the city limit, then merges with Decker Road and Encinal Canyon Road further east, and continues east to Calabasas Highlands. At PCH, Mulholland Highway is stop-controlled. It connects major areas of state and local parks. Mulholland Highway is a designated scenic route. |
| • | Cross Creek Road is a two-lane roadway connecting various developments in the Malibu Civic Center area to Malibu Canyon Road via Civic Center Way and to Pacific Coast Highway. The Cross Creek Road intersection with PCH is signalized. Cross Creek Road is a public roadway for a two block length serving commercial developments by PCH and a private road serving the residential area of Sierra Retreat. In the vicinity of PCH, Cross Creek Road is estimated to carry 9,300 vehicles per day (Source: Los Angeles County Public Works, 1991). |
| • | Las Flores Canyon Road is a winding, two-lane roadway that intersects PCH in Malibu and Rambla Pacifica north of the city limits. The Rambla Pacifica and Las Flores Canyon Road intersections with PCH are both signalized, and operate with a single signal controller. North of PCH, Las Flores Canyon Road carries approximately 3,000 vehicles per day (Source: Los Angeles County Public Works, 1991). At this time, Las Flores Canyon also carries traffic from Rambla Pacifica neighborhood since Rambla Pacifica was closed due to slide activity. |
| • | Civic Center Way is an east-west two-lane undivided roadway that connects Malibu Canyon Road and Cross Creek Road. It serves Malibu Civic Center traffic as well as Z-traffic traveling to and from Malibu Canyon Road to PCH. It intersects with Malibu Canyon Road at a signalized intersection. It extends further to the east through Stuart Ranch Road/ |
| • | Trancas Canyon Road is a winding, two-lane undivided, mountainous roadway that extends north from Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area. It intersects with PCH at a signalized intersection. It serves a primarily residential area. |
4.2.2. Level of Service.¶
The concept of level of service (LOS) is normally used to describe the ability of a roadway to accommodate prevailing traffic volumes at the critical intersections based on the physical characteristics of the roadway. LOS ranges from "A" (which represents uncongested free-flow conditions) to "F" (representing total breakdown with stop-and-go operation). LOS definitions are presented in more detail in Table 4-1. Caltrans has established that State Highways intersections have reached capacity when their LOS declines to E and that an acceptable operation on Pacific Coast Highway is LOS D. Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu has been defined by Caltrans to be in an urbanized area. Table 4-1 describes the relationship between operating characteristics and the volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratios for the various Levels of Service as defined in the Congestion Management Program for Los Angeles County, Final Draft, September 1992. These definitions are related to how well intersections function. The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) offers additional definitions for Level-of-Service in its literature. The ITE definitions describe roadway segment function, a standard used in many other states.
Traffic counts comprising typical weekday A.M. and P.M. Peak Hour counts were compiled at all the major intersections along Pacific Coast Highway within the City of Malibu. The data was primarily compiled from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and previous studies by Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. This information was supplemented by traffic count data collected by Wiltec and Willdan Associates. In addition, a field reconnaissance on Pacific Coast Highway was conducted. The intersection data compiled from the above sources was updated to 1992 base year conditions by applying the regionally accepted ambient growth rate wherever necessary.
The various intersections analyzed in this study include the following:
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga Canyon Road |
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| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Las Flores Canyon Road/ |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Corral Canyon Road |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Latigo Canyon Road |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Zumirez Drive |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Kanan Dume Road |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Encinal Canyon Road |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Decker Road |
| • | Pacific Coast Highway at Mulholland Drive |
The intersections of PCH with Mulholland Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard are located outside the City limits. For the purposes of this study, both signalized and unsignalized intersections were analyzed using the "Intersection Capacity Utilization" technique. The capacity values used for unsignalized intersections were lower than those used for signalized intersections.
Table 4-2 summarizes the existing levels of service at all the intersections listed above. The time periods analyzed are the A.M. and P.M. peak hours on a typical workday. In general, during the time periods analyzed all the intersections except one (PCH and Topanga Canyon) are operating at levels of service acceptable to Caltrans. The PCH intersection with Topanga Canyon is operating at level of service F in the A.M. peak hour and D in the P.M. peak hour. The PCH/Las Flores Road intersection is operating at level of service C in the A.M. peak hour and D in the P.M. peak hour.
Traffic conditions are expected to worsen in the future with or without buildout. However, the City is limited in what it can do to address the problem. Many of the roadways within Malibu are under the jurisdiction of either the State or the County. As regional growth increases, commuters will continue to utilize PCH as an alternative route to and from Los Angeles and visitors to beaches and regional parks in the City will increase; at the same time, the City does not expect the capacity of PCH to substantially increase. The City of Malibu considers itself as a rural rather than urban area and has adopted land use designations that will minimize traffic from resulting development in the City as much as possible but recognizes that the City will be forced to accept some of the expected regional traffic impacts because they are beyond the City's control. To the extent feasible and taking into account the other goals and policies of this Plan, the City will work to mitigate traffic impacts by cooperating with Caltrans and other surrounding jurisdictions, by ensuring adequate infrastructure for new development and by considering the adoption of a fee on proposed development to mitigate traffic impacts and fund necessary infrastructure improvements.
Table 4-1 INTERSECTION LEVEL-OF-SERVICE DEFINITIONS
| Level of Service | Volume to Capacity | Operating Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| A | 0.00—0.60 | At Level-of-Service A there are no cycles which are fully loaded, and full are even close to loaded. No approach phase is fully utilized by traffic and no vehicle waits longer than one red indication. Typically the approach appears quite open, turning movements are easily made, and nearly all drivers find freedom of operation. |
| B | 0.60—0.70 | Level-of-Service B represents stable operation. An occasional approach phase is fully utilized and a substantial number are approaching full use. Many drivers begin to feel somewhat restricted within platoons of vehicles. |
| C | 0.70—0.80 | In Level-of-Service C station operation continues. Full signal cycle loading is still intermittent, but more frequent. Occasionally drivers may have to wait through more than one red signal indication, and back-ups may develop behind turning vehicles. |
| D | 0.80—0.90 | Level-of-Service D encompasses a zone of increasing restriction approaching instability. Delays to approaching vehicles may be substantial during short peaks within the peak period, but enough CKX with lower demand occur to permit periodic clearance of developing queues, thus preventing excessive back-ups. |
| E | 0.90—1.00 | Level-of-Service E represents the most vehicles that any particular intersection approach can accommodate. At capacity (V/ |
| F | >1.00 | Level-of-Service F represents jammed conditions. Back-ups from locations downstream or on the cross street may restrict or prevent movement of vehicles out of the approach under consideration; hence, volumes carried are not predictable. V/ |
| Source: Congestion Management Program for Los Angeles County, Final Draft, September 1992. |
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Table 4-2 EXISTING LEVELS-OF-SERVICE
| Intersection | A.M. Peak Hour | A.M. Peak Hour | P.M. Peak Hour | P.M. Peak Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intersection | V/C | LOS | V/C | LOS |
| PCH/ |
1.18 | F | 0.82 | D |
| PCH/ |
0.74 | C | 0.81 | D |
| PCH/ |
0.59 | A | 0.66 | B |
| PCH/ |
0.45 | A | 0.52 | A |
| PCH/ |
0.50 | A | 0.49 | A |
| PCH/ |
0.56 | A | 0.50 | A |
| PCH/ |
0.46 | A | 0.55 | A |
| PCH/ |
0.31 | A | 0.44 | A |
| PCH/ |
0.30 | A | 0.35 | A |
| PCH/ |
0.17 | A | 0.22 | A |
| Source: Barton-Aschman Associates, 1992. |
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4.2.3. Scenic Highways.¶
A primary component of many outdoor recreation activities is movement or travel. One of the most popular forms of outdoor recreation in southern California is driving for pleasure. The travel to and from recreational areas is considered a major part of the landscape system, both as a connecting element and as landscape. A scenic highway presents opportunities for visual stimulation from automobiles or tour buses. In the Malibu area, views from the roads are characterized by panoramic vistas of both steep canyon slopes covered with native vegetation and the Pacific Ocean. Although development along the coast has significantly reduced views of the ocean in some areas of Malibu, there is an opportunity for public investment to ensure the preservation of many existing views. Many roads in Malibu are considered scenic, but only the Pacific Coast Highway has been officially designated as an eligible scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation. Official designation of scenic highways is conducted by the State Scenic Highway Advisory Committee.
There are no specific regulations that define the visual characteristics which qualify a road as a scenic highway, but the following parameters are often employed:
| • | Visibility - The driver should be able to experience scenery without having to stop or significantly change the necessary angle and duration of vision required for safe driving. |
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| • | Landforms - This parameter includes the physical characteristics of the natural corridor, such as gently rolling hills or rugged cliffs, streams, geologic formations, and distant ridges. |
| • | Vegetation - This parameter includes the type of vegetation within view, such as row crops, orchards, chaparral or woodlands. |
| • | Structures - Buildings may be included in scenic corridors and may add to scenic quality. |
| • | Panoramas - Scenic overlooks with panoramic views of urban, rural, or natural areas should be included when available. |
The Scenic Highways Element of the Los Angeles County General Plan has identified 21 roads in the Malibu Coastal Zone as potential scenic highways. The scenic roads within the City of Malibu are:
| • Pacific Coast Highway | • Tuna Canyon Road |
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| • Kanan Dume Road | • Corral Canyon Road |
| • Malibu Canyon | • Latigo Canyon Road |
| • Birdview Avenue | • Cliffside Drive |
| • Encinal Canyon Road | • Saddle Peak Road |
| • Decker Road | • Rambla Pacifico Road |
| • Cold Canyon Road | • Las Flores Canyon Road |
Many of these scenic roads not only enhance the quality of the recreation experience, but also provide the kind of "open space system" that organizes and communicates the coherence and identity of the region.
4.2.4. Parking.¶
On-street parking is allowed at various locations within the City of Malibu, either on one or both sides along PCH (see Figure 4-2). PCH serves as the major route of access to the various beaches and beach side facilities within the City of Malibu. Also, there are several surface parking lots on the beach side of PCH within Malibu. On-street parking on Pacific Coast Highway has exacerbated peak hour traffic congestion as people look for spaces, and get in and out of their vehicles. This parking arrangement has encouraged jay walking creating hazards for pedestrian and driver alike. The Local Coastal Plan must include sufficient parking for visitors.
The approximate locations of on-street and off-street parking along PCH within the City of Malibu are shown in Figure CI-2. Except for a short segment of PCH just east of Big Rock Drive, on-street parking is allowed on either side of PCH from the eastern boundary of the City of Malibu to Corral Canyon Road. Parking is not allowed on either side of PCH between Busch Drive and Morning View Drive, and also in the vicinity of Trancas Canyon Road. Also, on-street parking is not allowed on the ocean side of PCH for a small segment just east of Encinal Canyon Road, and is restricted on the ocean side of PCH at Zuma Beach.
4.2.5. Public Transit Services.¶
The City of Malibu is currently served by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates an intercity express bus route from Los Angeles to Trancas Canyon Road. Figure CI-3 shows the transit line #434. Para-transit services are also provided in the city. These services are operated by Babaeian Transportation under contract with the City.
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