FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Motorists Are Reminded to Drive Carefully as Rain Continues
Los Angeles — Following better than anticipated weather conditions, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in coordination with local partners, announced that State Route 1/Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is now open through the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Malibu to residents who live in the Palisades Fire burn area, essential businesses and school bus traffic earlier than anticipated. Metro is also allowed to resume bus service to Line 134. Traffic is restricted for safety reasons and to protect residents and workers.
Motorists are reminded that rain is forecast for Friday, March 14, so everyone should drive with caution.
Caltrans, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), California Highway Patrol (CHP) and other city and state agencies will allow access to Palisades, Malibu and unincorporated Los Angeles County residents who live in the Palisades Fire burn area and who must use this route for travel. The pass checkpoints will remain at Chautauqua Boulevard in Los Angeles and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu.
Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is distributing burn area access passes for Malibu, Sunset Mesa, Topanga Canyon and unincorporated LA County residents and contractors hired by residents in the burn area only. Those can be picked up from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Santa Monica College-Malibu Interpretive Center,23555 Civic Center Way, Malibu on Tuesdays and Thursdays or at Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu on Saturdays during the same hours. More information and restrictions can be found at malibucity.org. Pacific Palisades and all Palisades Fire-impacted residents can pick up access passes at the Disaster Recovery Center at 10850 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Caltrans is implementing traffic controls for the safety of motorists, repair crews and first responders. The following restrictions on PCH will be in place:
· PCH is reduced to one lane each direction with a 25 mile per hour speed limit between Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu.
· All signalized intersections are on flashing red and should be treated as a four-way stop, even if the intersection is dark due to a power outage.
· There is no parking, stopping or pedestrians allowed in the work zone.
· Vehicles may not pass one another.
PCH remains closed to general traffic, and only essential travel is recommended. Visitors wishing to access Malibu may do so by using US 101 via Las Virgenes Road/Malibu Canyon Road, or Kanan Dume Road.
Please visit 2025 Los Angeles Fires | CA.gov for recovery resources and information. Caltrans reminds motorists that PCH is still an active work zone as crews help the county recover from the Palisades fire and subsequent storms and flooding. Traffic fines can be doubled in an active work zone. Motorists should use caution driving through the area and slow down for workers.
We thank our partners in the city and county of Los Angeles, the city of Malibu, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, California National Guard, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power, Environmental Protection Agency and others for their continued efforts to keep PCH and the surrounding areas safe.
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