SAN MARCOS -- The growth of Cal State San Marcos doesn't just mean more students. This year, it also means two traffic signals that officials hope will reduce congestion and eliminate the need for crossing guards.

The signals are another sign of the university's evolution from 250 students in a storefront next to a furniture store to 9,000 students on a 304-acre campus at the base of the North County foothills, said Matt Ceppi, director of institutional planning.

"A traffic signal -- that's always the transformation from a small town to a big city," he said.

The most disruptive parts of the $360,000 project -- essentially everything that involved breaking ground -- were done this summer to avoid inconveniencing most students, said Dave Dennis of the university's planning department.

Light poles were installed last week at the intersection of Craven Drive and Campus View and outside of parking lot F, paving the way for technicians to tweak the signals this week.

Campus police Lt. Doug Miller said the signals will probably flash red Monday and Tuesday next week to give drivers a chance to get used to them. He said he hopes to see the signals fully operational by Wednesday.

Though the campus did have two traffic collisions last year, Miller said the accidents are not the reason for the signals.

"It is nearly completely a congestion issue," Miller said.

Robert Williams of the university's transportation services department said there are about 5,100 parking spaces on campus, or at least 600 less than the number of parking permits issued.

The campus has been using police officers and community service officers as crossing guards to control traffic and pedestrians at some of the busiest times of the day. Miller said no decisions have been made yet about whether the guards will still be needed once the traffic signals are fully operational.

"We hope that we won't need them, but they will be available if they are needed," Miller said.

This apparently is just the beginning.

"Our plan is for 25,000 students eventually," Ceppi said. "Yes, there will be more traffic signals."

Contact staff writer Colleen Mensching at (760) 739-6675 or cmensching@nctimes.com.