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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-12-07; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Requesting that a four-way STOP intersection be established of Elm Avenue and Chatham RoadCITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY C0114ISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: December 7, 1987 ITEM NO. 6A LOCATION: Intersection of Elm Avenue and Chatham Road INITIATED BY: Cheryl Ernst, Principal, Hope Elementary School, 3010 Tamarack• Avenue, Carlsbad, California 92008 BACKGROUND: DATA: Ms. Ernst, in her letter of October 5, 1987, is requesting that a four-way STOP intersection be established at the Elm Avenue/Chatham Road intersection. At this time, STOP signs control Chatham Road, however no controls have been placed on Elm Avenue. Elm Avenue is designated as a Secondary ·Arterial on the Circulation Element of the General Plan. Chatham Road is a residential street intersecting Elm Avenue and provides access to a portion of the Calavera Hills area. A recent traffic count was obtained at the Elm/Chatham intersection to determine if a 4-way STOP is warranted. Approach volumes and the total entering volume is shown on Exhibit 1. Warrants for STOP sigh installations contained in the CALTRANS Traffic Manual are also attached. At this location, the 85th percentile speed on Elm. Avenue is 41 mil es per hour, therefor the minimum vehicular volume is 70% of the stated volume warrant. It can be observed from Exhibit 1 that there are only four (4) hours of an average day when the total vehicular volume entering the intersection is 70% of 500 vehicles per hour (350 vehicles) or more. In the past 12 months, there have been no reported accidents at the Elm Avenue/Chatham Road intersection. Pedestrian volumes are very 1 ow except in the morning and afternoon when children are going to and from school, when approximately 40 pedestrians cross Elm Avenue at Chatham Road. TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: December 7, 1987 (Continued) RECOMMENDATION: ITEM NO. 6A Based upon the low entering volumes, excellent accident record and adequate sight distance at this intersection, the Traffic Safety Coor- dinating Committee does not recommend creating a four-way STOP intersection by installing STOP signs on Elm Avenue at this time. Staff will continue to monitor this intersection and as volumes increase or conditions change, the need for a four-way STOP will be re-evaluated. NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION: No City Council action is required unless STOP signs are recommended. In that case, adoption of an ordinance by the City Council would be required. \ .&iA',~lsbad Unified School District ~»;;- 801 Pine Avenue, Carlsbad, Callfontlai 9:1008 7:19-9291 October 5, 1987 Mr. Mike Shirey Traffic Engineer Technician City of Carlsbad Engineering Dept. 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 Dear Mr. Shirey: uExcellence In Education" As you know, we have had several conversations regarding the safety of the students to and from Hope Elementary School this year. Many of my parents are still very concerned about certain intersections and other safety hazards. I have formed a committee of the concerned parents to study th.e issues and prioritize them and seek alternatives. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the parent representatives and I would like very much to have an opportunity to speak with the Traffic Commi~sion regarding the intersection of Chatham and Elm Avenue. I have re- commended to parents through my newsletters, as you have suggested, that students walk down to the Tamarack and Elm crossing for the safe route to school; however, many youngsters and their parents are utilizing the Chatham and Elm intersection to cross instead. There have been several near misses with youngsters crossing in that area, and there have been cars which have had problems entering onto Elm Avenue from Chatham because of the difficulty. Our parents from the Safety Committee are recommending that a 4-way stop be placed at that intersection to enable youngsters to cross in a safer fashion. Our committee is also intending to recommend that an unmarked car be .placed at that intersection to observe the patterns of behavior. It is my understanding that you left a message in my office that you had been conducting this type·of observation and we appreciate that very much. The parents would still, however, like an opportunity to speak with the Traffic Commission further on this issue. I appreciate the time and considerations you have given in our new school's opening and the safety of our students. I look forward to hearing from you re- garding their opportunity to attend one of the Traffic Commission meetings. Cheryl Ern Principal CE:jc Hope Elementary School, 434-0671 CHt\TIW-1 lmD/ELM AVEN.JE )NIERSECTil14 APmW:H \QlHS OCTOOER 27-28, 1987 CHt\TIW-1 IID rnt\TIW-1 IID ELM AVE ELM AVE TOTAL TIME SLO ELM AVE N/0 ELM AVE WLO CHt\TIW-1 E/0 rnt\TIW-1 ENITRit,i, VOLLME CXXXJ-0100 4 1 10 4 19 0100-0200 0 0 5 2 7 0200-0300 3 3 4 5 15 0300-0400 1 2 2 1 6 0400-0500 6 2 2 4 14 0500-0600 10 14 4 25 53 0600-0700 49 51 27 47 174 0700-0!ro 52 108 71 97 328 O!ro-0900 50 163 175 139 527 0900-1000 26 47 54 73 200 1000-1100 32 45 82 73 232 1100-1200 17 39 00 45 181 1200-1300 15 59 102 61 237 1300-1400 25 64 127 76 292 1400-1500 27 89 178 91 385 1500-1600 36 72 108 94 310 1600-1700 32 00 169 82 363 1700-1000 39 66 247 98 450 1000-1900 21 53 153 97 324 1900-2000 28 50 132 56 266 2000-2100 19 26 101 45 191 2100-2200 13 21 101 44 179 2200-2300 12 12 38 17 79 2300-2400 1 5 15 10 31 EXHIBIT 1 SPEED SURVEY DATE: //-/(p. IP7 THIE:/0."0~o// :0011"' WEATIIER: ?/eAg -2Vh"'y' LocATioN: £t!..,,,,, 4Pe. e C44r~# R/ OBSERVER/RECORDER: ____ M_J_~----- II ',{, CITY.OF CARLSBAD % ',{, ti1e ',{, II TOTAL VEHICLES : _ __;/_O_O~-- CRITICAL SPEED: ~/ IIPII PACE SPEED: '-3, t.\-to L.\-l.\ MPII CA ns IN PACE: __ __.q._o"""'-__ 'J, Traffic Manual R1 e Standard 30" R1-3 -Standard 12" x 8" R1-4 i;ilWMi Standard 18" x 8" SIGNS POLICY Stop Signs and Yield Signs • Stop Signs 4-37 3-1987 The STOP sign (Rt) shall be used where traffic Is required to stop except at signalized Intersections. The STOP sign shall be an octagon with white mes- sage and border on a red background. The standard size shall be 30 x 30 inches. Where greater emphasis or visibility Is required, a larger size Is recommended. On local streets and secondary roads with low ap- proach speeds and low volume, a 24 x 24 Inch size maybe used. At a multiway stop intersection, a supplemental plate (R1 ·3 or R1 ·4) should be mounted Just below each STOP sign., The numeral on the supplementary plate shall corres- pond to the number of approach legs, or the legend ALL-WAY (R1·4) may be used. The plate shall have white letters on a red background. A red flashing beacon or beacons may be used In conjunction with a STOP sign. See Section 9-08 (Flashng Beacons). Secondary messages shall not be used on STOP sign laces. • Warrants for STOP"Signs Because the STOP sign causes a substantial Incon- venience to ·motorists, it should be used only where warranted. A STOP sign may be warranted at an inter- section where one or more of the following con- ditions exist: 1. On the less important road at its Intersection with a main road where application of the, normal right of way rule Is unduly hazardous as evidenced by accidents susceptible to correction by STOP signs, 2. On a county road or city street at Its Intersection with a state highway. 3. At the Intersection of two main highways. The highway traffic to be stopped depends on ap- proach, speeds, volumes, and turning movements. 4. On a street entering a legally established· through highway or street. 5. On a minor street where the sale approach speed to the intersection Is less than 10 mlles·per hour. 6. At an unsignallzed Intersection in a signal· ized area. 7. At other Intersections where a combination of high speed, restricted view, and accident record indi· cates a need tor control by the STOP sign. 4-38 3-1987 SIGNS Traffic Manual POLICY A STOP sign Is not a "cure-air" and Is not a substitute for other traffic control devices. Many times the need for a STOP sign can be eliminated If the sight distance Is Increased by remo,ting the obstructions. STOP signs shall not be erected at any entrance to an intersection when such entrance is controlled by an official traffic control signal, nor at any railroad grade crossing which is controlled by automatic signals, gates, or other train-actuated control devices except as provided In eve 21355, Stop Signs. The conflicting commands of two types of control devices are con- fusing. If traffic Is required to stop when the operation of the stop-and-go signals Is not warranted, the signals should be put on flashing operation with the rad flashing light facing the traffic that must stop. Where two main highways intersect, the STOP sign or signs should normally be posted on the minor street to stop the lesser flow of traffic. Traffic engineering studies, however, may justify a decision to Install a STOP sign or signs on the major street, as at a three-way Intersection where safety considerations may justify stopping the greater flow of traffic to permit a left.turning movement STOP signs should not be Installed Indiscriminately at all unprotected railroad crossings. The allowance of STOP signs at all such crossings would eventually bread· contempt for both law enforcement, and obedience to the sign's command to stop. STOP signs may only be used at selected ralVhlghway grade crossings after their need has been determined by a traffic engineering study. Such study should consider approach speeds, sight distance restrictions, volumes, accident records, etc. This appllcatlon· or STOP signs should be an Interim use period during which plans for lights, gates or other means or control are being prepared. Portable or part-time STOP signs shall not be used except for emergency purposes. Also, STOP signs should not be used for speed control. • Multlway STOP signs The "Multlway Stop" installation may be useful at some locations. It should ordinarily be used only where the volume of traffic on the intersecting roads Is approx· lmately equal. A traffic control signal Is more satisfactory for an Intersection with a heavy volume of traffic. Traffic Manual R1-2 Standard 38" SIGNS POLICY 4-39 3-1987 Any of the following conditions may warrant a multi- way STOP sign Installation: 1. Where traffic signals are warranted and urgently needed, the multlway stop may be an interim measure that can be installed quickly to control traffic while arrangements are being made tor the signal Installations. 2. An accident problem, as Indicated by five or more reported accidents within a 12 month period of a type susceptible to correction by a multiway stop Installation. Such accidents Include right- and left-turn collisions as well as right-angle collisions. 3. Minimum traffic volumes (a) The total vehicular volume entering the inter- section from all approaches must average at least 500 vehicles per hour for any 8 hours of an average day, and (b) The combined vehicular and pedestrian volume from the minor street or highway must average at least 200 units per hour for the same 8 hours, with an average delay to minor street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the maximum hour, but (c) When the BS-percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per hour, the minimum vehicular volume warrant Is 70 percent of the above requirements. e Yield Signs The YIELD sign (R1·2) assigns right of way to traffic on certain approaches to an intersection. Vehicles controlled by a YIELD sign need stop only when nec- essary to avoid interference with other traffic that Is given the right of way. The YIELD sign shall be a downward pointing, equi• lateral triangle having a red border band and a white Interior and the word YIELD In red inside the border band. The standard size shall be 36 x 36 x 36 Inches. • Warrants for YIELD Signs The YIELD sign may be warranted: 1. On a minor road at the entrance to an Intersection where it ls necessary to assign right of way to the major road, but where a stop Is not necessary at all times, and where the safe approach speed on the minor road exceeds 1 O miles per hour. 2. On the entrance ramp to an expressway where an acceleration lane is not provided.