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Home My WebLink About1988-04-04; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Install striping on La Costa Avenue to provide for a continuous two-way lane from a point easterly of the commercial area located easterly of El Camino Real and continuinCITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY Cotl'IISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: April 4, 1988 ITEM NO. 6A LOCATION: La Costa Avenue -Easterly of commercial area east of El Camino Real easterly to the Calle Madero intersection. INITIATED BY: Robert and Kimberly Huntoon, 2320 A La Costa Avenue, Carlsbad, California 92009 Diane Rulka, Strom Management, Inc., 7920 Miramar Road, Suite 113, San Diego, California 92126 (represents La Costa de Marbella Homeowners Association) REQUESTED ACTION: Install striping on La Costa Avenue to provide for a continuous two-way left turn lane from a point easterly of the commercial area located easterly of El Camino Real and continuing easterly to Calle Madero. BACKGROUND: DATA: This item was discussed at the March 7, 1988 Traffic Safety Commission meeting with no action taken on the four alternatives under consideration. The Commission referred this matter back to staff for analysis of one (1) additional striping configuration proposed by the Traffic Safety Coomission shown as Exhibit B. The Traffic Safety Commission asked staff to investigate one (1) additional alternative striping configuration for La Costa Avenue within the designated limits under consideration. The Commission alternative would result in removal of bicycle lanes, but includes a parking lane on the northerly side of the road and a continuous 2WL TL in the center of the road, in addition to maintaining two (2) traffic lanes in each direction. This striping configuration is designated as Alternative No. 5. Other alter- natives discussed at the Commission meeting of March 7, 1988 are shown on Exhibit A, with Alternative No. 1 being a Do Nothing alternative (no change to existing striping). TRAFFIC SAFETY COtltISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: April 4, 1988 (Continued) ITEM NO. 6A As with most alternatives, there are advantages and disadvantages to each possible striping configuration. Alternative No. 5 allows for a continuous two-way left turn lane on La Costa Avenue and provides the parking lane on the northerly side of the road requested by the residents. However, a serious disadvantage to this proposal would be the need to eliminate bicycle lanes on both sides of the roadway. La Costa Avenue is not of sufficient width to stripe a parking lane, continuous 2WLTL and two (2) bicycle lanes in addition to four (4) traffic lanes. Advantages and disadvantages of this alternate are indicated below. ADVANTAGES -Alternative No. 5 * * Provides parking lane on northerly side of La Costa Avenue. Provides continuous two-way left-turn lane. DISADVANTAGES -Alternative No. 5 * * * * * * * Striping does not conform to secondary arterial roadway standards. Bicycle lanes are eliminated and bicycle safety decreased. Bicyclists will continue to use La Costa Avenue and travel in traffic lanes with high speed vehicles. Striping west of Calle Madero does not properly align with striping east of Calle Madero (5' offset occurs see Exhibit B). Parked vehicles on north side obstruct sight distance when vehicles exit driveway. Cars with mechanical problems have no refuge area -breakdowns occur in the Number 2 traffic lane. No refuge area for Pol ice to provide speed enforcement when drivers are stopped. Vehicles would stop in Number 2 traffic lane. As more vehicles increase yearly on arterial roadways and local streets, other methods of alleviating congestion are necessary. One such alternative is for the public to use modes of travel other than the single occupant vehicle. Bicycles are one such mode and have the advantage of not causing increases in noise and air pollution. Ridership of bicyclists is increasing as the public looks to ways to increase phys i ca 1 fitness and reduce congestion and is a form of transportation that should be encouraged. Provisions must be made to accommodate safe bicycle travel. TRAFFIC SAFITT Cotl'IISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: April 4, 1988 (Continued) ITEM NO. 6A The Circulation Element of the General Plan for the City of Carlsbad designates La Costa Avenue as a bicycle route as indicated on Exhibit C. Removing the road as a designated bicycle route would require a revision to the General Plan. Bicyclists can be frequently observed using La Costa Avenue. Planning and engineering staff cannot support the proposa 1 for elimination of La Costa Avenue as a bike route and the subsequent removal of painted bicycle lanes. The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recognizes that not providing a parking lane on the northerly side of La Costa Avenue would inconvenience a small number of residents. However, overall safety along La Costa Avenue would be enhanced by providing a continuous two-way left-turn lane in combination with bicycle lanes on each side of the roadway. RECOMMENDATION: The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends that the previously recommended Alternative No. 3 be implemented on La Costa Avenue from a point easterly of the commercial area located easterly of El Camino Real and continuing easterly to Calle Madero and that a NO PARKING zone be established on each side of the roadway. NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION: No City Council action is required to change the striping configuration on La Costa Avenue. The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends that any striping changes proposed be discussed at a City Council meeting before implementation and that the parking restriction be formalized by City Council adoption of an ordinance designating the NO PARKING zone on both sides of La Costa Avenue. LEFT TURN PROHIBITED EMERGENCY PARKING 8' 11' 1 11' 11' 8' Al TERNA TIVE 2 LEFT TURN OK PARKING ON 1 SIDE 8, 5 12' 111' 11 • I 12' 5' ALTERNATIVE 4 EXHIBIT A 2-WAY LEFT TURN LANE PARKING PROHIBITED I I I s • 11 • I 11 • 1 1 o ·i 11 • I 11 • s • ALTERNATIVE 3 N \ N-'· s. 2 1' 1 1 ' 1 0' 1 1 ' 1 1 ' ALTERNATIVE 5 STRIPING CONFIGURATION LA COSTA AVENUE 0 a: w Cl <( ~ w _J _J <( (.) 5' 1 1 ' 1 1 ' 1 0' 1 1 ' 1 1 .' 5' EXISTING STRIPING CONFIGURATION ALTERNATIVE =II= 5 Exhibit B our ~11.v1sr:·,. l,.A(,00"- OCEANSIDE PACIFIC OCEAN OAT IOUITCJS LA<100N t N CITY OF CARLSBAD BICYCLE ROUTES ++-+ -RAILROAD FREEWAY BICYCLE ROUTES ---, ~7 ~--... I r I I I L..r LE UCA0111 BL VD Exhibit C I I ~ _70 c,n """' .. ~-------·------• March_l_7_,-_1_9_8_~ (,,----Department of T~af:=__)ffiicc \ • '---City of Carlsbad -12.00._Elm St . . Carlsb""ad~2--0-o Dear Sirs: ) I would like to make known to you the feelings of the owners and tenants of the La Costa Be Marbella complex, 2401-2433 La Costa Ave., Carlsbad. We are very interested in obtaining a turning lane on La Costa Ave . opposite our entrance. We have 58 families living in our condo complex, and every day many of us face serious injuries or loss of life when attempting to make a left turn into our driveway. There have been numerous "close calls." It is convenient to have parking on La Costa Ave. And we do sympathize with our neighbors. It is too bad we can't have both. But when weighed against the potential for tragedy I am sure you will agree that something must be done. La Costa Ave . is becoming a speedway and the squealing of brakes is a warning we must respect. ~e~/.z4' Stan Michaels Presedent La Costa de Marbella Homeowners Association cc: Diane Rulka Strom Management, Inc ..