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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-11-07; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Create a 3-way STOP controlled intersection on Pontiac Drive at the intersections of Chestnut Avenue, York Road and Victoria Avenue'; CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: November 7, 1988 ITEM NO._§_.8_ LOCATION: Pontiac Drive INITIATED BY: Manya Bebieff, 3627 Pontiac Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008 REQUESTED ACTION: Create a 3-way STOP controlled intersection on Pontiac Drive at the intersections of Chestnut Avenue, York Road and Victoria Avenue. BACKGROUND: DATA: A STOP sign warrant study was recently conducted at each of the three referenced intersections on Pontiac Drive. Based upon an evaluation of the results of this data (included), STOP signs are not warranted. Pontiac Drive is a residential co 11 ector street, 1. 2 mil es in length, terminating at Elm Avenue on the north and Tamarack Avenue on the south. Fifteen streets intersect Pontiac Drive and because it meets criteria for a THROUGH STREET, this designation was established in December 1987 by City Council action upon the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Commission. The portion of Pontiac Drive from Victoria Avenue to Elm Avenue, 0.5 miles in length, qualifies as a residence district per criteria of the California Vehicle Code and has a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour, with speed limit signs posted. Warrants contained in the CALTRANS Traffic Manual for a multi-way stop i nsta 11 at ion are attached. At each of the three intersections under consideration, a STOP sign warrant study was conducted. Traffic volumes are low and there have been no reported accidents in the past three years at any of the three intersections. Each intersection is a "T" intersection with the minor intersecting street controlled by a STOP sign. No STOP signs are placed on Pontiac Drive, except at Elm Avenue and Tamarack Avenue and warrants for additional STOP signs are not met. RECOMMENDATION: The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends that the request to establish a 3-way STOP controlled intersection at the referenced intersections be denied. It is further recommended that these intersections be re-evaluated in six months. NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION: No City Council action required unless STOP signs are recommended for installation. August 22, 1988 Mr. Bob Johns on Traffic Safety Commission 2075 Las Pa l rnas Drive Carlsbad, CA 92009 Dear Mr. John son, RECEIVED AUG :: ,1 1988 _ CITY OF CARLSBAD LNGINEERl i~G DEPARTMENT Per Mayor Pro Tern, Ann Kulchin's suggestion, attached is a copy of my letter d ated August 8, 1988. Also attached is a copy of a reply letter from Mayor Claude A. Lewis acknowl edging his safety concerns also. What might b e of additional interest to your reviewing committee is the fact that just a few days ago I came home from work for lunch around 12:00p.m. Two cars collided right in the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Pontiac Drive. They were evidently neigh- bors who both came speeding down Victoria Avenue and up Pontiac Drive without paying attention and hit each o ther pretty bad. No police were called, so I'm sure this is an a c cident that went unreported a s far as the city is concerned. A couple of mo nths ago, an elderly man came s peeding around the corner off Pon tiac Drive to Victoria Avenue, l ost control of his car, went up t he curb, and hit the stop sign. My children wit - nessed this, but I'm sure this accident, again , went un-reported to the police. These are two accidents that have occurEed right in front of my home. It's frightening to think how many more have occurred on other parts of Pontiac Drive t hat, again , have gone un-reported. Your help and immediate attention to the matter of making Pont iac Drive a safe p lace to live will be greatly appreciated. S i ncerely, /.Jl?t'J1,f/t1._ de .l~ L/ J Mrs. Manya Bebiiff Car l s bad Res ident cc: Ann Kulchin , Mayor Pro Tern Claude A. "Bud" Lewis, Mayor August 8, 1988 City of Carlsbad 1200 Elm Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008 Attention: City Planning Commission TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Dear Sir/Madam: I reside at 3627 Pontiac Drive, Carlsbad, California. I have been a resident of Carlsbad for 10 years at this address and have watched and read about the so called master growth plans of this hill. I was well aware of the growth plan for Chestnut Hills when we bought here; but it was also my hope that the City had knowledgeable, sensible planners who considered the effects to our safety as well as the revenues brought into the City while you were creating this so called Master Plan. Pontiac Drive has turned into a main artery that all of Summit, Calavera, you name it, feeds into to reach Tamarack and Elm Avenues. What our City has neglected to plan for was the cars going 55 miles per hour every 30 seconds. Not one stop sign has been implemented to slow cars down coming up from Tamarack on Pontiac or from Elm on Pontiac. It is a virtual Freeway up here and is going to be worse when the Summit homes are finished. Neighbors on Pontiac Drive complain but say the City will do nothing .. The police even told one neighbor, whose car was hit, that 3 or more accidents are needed. Tfiats ridiculous!! Common sense in planning can show that at least 2-3 stop signs on Pontiac Drive from Elm Avenue to Victoria Avenue will definitely slow well meaning people down who unconsciously speed through here to go down the hill. It is my hope that I do not have to go through the petition or media process to get results. Stop signs are needed at Victoria/Pontiac (3-way) and possibly Chestnut/Pontiac and York Avenue/Pontiac. Please help us before some child (possibly mine) is killed or more cars are hit trying to leave our driveways. A simple one day study will show you our problem. .. Have lunch (1/2 hour) on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Pontiac Drive on a Sunday afternoon. That's all it will take to see for yourselves the danger we face everyday in front of our homes. It is my hope t hat my neighbors are wrong about this City's lack of concern for us. We are not big developers with lots of money. We are just f amilies that would like to stay here in Carlsbad and not be forced t o move because of the poor planning on the part of a City we have g rown to love. Your help and a ssistance would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, YJ/w1c1/{ /3L Lu// Mrs. Manya Bebieff Carlsbad Resident cc: Carlsbad City Council Carlsbad Police Department Time 0100-0200 0200-0300 0300-0400 0400-0500 0500-0600 0600-0700 0700-0800 0800-0900 0900-1000 1000-1100 1100-1200 1200-1300 1300-1400 1400-1500 1500-1600 1600-1700 1700-1800 1800-1900 1900-2000 2000-2100 2100-2200 2200-2300 2300-2400 2400-0100 Reported Traffic Collisions PONTIAC DRIVE AT VICTORIA AVENUE STOP SIGN WARRANT ANALYSIS September 13-14, 1988 NB SB 1 2 2 5 1 2 4 3 16 11 45 31 85 74 75 74 73 43 64 41 63 72 84 83 68 69 92 125 84 122 83 89 124 131 100 111 80 97 43 67 22 56 23 26 12 13 6 7 1988 1987 0 0 Critical Speed= 38mph WB Total 1 4 2 9 1 4 6 13 7 34 36 112 58 217 59 208 32 148 25 130 29 164 17 184 43 180 79 296 62 268 44 216 47 302 50 261 22 199 13 123 15 93 7 56 4 29 1 14 1986 0 Time 0100-0200 0200-0300 0300-0400 0400-0500 0500-0600 0600-0700 0700-0800 0800-0900 0900-1000 1000-1100 1100-1200 1200-1300 1300-1400 1400-1500 1500-1600 1600-1700 1700-1800 1800-1900 1900-2000 2000-2100 2100-2200 2200-2300 2300-2400 2400-0100 Reported Traffic Coll is ions PONTIAC DRIVE AT YORK ROAD STOP SIGN WARRANT ANALYSIS September 14-15, 1988 NB SB 3 8 2 0 2 0 8 0 14 10 72 24 109 88 109 87 72 49 70 57 70 65 67 72 67 71 127 119 87 106 89 110 99 125 100 103 66 86 34 60 34 45 10 18 4 12 3 5 1988 1987 0 0 Critical Speed= 38mph EB Total 1 12 0 2 0 2 2 10 0 24 7 103 11 208 14 210 2 122 3 130 10 145 11 150 10 148 20 266 18 211 17 216 7 231 17 220 12 164 38 132 0 79 4 32 0 16 1 9 1986 0 Time 0100-0200 0200-0300 0300-0400 0400-0500 0500-0600 0600-0700 0700-0800 0800-0900 0900-1000 1000-1100 1100-1200 1200-1300 1300-1400 1400-1500 1500-1600 1600-1700 1700-1800 1800-1900 1900-2000 2000-2100 2100-2200 2200-2300 2300-2400 2400-0100 Reported Traffic Collisions PONTIAC DRIVE AT CHESTNUT AVENUE STOP SIGN WARRANT ANALYSIS September 21-22, 1988 NB 6 4 7 7 25 88 121 115 77 68 76 68 70 106 105 112 103 100 84 39 28 21 10 8 1988 0 SB 4 2 1 3 7 29 51 72 53 68 87 92 72 116 98 142 143 113 88 95 65 27 14 8 1987 0 Critical Speed= 38mph EB 0 1 3 1 2 9 41 29 14 12 18 16 16 42 38 29 33 35 18 14 9 8 5 0 1986 0 Total 10 7 11 11 34 126 213 216 144 148 181 176 158 264 241 283 279 248 190 148 102 56 29 16 Traffic Manual R1 Standard 30" R1-3 DD Standard 12" x 8" R1-4 O•CA1 Standard 18" x 8" SIGNS POLICY Stop Signs and Yield Signs • Stop Signs 4-37 3-1987 The STOP sign (R1) shall be used where traffic is required to stop except at signalized Intersections. The STOP sign shall be an octagon with white me• 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 may be used. At a multlway 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 corr•• 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 faces. • Warrants for STOP Signs Because the STOP sign causes a substantial inco~ 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 co~ dltlons 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 safe approach speed to the intersection is less than 10 miles per hour. 6. At an unslgnalized 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 for control by the STOP sign. 4-38 3-1987 SIGNS Traffic Manual POLICY A STOP sign Is not a "cur•alF' 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'llng 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 tral~actuated control devices except as provided In eve 21355, Stop Signs. The conflicting commands of two types of control devices are co~ 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 red 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 lefHurnlng movement. STOP signs should not be Installed lndlacrimlnately at all unprotected railroad crossings. The allowance of STOP signs at all such crossings would eventually breed contempt for both law enforcement, and obedience to the sign's command to stop. STOP signs may only be used at selected raiVhlghway 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 application of STOP signs should be an Interim use period during which plans for lights, gates or other means of 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- imately 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 mult._ 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 for the signal Installations. 2. An accident problem, as Indicated by five or more reported accidents within a 12 month period of a tyP4t susceptible to correction by a multlway stop Installation. Such accidents include right- and left-tum 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 J)4tdestrlan volume from the minor street or highway must average at least 200 unlta 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 85-J)4trcentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 mlles per hour, the minimum vehicular volume warrant Is 70 percent of the above requlrementL 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, equ._ 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 Is 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 0 miles per hour. 2. On the entrance ramp to an expressway where an acceleration lane Is not provided.