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Home My WebLink About1988-11-07; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Reduce the existing prima facie speed limit within the designated limits from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hourCITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: November 7, 1988 ITEM NO._filL_ LOCATION: Palomar Airport Road -Carlsbad Boulevard to Paseo Del Norte INITIATED BY: City of Carlsbad Traffic Engineering Division REQUESTED ACTION:Reduce the existing prima facie speed limit within the designated limits from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour. BACKGROUND: DATA: The traffic and engineering survey conducted to establish a 45 mile per hour prima facie speed limit on Palomar Airport Road from Carlsbad Boulevard to Paseo Del Norte was discussed at the April 1984 Traffic Safety Commission (minutes attached). Ordinance Number 3169 establishing the speed zone was adopted by the City Council on May 15, 1984. Palomar Airport Road, is designated as a prime arterial in the Circulation Element of the General Plan, including the segment between Carlsbad Boulevard and Paseo Del Norte, a distance of 0.70 miles. Roadway lane geometrics vary within the subject segment from two lanes on the westerly end, two lanes on the bridge over Interstate 5 and four through lanes plus left turn lanes at the Paseo Del Norte intersection, including a right turn only lane, eastbound to southbound at the intersection. From Avenida Encinas to Paseo Del Norte, Palomar Airport Road has a relatively straight alignment. Beginning at the intersection of Avenida Encinas and proceeding westerly Palomar Airport Road follows a curvilinear alignment in a northwesterly direction to the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard. Intersecting Palomar Airport Road within the 0.70 mile study limits are Carlsbad Boulevard, the on ramp to southbound Carlsbad Boulevard, the off ramp for northbound Carlsbad Boulevard, Solamar Drive, Avenida Encinas, the northbound and southbound on/off ramps for Interstate 5 and Paseo Del Norte. In addition to the intersections listed, driveway access to Palomar Airport Road exists for various business establishments on both the north and south sides of Palomar Airport Road. Traffic counts were obtained on Palomar Airport Road in September 1988 by the traffic consultant retained by the City of Carlsbad for the I-5 bridge widening improvement projects for Palomar Airport Road, Poinsettia Lane and La Costa Avenue. Results of the traffic volume counts obtained by the consultant are shown on Table 1. TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: November 7, 1988 (Continued) ITEM NO. 6B TABLE 1 -Palomar Airport Road Traffic Volumes Location 24-hour A.D.T. A.M. Peak P.M. Peak Between 1-5 and Paseo Del Norte 28,183 1,803 2,233 Between 1-5 and Avenida Encinas 13,446 866 1,088 In 1987 and continuing through September 1988 there have been 35 reported accidents within this segment, primarily attributed to a violation of the right of way. Eighteen of these accidents occurred at the 1-5 on/off ramps. All but seven of the accidents occurred in the daytime. Excessive speed was a factor in seven accidents, two of which occurred at night. A speed survey was conducted on Palomar Airport Road. Results are summarized on Table 2 and the speed survey is included with this report . The prima facie speed limit on Carlsbad Boulevard north of Palomar Airport Road currently is 35 M.P.H. TABLE 2 -Speed Survey Results Location Date PAR w/o 1-5 10/12/88 PAR e/o Carlsbad Boulevard overcrossing 10/12/88 Critical Speed 38 M.P.H. 42 M.P.H. During the peak hours significant congestion occurs on Palomar Airport Road and at the 1-5 off ramps. Traffic volumes continue to increase on Palomar Airport Road. It is expected that it will be a minimum of three years before the PAR bridge over Interstate 5 is widened. Future plans include the widening of PAR west of Avenida Encinas and straightening Palomar Airport Road to create a "T" intersection with Carlsbad Boulevard. Likewise, it will be several years before this occurs. A review of all the traffic engineering data indicates that a reduction of the prima facie speed limit could be supported. It can be recommended that a 35 mile per hour prima facie speed limit be established, thereby lowering the existing 45 mile per hour prima facie speed limit. RECOMMENDATION: Based upon the results of the traffic and engineering survey, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends that a 35 M.P.H. prima facie speed limit be established on Palomar Airport Road from Carlsbad Boulevard to its' intersection with Paseo Del Norte, thereby lowering the existing 45 M.P.H. prima facie speed limit. TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION COMMISSION REPORT OF: November 7, 1988 (Continued) NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION: ITEM NO. 68 The City Council must adopt an ordinance to amend the existing City Municipal Code to lower the prima facie speed limit, as recommended. _QCA TION M. _p N ~ N.T.S. ·~ UJ ~ ~ Pal omar A,rporl IU. ... t- Lf\ ~ L ,, 0 ti) ~ ::z -a J d ft 13 > .JJ -4Y ~ .... z <13 v H cf: LEGEND 1•1•1 PRO P OSED 35 MPH SPEED ZONE 1\--~SI TE """'~ "O•o VICINITY MAP PROJECT NAME: PROPOSED 35 MPH SPEED LIMIT -EXHIBIT I. PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD from P A SEO DEL NORTE to CARLSBAD BOULEVARD SPEED SURVEY DATE: /0. /Z,.. • e,0_ , l"M flV\ TIME:/. 4S to ).'-OU WEATIIEn: vle<4:/C--5vnY1 -.../ I crrv ·oF CARLSBAD LOCATION: /JbtMtt,Jr;,,zl( rJ o/o _;;i; 0//~&0 77/;ff OUSEHVEfi/ HECOfiDEH: J?1_} ~ w e> II % "2. II % %t iJe % II ~! --- ----------- -62 - ------------- -60 -,_ ,_ ------------ - ~!! ----------------56 -- --- -------- --54 -------1-------- -~z_ ----- ----------50 ---- - --- -------40 -,_ 1--1 fl lx1 --------------11 I -z. I I l&O -G 42 1/ )( x.. 3 (e 'e (e 99 3 I -40 )( )\ 'I. ~ ~ ~ ~ f2 & 1=. ]8 )I ) )( IX y lX. ~ I~ J~ * IZ- )6 \ ~ z: ~ c.,3 L2 z.,Z,,, /L_ Ji ) I/ IX )< X Ji X 1' X :x }\ X X lL\ 15 1? t:2 z£ ~ + ~ -I) ( )( y X " X ll ~ ¼ /2, L2 Z-7 ]2 ~ J!i. } ( X ½ -7 + ~ & 3 -· -~ :s 20 !). ' 1X T ~ 26 I ~!. ;ao ///I) v'OQ ?la n_ rn_ ---------------I!! ---------------l fi_ ----------.-----l t ----------------12 ---- ----- - -----I n TOTAL VEIIICLES: /00 CfilTICAL SPEED: 38 ll PII PACE SP EED: °3 -Z, to_ 42. MPH CAns IN PACE : &2 '.t e;:e, 64 ----- -------,_ ----62 --------------60 ----- ----------50 56 --------------54 ----------------52 - -- ------- - --- -50 40 ----------- ---------- ---- ----- -·-1§. [)( ~ t H. 1?.. -6 ~ ~ ~ 40 ~ X X X I' )( V ~ !Y Jo IJ_ -- lX X'.' IX ,,,, X )C )( \,, ( K .x 36 I \ Y. X y 1x ,r ,)<. )I )( y )( y ,JI )4 ,_ . IX X ~ } 32 ~ -.. ~ ¼ ~ ,_ ~ )0 20 ~6_ --?! 22 20 ---------------I a_ 16 ----------- ------------------ ---u. . 12 ----------- ----·-.,, SPEED SURVEY DATE: /0 • /o2,-f,€, rJ.V\. THIE: z;_: OU to £: ?Of'M WEATIIER: VV~x -2V:V\v\.7/ CllY .OF CARLSBAD · TOTAL VEHICLES: _LO D CRITICAL SPEED: L/-Z UPII PACE SPEED: 7J t.f to 44 MPII LO CAT JON ::0,.. \ow,,All' !\.w:tprCL\ '¾ ?al,,~.:;7.,!_½::9 .,,~ OUSEIIV E II/ RECORDER: ~ _\ 0' ~. L . =: L\-S-pi CJ\11S IN PACE: 7':1 i w~ II % ~ II % %tile % II ~'3 64 64 -· -------------------- -------,_ - --- 6Z 62 - --------,_ --- - ------ ---------60 60 --·------------ - ----------------so ~ll. ------------- --56 56 --------- ---- - ------ ---------54 54 --------------- -- --------------~z_ 52 - ------------ - -50 50 -------- -------2 7 - ---------- - -- ~ -40 /c:?r2 z; I 40 ----16 .. C) Q ff Q 0 1§. ---1 ¥ ,_ L... .L 'J< tx IX 'x 'l 1.t "I ~ -z:.. /C ;;> -'5% ff t'te i X X k11 IJ IX -,_.. 42 . ~ y :x X 7 ~~ /3 09 (Z. X X X :x 'X ')II 42 I/ ;: I ~ rx X ,_ X 'l -- 40 ) ' IX X r.x X 'I( 'X ~ I'/--~~ -2-:3 7~ /6 ~ X )( X ' 'x I)( ~I 40 jl, I )8 ; J ) 'l ")( X !~ ,x ~ 13._ /7 /7 '?3 J? ~ X JC ) Ir' IX X 'I jif ~ ,_ ~ l"')c ]6 ) ) X )(' X IY ) t i~ % ~~ LC2 >< ,)( ~ ]6 1-r-Jl I~ , IX V '), ~ 7 ~ Z:3 l'Z::. IX )(' A' )(. X )( ]4 ... v. ~ }~ ~ H. .. -z:_ 8 /0 ± "--l¥ ~ ')i )( l)< .X ll ll ,-1-· -,_ ·-,--J!l ' -I z_ Z:: -z_ 11 ~ ----.. ..-- Ml 20 ---- - - --------- - ---------rn. -----1/uY,J 1/o'r J //?r> a? ~~ -------- ------ -- ----- ---- -----ZG .. ~i ---------------?i ----------- -- --22 ~£. ----------- ---------- --- - ---- - rn .. -----20 ---------- ---------------· --JU I!! ------------ ---- --------------16 Hi .. ---------------·----------------Ji. l 1. ------------------- ------ ------ll ~~ -----------.J. ----·------ ----------II'> I If\ MINUTES The Traffic Safety Conmission asked staff to look into the traffic (both pedestrian and vehicle) at Harding and Oak and come up with a recornrendation to be brought back to the next Traffic Safety Corrmission rreeting. 6. Sdlool Safety Patrol Limit Lines. Mr. Steve Ahle, Principal of Pine School, addressed the Conrnission oo this item, stating with the patrol limit line at 50 feet from the intersection, the rrotorists were confused as to where to stop, and were stopping at the patrol line and oot stopping at the oorner stop sign. He stated with the students closer to the stop signs, it was easier to see the students and the stop signs and less oonfusing. Steve Tisdale reported that with the students closer to the stop sign and the crosswalk, the results were 111.1ch better. This was four to ten feet back from the crosswalk. It was further stated that anyone oot stopping in back of the limit line \t.Ould be issued a citation. Police Chief Jimno stated the 50 feet was certainly too far back and confusing. He stated he wanted the children as close to the intersection as J.X)SSible, and would also like to see the dlildren in the street and not oo the curbing. If the dlildren are in the street, the notorist is certain he is to stop. He roncluded, stating he was romfortable with the four to ten feet. Staff stated the 50 feet was used as the limit due to the speed condition. '!here are certain places where the children \t.Ould have to be pulled back that far for safety. Steve Tisdale stated he \t.Ould inform the Conmission oo this item as to hCM the four to ten feet \t.Orked out. 5. Various speed zones. Police Chief Jimno stated the 30 mph limit recornrended for State Street is too high, and he \t.Ould prefer 25 mph speed limit in that area. Marty Bouman stated that is a business district and falls under the vehicle rode as a 25 mph area. HCMever, people are driving faster in that area. The Traffic Safety Conmission voted to enforce a 25 mph speed limit on State Street between Grand and Carlsbad Boulevard. Police Chief Jimno discussed the speed limit on Palomar Airport Foad between Carlsbad Boulevard and Paseo Del Norte, and stated he felt even the 45 mph speed limit was too high. COMMISSIONERS Punches ~ Melideo Harkins Punches ~ Melideo Harkins X X X X X X X X X X MINUTES April 9, 1984 Page 3 Staff discussed this item, stating that soon there will be construction in that area, which will decrease the speed to 25 mph. At the present time, the speed limit in that area is 55 mph, as there are no speed limit signs there. Staff agreed that once the speed limit is lowered for the coming construction in the area, it will never return to the 55 mph. ADJOllml-1ENI': By pr~r notion, the Meeting was adjourned at 3:36 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ; I • . '/iwii:,l~ irriett Babbitt, Minutes Clerk