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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-04-06; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Review, comment, and provide recommendations for the construction of raised medians on Tamarack AvenueCI1Y OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFE1Y COMMISSION STAFF REPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF: April 6, 1992 ITEM NO. 6B LOCATION: Tamarack Avenue westerly of Linmar Lane to Interstate Highway 5 INITIATED BY: City Engineer Lloyd Hubbs REQUESTED ACTION: Review, comment, and provide recommendations for the construction of raised medians on Tamarack Avenue. BACKGROUND: On March 5, 1990, the Traffic Safety Commission reviewed several alternatives for widening of Tamarack Avenue. Each alternative included the provision for a raised median on Tamarack Avenue from the Interstate Highway 5 southbound off-ramp to westerly of Linmar Lane. Final design plans for the project are now being completed to provide two traffic lanes in each direction, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and a limited number of parallel parking spaces. However, near the Jefferson Street intersection four traffic lanes and left turn lanes will be constructed. At this time, the median construction portion of this project easterly of Jefferson Street is opposed by the owners of Gericos' Restaurant and the Unocal 76 service station. The raised median proposed for Tamarack Avenue is shown on Exhibit A. Both owners claim that prohibiting left turns from Tamarack Avenue into their business establishment will adversely impact their economic viability, as expressed in letters attached as Exhibit B and Exhibit C. Project notifications from the City of Carlsbad have been made as listed below: • January 25, 1990, Tamarack Avenue Improvements Workshop Open House at the Carlsbad Senior Center Auditorium. • March 5, 1990, review of alternative alignments by the Traffic Safety Commission. • December 18, 1990, City Council approval of the Tamarack Avenue Alignment. • June 20, 1991, City Planning Commission approval of the proposed project PCDJGPC 90-1. • February 27, 1992, written notification to all property owners fronting the proposed median. TRAFFIC SAFE1Y COMMISSION Staff Report COMMISSION MEETING OF: April 6, 1992 (Continued) ITEM NO. _fill_ At each of the public meetings, the drawings shown to the public and City officials indicated that raised medians would be installed on Tamarack Avenue. This feature has been expected to be an integral part of the Tamarack Avenue widening design. DATA: Installation of a raised median is one of many roadway features commonly found on an urban street. Medians are constructed for a variety of reasons, such as: • separating opposing flows of traffic • to prohibit undesirable turning movements • to provide a pedestrian refuge • to provide a location for barriers of various types • for aesthetic reasons or to facilitate channelization at an intersection The short road segment between Jefferson Street and the 1-5 southbound off-ramp has been the location of various traffic collisions over the past several years. The collision history for 1989 through the current date is indicated on the attached collision diagrams. Construction of a raised median on Tamarack Avenue will prohibit left turns to and from Tamarack Avenue on the four lane segment of Tamarack Avenue from Interstate Highway 5 to westerly of Linmar Lane. Traffic safety will be enhanced by construction of the median, especially between Interstate Highway 5 and Jefferson Street, where the majority of the turning movements occur. Due to the close intersection spacing between the 1-5 southbound off-ramp and Jefferson Street, this road segment is frequently congested and results in difficulty for turning vehicles to the business locations. For aesthetic reasons, eight queen palms will be installed in the median between Interstate Highway 5 and Jefferson Street. These palms will be relocated to the median from other locations along Tamarack Avenue affected by the road widening. The median landscaping has received specific approvals from the California Coastal Commission and any subsequent revisions to the median landscaping will require Coastal Commission approval. TRAFFIC SAFE'IY COMMISSION Staff Report COMMISSION MEETING OF: April 6, 1992 (Continued) ITEM NO. 6B Westbound vehicles on Tamarack Avenue will be permitted to make a U-turn at the Jefferson Street intersection. However, large vehicles will not be able to negotiate a U-turn at that location. Vehicles such as tractor/trailer combinations or other long wheel base vehicles will be required to use an alternative route such as Cannon Road to Carlsbad Boulevard and then proceed northerly to Tamarack Avenue where the vehicles would travel eastbound to the desired destination. This route did raise concerns by the Carlsbad Fire Department about fuel trucks travelling through the residential area on Tamarack Avenue. RECOMMENDATION: The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended by a 4-1 vote that the raised medians on Tamarack Avenue not be deleted. Staff will continue to seek joint access agreements for commercial property owners along Tamarack as a part of future development conditions. For instance, such an agreement between Texaco and Gericos could minimize concerns of Gerico to serve eastbound traffic volumes on Tamarack Avenue attempting to access the restaurant. NECESSARY CI'IY COUNCIL ACTION: No action by City Council is required if the raised medians are not deleted. LOCATION MAP 206-292-23 GE RICO'S ~ 204-292-24 TEXACO JEFFERSON w ::, z w .> .< lll\11 206-040-2'9 UNION 76 206-040-02 CANNING 206-040-01 VAGENAS STREET LINMAR LANE NOT TO SCALE ROJECT NAME PROJECT NO. EXHIBIT TAMARACK A VENUE IMPROVEMENTS 3203 A GERICO'S 850 Tamarack Ave. Carlsbad. CA 92008 March 9, 1992 Donna Bernard Dan Clark Engineering Department 2075 Las Pal mas Drive Carlsbad, CA 92009-1576 RE: Tamarack Avenue street improvements. Dear Ms. Bernard & Mr. Clark: The proposed solid median to be installed on Tamarack Avenue from Interstate 5 to Jefferson Street would be a devastating blow to our business. The majority of our sales comes from a regular local clientele and because we only have one point of access to our parking lot, the installation of a solid median would eliminate all access to Gerico's for customers who live west of Interstate 5 . Unless these customers trespass through the Texaco service station lot , they would be subjected to crossing Interstate 5 and attempting to turn around somewhere on the east side befor returning. Over the last month, my partner and I have voiced our concerns with the Engineering Department. Subsequently, we have looked at viable alternatives to the problem that this median would create. These include: obtaining a right of way permit to open up the back of our parking lot to a short stretch of Carol Place; a two-way turn lane (with conditions) in place of the solid median; and working with Texaco to obtain possible ingress/egress rights through the back of their lot. We are preparing our application for the right of way permit although we understand, through conversations with Jim Davis, that the planning staff has already looked at this alternative and does not view it favorably. We feel that the amount of cars using this entrance would be · minimal during the hours that students from the neighboring Jefferson school would be traveling to or from school (7 a .m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.). Dan, after talking with you a couple weeks ago, I realize that the Coastal Commissions' concerns included the replacement of trees and that this median is to contain eight Royal palms. I would hope that the major reason behind this median being solid was not the placement of these eight palm trees. Exhibit B·, Page 1 of 2 I also understand that Bob Johnson has concerns with the safety of the area with the future increase in traffic . We agree that making a left turn from our parking lot onto Tamarack Av enue is much more difficult than it was six years ago and it will only become more difficult. A NO-LEFT TURN sign from our lot as well as the Unocal station 's lot would create a safer two-way turn lane while still allowing east bound traffic access to our lot. Some other modification of the proposed median may suffice. Finally, working with Texaco to obtain some right of way through their lot would be extemely difficult. Unless they were to have some immediate plans of developing the back half of their lot, I would not expect them to easily give up a portion of their lot for our use only. We firmly believe that the adverse impact on our business from the median, as it is now proposed, would be severe. Our only options at this point are to seek access to our lot through the right of· way permit and to continue to oppose the solid median. I will be in contact with you in the next few days as I submit the application for the right of way permit. Please contact me i f there is any developments or meetings concerning the median. I can be reached at 729-4996 . Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jeff King General Part ner Gerico's Restaurant JK: jk • Exhibit B, Page 2 of 2 KEVIN M . BAGLEY CLINTON L . BLAIN TYLER W. CRAMER O. F"RECERICK ..JAY MARRY .,J . PROCTOR ..JONATMAN R. ZEKO FRIEDMAN, JAY & CRAME~ A P"OF"ESSIONAL CORPORATION ONE ELEVEN ELM STREET. SUITE 400 SAN 01EGO, CALIF'ORNIA gz101-2ee3 TELEPMONE (e1i;) 23e-112s TELECOF>IER (e19) 232·1042 March 5, 1992 Dan Clark Project Manager CITY OF CARLSBAD [ •1 r: I) 0 G 1992 . ,l-\1, 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, CA 92009 CLIENT/Matter: Our File No . : WILSON/Easement 1650.02 Re: Proposed Tamarack Avenue Street Improvements Dear Mr. Clark: GARY E. F"RIECMAN 0" COUN.SIEL I represent D.D. Wilson, owner of the property located on Tamarack Avenue in Carlsbad, upon which a Union Oil gas station is situated. I am in receipt of your letter dated February 27, 1992, and have previously spoken to Ms. Bernard regarding this matter. I have also been provided with a drawing of the City's tentative plans to install medians in the area. The viability of the Union Oil gas station located on the property depends on its accessibility to travelers on Tamarack. I have been informed that the subtenant of the property, Don Gallagher, has commissioned a study showing a dramatic drop in busines if the medians are installed. According to Mr. Gallagher, he would be •out of business• if the plans are implemented as currently designed. The property _has been used as a gas station for over 25 years and may not now be suitable for any other use. Severally limiting the access to the station could virtually wipe out the value of the property. In order to mitigate the problem, the City should consider demarcating the medians with painted stripes, rather than constructing expensive medians. Alternatively, the medians could be designed to permit traffic heading in both directions to turn into the gas station. This, of course, would require a turning cut in the proposed median. Finally, regardless of the final determination of the City with respect to the medians, Mrs. Wilson has no objection to the curbside improvements anticipated by the City. My understanding is that these improvements are expected to •even out• the access to the property by leveling a dip between the road and driveway. When final plans for the curbside improvements have been adopted, please provide me with a detailed Exhibit C, Page 1 of 2 Mr . Dan Clark March 5, 1992 Page 2 drawing of the i mprovements and the time period for the proposed construction. I f the plans meet with my client's expectations, we will approve the imp r ovements . If you have any questions , please do not hesitate to call. KMB :th kmb0 31l4 .wp cc : :les Jami son, Esq. D .J . Wilson Very ituly yours, A 1 j; i?- !Cevin M. Bagley Exhibit C, Page 2 of 2 MIDBLOCK COLLISION DIAGRAM LOCATION: TAMARACK AVE, E/O JEFFERSON CITY OF CARLSBAD ST, \JI □ I-5 S,B, ON & OFF RAMPS TRAFRC ENGINEERING DMSION DRAWN BY: C. \./ICKHAM PERIOD= JAN' 1992 DAlE: MARCH 23, 1992 MAR. 27) 1992 REVISED BY: PERIOD= . DATE: I NUMBER OF TRAFFIC COWSIONS BY TYPE I I YEAR I TOTAL I PROP. I INJURY I FATAL I U0HT I DARK I WET I DAMAGE 1992 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N I I I I-5 OFFRAMP TAMARACK AVE . I L -I- (/) z D (/) ~ w \ LL LL w I-5 DNRAMP 7 \ \ [> VEH. I! FAULT LEGEND ---{> VEH. HOVING FOR\,/ARD ---IX)<}--HEAD-ON CONST CONSTRU::Tl□N ]NATT JNATTENTI□N ~ VEH. HOVING BAD<VARD ~ ESS EXCEEDING SAFE SPEED H/C MOTORCYCLE HEAD-ON S[DESVIPE - --{> PE DES TR JAN FTC F□LL□ YING TOO CLOSE RSS RAN STOP/SIGNAL C=> PARKED VEH. PASSING S!DES'w'IPE HBD HAD BEEN DRINKING VR'w' VIOLA TED R-O-'w □ FIXED OBJECT r H&R HIT L RUN VS VR□~ SJOC RIGHT ANGLE ILC IMPROPER LANE CHANGE DU[ ~IVING UNDER 0 PROPERTY DAMAGE ONLY INFLUENCE ® IP IMPROPER PASS INJURY □TH OTHER • ~ IT JMPR□PER T~N FATAL 'ag PASSING TURN IS IMPROPER START C□LLIS[ON DATA DESCRIPTION• OUT-OF-CONTROL <C□LLI:S:I□N FACTJ CREP. tl[> IB IMPROPER BACK ROLLOVER <DATE> CTIHD MIDBLOCK COLLISION DIAGRAM CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DMSION LOCATION: TAMARACK AVE, E/D JEFFERSON ST. \./ /0 I-5 S.B. ON ~ OFF RAMPS DRAWN BY= C, 'w'ICKHAM DATE: MARCH 23, 1992 REVISED BY: DATE= _________ _ PERIOD: JAN, 1991 DEC, 1991 PERIOD: NUMBER OF TRAFFIC COWSIONS BY TYPE YEAR 1991 N -I- V) z D V) ~ w LL G_ w 7 --I> ~ - --f> r:===)> □ 0 ® • cSt. TOTAL 3 A, PROP. DAMAQE 3 91-1470 2/11/91 INJURY 0 VR\./ 20:35 FATAL 0 PD □ (D) LOiT 1 DARK WET 1 0 B. 91-6111 6/28/91 ESS-INATT PD □ C. 91-6536 7 /11/91 <1-0<r-O<}-( B. )- 19:45 (L/D) IT PD□ 18:38 CL) I I CA.) ~ TAMARACK AVE, I> VEH, I!! FAULT LEGEND VEH, MOVING F□RWAAD --{>O<}-1-EAD-□ N CONST VEH, M□V[NG :BACKVARD ~ ESS 1-EAD-□ N SIDESVIPE PEDESTRIAN rTC PARKED VEH. PASS]NG srnESVlPE HBD rIXED □B...CCT r H8.R RIGHT ANGLE ILC PROPERTY DAMAGE ONLY IP INJURY IT rATAL ~ PASSING Tl.RN IS □UT-or-CONTROL IB ROLLOVER CONSTRUCTION )NATT INA TTENTCON EXCE~DlNG SAFE SPEED M/C M□T~CYCLE r □LL□IJING TDD CLOSE RSS RAN ST□P/SJGNAL HAD BEEN ffi[NK[NCi VRl,I Vlll...ATED R-□-'tl H[T 8, RUN VS \IR[],jCi SIOC IMPROPER LANE CHAt-#JE DUI DRIVING Lt,IDER IMPROPER PASS [NfLUEt-CE IMPROPER TURN □TH OTHER IMPROPER ST ART COLLJSIDN DATA DESCRJPTJON, (COLLISION FACT.) <REP. t)I> IMPROPER BACK CDATD CTJHD MIDBLOCK COLLISION DIAGRAM CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION LOCATION= TAMARA CK AVE, E/0 JEFFERSON ST, \./ /0 I-5 S,B, ON ~ □FF RAMPS DRAWN BY: C, \./ICKHAM PERIOD= JAN, 1990 DATE= MARCH 23, 1992 DEC, 1990 REVISED BY: PERIOD= DATE= ---------- NUMBER OF TRAFAC COLLISIONS BY TYPE YEAR 1990 N f- (/) z D (/) ~ w LL LL w 7 --I> ~ - --{> c=> □ 0 ® • at TOTAL PROP. DAMAGE N..urY FATAL 3 A, B, C, 3 90-1588 2/18/90 90-7720 8/24/90 90-11752 12/29/90 <l-<l-O<r-( B,) 0 VR\./ 13:49 0 PD □ CL) ESS-INATT 18:59 CL) VR\./-VD 11:31 CL) O<r-CC,) TAMARACK AVE, (> VEH, I! FAULT LEGEND VEH, MOVING HRIIARD ---{>O<}-l-£AD-ON VEH. MOVING BACKw'ARD ~ l-£AD-ON SIDESVIPE PEDESTRIAN PASSII-G SIOCSw'lPE PARKED VEH. FIXED OBJECT r RIGHT ANGLE PROPERTY DAMAGE □"'-.Y IN..lJRY ~ FATAL PASS!r,,(i TURN □UT-Of-C□NTR[J_ ROLLOVER PD□ PD □ CONST ESS FTC HBD HS.R ILC IP IT IS [1l LICHT 3 CDNSTRUCTICJ-4 EXCEEDil'(i SAFE SPEED FOLL□w'ING TOD CLOSE HAD BEEN DRJNKII-G HIT &. R~ 111"RDPER LANE CHANGE 111"RDPER PASS lt-f'ROPER TURN DARK 0 i ~ t CJ ii) I ....., IN.UT MIC RSS VRw' w'S DUI □TH YET 1 INATTENTICJ-4 t-OTDRCYCLE RAN STOP /SIGNAL VJ[J_ATED R-0-w' lo'Rll'IG SIDE DRIVING UNOCR INFLUENCE OTHER It-f'RDPER START CDLLISIIJ,I DATA DESCRIPTION• <COLLISION r ACT,) <REP, ti)[> 111"R□PER BACK <DATD <TIME) MIDBLOCK COLLISION DIAGRAM CITY OF CARLSBAD LOCATION: TAMARACK AVE, E/O JEFFERSON ST. \./ /0 I-5 S.B , ON & □FF RAMPS TRAFFIC ENQINEERINQ DMSION DRA'NN BY: C. 'w'ICKHAM PERIOD JAN, 1989 DEC. 1989 YEAR 1989 N -f--- (/) z D V) Cl:'.'.'. w LL LL w 7 --1> ~ - --{> c==> □ 0 @ • at DATE= MARCH 23, 1992 REVISED BY: PERIOC>: DATE= ________ _ NUMBER OF TRAFRC COLLISIONS BY TYPE TOTAL PROP. DAMAOE 2 1 A. 8 9-1375 2/11/89 B. 8 9-2024 3/3/89 NJVRY 1 IT-INA TT 23:51 FATAL 0 PD □ (D) D\./I-RSS-H&R INJ, 23:14 (D) TAMARACK AVE . ua-rr DARK YET 0 2 0 I-5 OFFRAMP I .__ ______________________ __, CB,) ~ --<A.d \ I-5 □NRAMP \ \ [> VEH, I! FAULT LEGEND VEH. HOVING F□R'wARD ----{>QQ-HEAD-ON CONST CONSTRUCTION INATT JNA TTENTJCN VEH, HOVING BACK\o/ARD ~ ESS EXCEEDING SAFE SPEED H/C MOTORCYCLE HEAD-ON SIDESVrPE PEIESTRIAN FTC FOLLO\JJNG TOO CLOSE RSS RAN STOP/SIGNAL PARKED VEH. PASSING SIDESV[PE HBD HAD BEEN m[NKING VfN VIDLA TED R-0-V FIXED □Il..ECT r H!.R HIT & RUN VS VR□t,[j SIDE RIGHT ANGLE JLC IHPRCFER LANE CHANGE DUI DRJVJNG UNDER PRCFERTY DAMAGE ONLY INFLUENCE IP [HPRCFER PASS JNJURY 0TH OTHER ~ JT IHPRCFER TURN FATAL PASSJNG TURN JS IHPRCFER START COLLISION DAT A OCSCRJPTW~ □UT-Of-CONTROL <C□LLISJ□N FACT,) <REP, II)[> IB [HPRCFER BACK ROLLOVER CDATD <TIME)