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Home My WebLink About1992-10-05; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Remove the TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE (2 WLTL) on La Costa Avenue between Nueva Castilla Way and Viejo Castilla Way and replace it with a "back to back" standardCI'IY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFE'IY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF: October 5, 1992 ITEM NO. 6A LOCATION: La Costa Avenue between Nueva Castilla Way and Viejo Castilla Way INITIATED BY: Raymond Signer, 3338 29th Street, San Diego, California 92104 REQUESTED ACTION: Remove the TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE (2 WLTL) on La Costa Avenue between Nueva Castilla Way and Viejo Castilla Way and replace it with a "back to back" standard left-tum lane. BACKGROUND: DATA: Mr. Signer has stated that the existing TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE on La Costa Avenue at the subject location has the potential for head-on traffic collisions. In response to requests from residents living along La Costa Avenue to establish a TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE in 1988, the matter was discussed at several Traffic Safety Commission meetings and City Council meetings. Decisions from those meetings resulted in the 2 WLTL being striped on La Costa Avenue. As with many different traffic issues, there are advantages and disadvantages of installing a traffic control device. Advantages of a TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE • Reduces delays, improves efficiency. • Increases roadway capacity. • Effective method of removing left turning vehicles from the through lane. • Reduces certain types of collisions ( rear end, sideswipe). • Good public acceptance. Disadvantages of a TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE • Potential for misuse if used as a through lane or passing lane. • Can create indecision on driver behavior if unfamiliar with the 2 WLTL. CI'IY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFE'IY COMMISSION Staff Report COMMISSION MEETING OF: October 5, 1992 ( continued) Item: 6A The striping configuration of La Costa Avenue between Nueva Castilla Way and Viejo Castilla Way is shown on Exhibit 1. These two intersections are separated by a distance of 470 feet. On the north side of La Costa Avenue between the two intersections, seven driveways are served by the 2 WL TL. A traffic count conducted easterly of Viejo Castilla Way on September 17, 1992 indicated a two-way Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volume on La Costa Avenue of 15,125 vehicles. No traffic collisions have been reported in the past four years that has the 2 WL TL striping configuration as the primary collision factor or associated factor. Exhibit 3 indicates the striping configuration of La Costa Avenue in the subject segment prior to installing the TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE. Drivers attempting to tum into a driveway located on the north side of La Costa Avenue were required to stop in the Number 1 eastbound lane and wait for a gap in westbound traffic or stop in the left-tum lane and be exposed to a head-on situation. RECOMMENDATION: For safety reasons, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends that the existing TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE not be replaced with a "back to back" left- tum lane. N B nts LOC ATION MAP PROJEC T LOCA TI ON LOC ATIO N: LA CO ST A AV E. ~ NUEVA CAST ILLA WY. TO VIEJO CASTIL LA WY. EXHIBIT 1 LOCAT ION: LA COST A AV E. EXHIBIT EXISTING TWO-WAY LEFT TURN LANE 2 LOC ATION: LA COSTA AV E. REQU EST ED LEFT -TURN CON FIGURAT ION EXHIBIT 3 JUN 1 1 1992 Mr .-3ob Johnson City Traffic Engineer City of Carlsbad 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad CA 92009 Dear Mr Johnson 3338 29th Street San Diego CA 92104 June 9, 1992 There is a potentially dangerous road traffic condition in Carlsbad which I bring to your attention and request improvement. This dangerous condition is located on La Costa Boulevard between Nueva Castilla and Vieja Castilla where a middle lane is designated and used as a left turn lane for traffic coming from both directions. A diagram is enclosed. It is specifically dangerous at this location because: 1) The dual use lane is at the crest of a hill. 2) Traffic from both directions moves at a fast pace (posted limit is 45 mph) . 3) The area is sometimes foggy or heavily clouded. In summary, this dual use left turn lane is not easily visible from a safe distance by vehicles traveling at moderately high speeds. Two vehicles wanting to use the lane simultaneously, coming from opposite directions, could easily collide head-on. Your prompt attention to this matter is urgently requested. Sincerely Raymond Signer t 11 1: ' i: ; !_ ~ \'. p. 1: (_ Ii ! J 0 1! s T A i I i: I g ! I Cf !....J .. • ·:...(_ L--I; I ' \J ! D i0 I - f I ,; •I AUG l 7 1992 Mr Michael Shirey Assistant Engineer Traffic Operations Section City of Carlsbad 207 5 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad CA 92009-1576 Dear Mr Shirey 150 Cleaveland Road Apt 34 Pleasant Hill CA 94523 August 12, 1992 Re: La Costa Avenue Traffic Safety Hazard Thank you for replying to my previous letter concerning La Costa Avenue. I intended on writing or calling you back earlier, however I have been very busy in Northern California for most of the time since mid-June. I would like to discuss this issue with you personally, but as I mentioned above, I am rarely in San Diego County these days. Your explanations of La Costa Avenue's "configuration" do not address the very real and present danger that is caused by the combination of factors that I described in my last letter. I don't have the time to debate/refute the many points in your response that either obscured the issue, avoided responsibility, or introduced irrelevancies. Please bear in mind that I am only commenting on the area between Nueva Castilla and Vieja Castilla; much of your letter is irrelevant in that it focuses on areas outside this section. The dual-use turn lane at the crest of a hill in the midst of mod.erat.ely high speed traffic flow is still a very important concern of mine and I rumio urgently request that steps be taken to ruJdrffl, tbis daom:ous situation before 50meone is seriously iniwe4 If you wish to ring me, I can be reached at (510) 947-4313. Sincerely ~ Raymond Signer r. I I 2 WAY TURN LANE R67 R67A