HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-18; City Council; 11; Options to Revise the Striping Plans on the 2023 Slurry Seal ProjectCA Review CKM
Meeting Date: March 18, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contact: Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer
tom.frank@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2766
Subject: Options to Revise the Striping Plans on the 2023 Slurry Seal Project
Districts: 2, 3
Recommended Action
1.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from
Rancho Pancho to Loker Avenue to provide two vehicle lanes in each direction,
restriping to the city’s current standard operating procedure for lane widths (Exhibit
1); or
2.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from
Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to provide two vehicle lanes in each direction,
restriping to the city’s current standard operating procedure for lane widths (Exhibit
2); or
3.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from
Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue, to restore the striping to the pre-project lane
configuration (Exhibit 3).
Executive Summary
The City Council approved a minute order on March 4, 2025, directing the City Manager to
return with options related to the restriping with lane reductions on El Fuerte Street. The lanes
had recently been temporarily restriped as part of the 2023 Slurry Seal Project, Capital
Improvement Program Project No. 6001-23SS, in the lane configuration authorized by the City
Council on May 14, 2024.
Staff have identified three options to revise the plans, specifications and contract documents
on El Fuerte Street for the City Council’s consideration:
1.Revise the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Loker Avenue to
provide two vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard
operating procedure for lane widths
2.Revise the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to
provide two vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard
operating procedure for lane widths
3.Revise the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to
restore the striping to the pre-project lane configuration
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 1 of 48
The resolution for the selected option will delegate the authority to the City Manager to revise
the plans, specifications and contract documents for construction of the 2023 Slurry Seal
Project as directed, proceed with construction of the selected option and return to the City
Council at a later date for the City Council to approve the revised design for the record.
Explanation & Analysis
The City Council approved the plans, specifications and contract documents for the 2023 Slurry
Seal Project on May 14, 2024 (Resolution No. 2024-101), authorizing the City Clerk to advertise
for bids for construction and approving a roadway reconfiguration for northbound and
southbound El Fuerte Street from Faraday Avenue to Rancho Pancho.
El Fuerte Street is designated in the Mobility Element, the element of the General Plan focused
on transportation, as an "Industrial Street" between Faraday Avenue and Palomar Airport Road,
and transitions to a "Neighborhood Connector" street south of Palomar Airport Road to Rancho
Pancho.
This corridor on El Fuerte Street serves various purposes, connecting:
• Industrial areas to the north
• The Bressi Ranch Village Shopping Plaza
• Two schools including Pacific Ridge School and La Costa Meadows Elementary School
• Residential communities further south
Portions of the street near the schools are specifically designated as "School Streets."
The average daily traffic volumes on El Fuerte Street range from approximately 3,000 to 9,000
vehicles per day. Detailed traffic counts show a daily average of:
• 4,880 vehicles between Faraday Avenue and Palomar Airport Road
• 9,008 between Palomar Airport Road and Poinsettia Lane
• 3,028 south of Alga Road
Resurfacing El Fuerte Street
The work on El Fuerte Street, from Faraday Avenue to just south of Rancho Pancho, is part of a
project to resurface streets throughout Carlsbad to address cracks and potholes, extend the life
of the pavement and ensure a smooth drive.
When the city resurfaces streets, the city also reviews opportunities to restripe them to reduce
congestion at intersections, reduce long-term maintenance costs, help address speeding, help
traffic flow better and better support all modes of travel.
The community feedback the city receives on temporary lane markings allows it to make
adjustments as needed before the final striping goes down.
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 2 of 48
Intent of lane reduction
In developing the project plans, staff
studied the traffic in the area, analyzing
how the change in the lanes would affect
traffic and advance the other city goals
listed above.
Most of El Fuerte Street had a single vehicle
lane, from south of Rancho Pancho, just
south of Poinsettia Lane, until it turns into
Alicante Road. Of the 4.2 miles of El
Fuerte, 2.4 miles of it had one vehicle lane
in each direction, so the recent restriping
made the lanes consistent for the entire
street.
The change from two lanes to one was
initially intended to:
• Advance the city’s goals to
encourage slower driving speeds,
which can help reduce collisions and
their effects, while keeping traffic
flowing.
• Reduce long-term maintenance
costs for the city’s pavement
infrastructure
• Create a steadier and improved flow
of traffic with less delay at traffic
signals by allowing cars to move all
the way to the right to make right
turns onto side streets without slowing down cars that are behind them
Construction on El Fuerte Street started in late February 2025, and temporary striping was
installed.
Fiscal Analysis
The project construction change order for all the options is estimated to cost less than $10,000
and the cost is expected to remain within the existing construction contingency, so no
additional appropriation is required.
Previously approved plan for El Fuerte Street
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 3 of 48
Options
In response to community concerns, focused specifically around Poinsettia Lane to Bressi Ranch
Way, the City Council requested options related to the vehicle lane reductions on El Fuerte
Street. The options presented for the City Council’s consideration are:
Option 1 – Revise the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Loker
Avenue to provide two vehicle lanes in each
direction, restriping to the city’s current
standard operating procedure for lane widths.
This will provide, in each direction from Rancho
Pancho to Loker Avenue:
• Two 10-foot wide vehicle lanes
• One 7-foot wide bicycle lane, with a
buffer zone between vehicle and bike
lanes
And, from Loker Avenue to Faraday Avenue:
• One 10-foot-wide vehicle lane in each
direction
• A 10-foot striped center median or two-
way left turn lanes
• 8-foot-wide bike lanes
• 9-foot wide buffer zones between the
vehicle and bike lanes.
Pros
• Restores the vehicle lanes to two vehicle
lanes in both directions between Rancho
Pancho and Bressi Ranch Way, which
addresses the greatest concern
expressed by the community
• Provides appropriate vehicle lane widths
of 10 feet to 10.5 feet, which also
results in lower long-term maintenance costs for the city’s pavement infrastructure and
creates a steadier and improved flow of traffic with less delay at traffic signals and
improved opportunities for cars turning right
• Design concept supports the goals of the Mobility Element of the General Plan and the
city’s the Sustainable Mobility Plan and the Safer Streets Together Plan
• Provides additional opportunities for reducing speeds in the street segment from Loker
Avenue to Faraday Avenue by implementing a vehicle lane reduction in those segments
• Maximizes opportunities for lower long-term pavement maintenance costs
• Addresses community concerns on safety and speeding
Cons:
• Some drivers do not like driving in 10-foot wide vehicle travel lanes
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 4 of 48
Option 2 – Revise the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday
Avenue to provide two vehicle lanes in each
direction, restriping to the city’s current
standard operating procedure for lane
widths.
This will provide, from Rancho Pancho to
Faraday Avenue, in each direction:
• Two 10-foot wide vehicle lanes
• One 7-foot bike lane, with a buffer
zone
Pros
• Restores the vehicle lanes to two
vehicle lanes in both directions
between Rancho Pancho and Bressi
Ranch Way, which addresses the
greatest concern heard from the
community
• Provides appropriate vehicle lane
widths, 10 feet to 10.5 feet, which also
results in lower long-term maintenance
costs for the city’s pavement
infrastructure and creates a steadier
and improved flow of traffic with less
delay at traffic signals and improved
opportunities for cars turning right
• Design concept also supports the goals of the Mobility Element of the General Plan, the
Sustainable Mobility Plan and the Safer Streets Together Plan
• Addresses community concerns on safety and speeding
Cons
• Does not provide additional opportunities for reducing speeds by implementing vehicle
lane reduction in the segment between Loker Avenue and Faraday Avenue
• Does not maximize opportunities for lower long-term maintenance costs for the city’s
pavement infrastructure
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 5 of 48
Option 3 – Revise the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to
Faraday Avenue to restore the striping to the
pre-project lane configuration.
The proposed revision of the striping plans
will restore the striping to the pre-project lane
configuration.
This will provide, in each direction from
Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue
•Two 11-foot vehicle lanes
•One 6-foot bicycle lane
Pros
•Drivers are familiar with the pre-
project striping design
•Addresses community concerns
regarding vehicle traffic impacts
Cons
•Does not provide additional
opportunities for reducing speeds by
implementing vehicle lane reduction in
the segment between Loker Avenue
and Faraday Avenue
•Does not maximize opportunities for
lower long-term maintenance costs for
the city’s pavement infrastructure
Next Steps
If the City Council selects an option, staff will revise the striping plans and issue a construction
change order for the 2023 Slurry Seal Project to implement the selected option.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action of revising striping plans for construction of the slurry seal project is
categorically exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act
Guidelines Section 15301 because it involves the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of
existing facilities with negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use. No exceptions to
the categorical exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 or Carlsbad
Municipal Code Section 19.04.070(C) apply.
Exhibits
1.City Council resolution – Option 1
2.City Council resolution – Option 2
3.City Council resolution – Option 3
4.Correspondence
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 6 of 48
Exhibit 1 RESOLUTION NO. .
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING REVISION OF THE STRIPING PLANS ON EL
FUERTE STREET FROM RANCHO PANCHO TO LOKER AVENUE TO PROVIDE
TWO VEHICLE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, RESTRIPING TO THE CITY’S
CURRENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR LANE WIDTHS
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, has determined it necessary,
desirable and in the public interest to resurface various city streets as part of the city’s pavement
management program; and
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-101, approving the
plans, specifications and contract documents, authorizing advertisement for construction bids for the
2023 Slurry Seal Project, Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, Project No. 6001-23SS, and approving
a lane reconfiguration on El Fuerte Street; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2025, the City Council requested that the City Manager provide options
on striping plans on El Fuerte Street; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2025, the City Council reviewed three options and selected Option 1
to revise the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Loker Avenue to provide two
vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard operating procedure for lane
widths; and
WHEREAS, the proposed option will be funded with the construction contract contingency so
no additional appropriation is required.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.That the proposed action of revising striping plans for construction of the slurry seal
project is categorically exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines
Section 15301 because it involves the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing
facilities with negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use. No exceptions to
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 7 of 48
the categorical exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 or Carlsbad
Municipal Code Section 19.04.070(C) apply.
3.That the proposed revisions to the striping plans of the 2023 Slurry Seal Project, CIP
Project No. 6001-23SS, on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Loker Avenue to
provide two vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard
operating procedure for lane widths, are approved.
4. That the City Manager, or a designee, is authorized to revise the plans, specifications
and contract documents for construction of the 2023 Slurry Seal Project in accordance
with this resolution, proceed with construction of the revised design, and return to the
City Council at a later date for the City Council to approve the revised design for the
record.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the ______ day of ________ 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 8 of 48
Exhibit 2 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-067 .
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING REVISION OF THE STRIPING PLANS ON EL
FUERTE STREET FROM RANCHO PANCHO TO FARADAY AVENUE TO PROVIDE
TWO VEHICLE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, RESTRIPING TO THE CITY’S
CURRENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR LANE WIDTHS
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, has determined it necessary,
desirable and in the public interest to resurface various city streets as part of the city’s pavement
management program; and
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-101, approving the
plans, specifications and contract documents, authorizing advertisement for construction bids for the
2023 Slurry Seal Project, Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, Project No. 6001-23SS, and approving
a lane reconfiguration on El Fuerte Street; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2025, the City Council requested that the City Manager provide options
on striping plans on El Fuerte Street; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2025, the City Council reviewed three options and selected Option 2
to revise the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to provide two
vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard operating procedure for lane
widths; and
WHEREAS, the proposed option will be funded with the construction contract contingency so
no additional appropriation is required.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.That the proposed action of revising striping plans for construction of the slurry seal
project is categorically exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines
Section 15301 because it involves the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing
facilities with negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use. No exceptions to
the categorical exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 or Carlsbad
Municipal Code 19.04.070(C) apply.
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 9 of 48
uocus1gn t:nve1ope 1u: /U!:l t !:ltl 1 1-11-t-t:1 40!:IJ-tlL IL-Jt:ooobbJ t JJt:
3. That the proposed revisions to the striping plans of the 2023 Slurry Seal Project, CIP
Project No. 6001-2355, on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to
provide two vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city's current standard
operating procedure for lane widths, are approved.
4. That the City Manager, or a designee, is authorized to revise the plans, specifications
and contract documents for construction of the 2023 Slurry Seal Project in accordance
with this resolution, proceed with construction of the revised design, and return to the
City Council at a later date for the City Council to approve the revised design for the
record.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 18th day of March, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
March 18, 2025
Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
None.
None.
None.
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
Item #11 Page 10 of 48
Exhibit 3 RESOLUTION NO. .
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING REVISIONS OF THE STRIPING PLANS ON EL
FUERTE STREET FROM RANCHO PANCHO TO FARADAY AVENUE TO RESTORE
THE STRIPING TO THE PRE-PROJECT LANE CONFIGURATION
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, has determined it necessary,
desirable and in the public interest to resurface various city streets as part of the city’s pavement
management program; and
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-101, approving the
plans, specifications and contract documents, authorizing advertisement for construction bids for the
2023 Slurry Seal Project, Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, Project No. 6001-23SS, and approving
a lane reconfiguration on El Fuerte Street; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2025, the City Council requested that the City Manager provide options
on striping plans on El Fuerte Street; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2025, the City Council reviewed three options and selected Option 3
to revise the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to restore the
striping to the pre-project lane configuration; and
WHEREAS, the proposed option will be funded with the construction contract contingency so
no additional appropriation is required.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.That the proposed action of revising striping plans for construction of the slurry seal
project is categorically exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines
Section 15301 because it involves the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing
facilities with negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use. No exceptions to
the categorical exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 or Carlsbad
Municipal Code Section 19.04.070(C) apply.
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 11 of 48
3. That the proposed revisions to the striping plans of the 2023 Slurry Seal Project, CIP
Project No. 6001-23SS, on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to
restore the striping to the pre-project lane configuration are approved.
4. That the City Manager, or a designee, is authorized to revise the plans, specifications
and contract documents for construction of the 2023 Slurry Seal Project in accordance
with this resolution, proceed with construction of the revised design, and return to the
City Council at a later date for the City Council to approve the revised design for the
record.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the __ day of ________, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 12 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
To:Eddie Wills
Subject:RE: Alga/El Fuerte Intersection Lane Closures
From: Ricky Green <rgreen74@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1:00 PM
To: Kari Kozlowski <Kari.Kozlowski@carlsbadca.gov>
Cc: Alex Southworth <Alex.Southworth@carlsbadca.gov>; Scott Workman <scott.workman@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Re: Alga/El Fuerte Intersection Lane Closures
Kari,
As you probably know many local residents are furious with the irrational decision to reduce automobile
use lanes(aka road dieting) on El Fuerte between Alga Road and Gateway Rd.
Who in their right frame of mind made the final decisions to do so?
1. Did you poll Carlsbad residents on the car lane reduction?
2. By slurry sealing the cracks in the asphalt makes driving very dangerous. Have any of your staff driven
on the roadway since the crack sealing was done? It gives the appearance, and pardon my description,
like hundreds of "black snakes" making it difficult to see striping, etc.
3. You have reduced El Fuerte down to one lane and given cyclists at some areas of El Fuerte almost
TWO BIKE LANES!!! Yes. Yes. Yes. I could not believe what I was seeing as I drove south on El Fuerte out
of Bressi Ranch. Unreal. There was so much bike lane Kari I almost felt like I was driving on a bike path as
opposed to a road for automobiles.
4. Is the striping job complete? As I drove north on El Fuerte toward Palomar Airport Road today I had
trouble visualizing the new bike lanes and car lanes. On top of the swirly "black snake like" sealing which
only added to the visual impairment.
5. Did the city do a bike count study to know the amount of bike traffic that uses El Fuerte? If so can I see
the data please?
6. Using this road everyday and sometimes multiple times per day I can tell you that I almost NEVER see
a cyclist using El Fuerte. One very good reason why would be because the steep grade between
Poinsettia Lane and Alga Road. I have personally biked it so I know it is no fun for my lungs for the effort
and the exhaust fumes emitted from cars as they accelerate up hill.
7. Has the city considered the possible effects of Emergency vehicles that need to use the road and how
one auto lane could be a major hinderance?
Ricky Green
Exhibit 4
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 13 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: Road markings on El Fuerte Rd.
From: Fernando Melendez <melendezfr35@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2025 7:19 PM
To: Transportation-Internet <transportation@carlsbadca.gov>; Tom Frank <tom.frank@carlsbadca.gov>
Cc: Rose Marie Olmedo <ricorose97@yahoo.com>; Fernando Melendez <melendezfr35@gmail.com>
Subject: Road markings on El Fuerte Rd.
Hello:
Hope this email finds you well.
I live at Bressi Ranch. I am writing in reference to work on El Furte Rd, between Palomar Airport Rd and
Alga Rd. Recently road markings were repainted on El Fuerte to change the number of lanes from two to
one. Although I understand that it takes time to get used to the new road markings, the way the lines are
painted is confusing and I am afraid it may lead to accidents. The lines themselves are messy looking and
do not seem finished work. Are the lines going to be repainted? Is El Fuerte going to be resurfaced with
new asphalt and the current lines are temporary?
Thank you very much for your attention.
Rico
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 14 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: El Fuerte Striping and Bike Lane
From: Matt Marasciullo <mmarasciullo@pacificridge.org>
Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 1:12 PM
To: Tom Frank <tom.frank@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte Striping and Bike Lane
Good afternoon Tom,
Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Matt Marasciullo, and I am the Director of Facilities and
Operations here at Pacific Ridge School. It has been brought to my attention that the City of Carlsbad is
in the process of patching asphalt and re-striping El Fuerte Street and creating what appears to be a new
bike lane for e-bikes, as well as creating only a single lane for north bound traƯic.
I have some concerns about this project and would like to discuss the matter as it pertains to the ingress
and egress of our campus, especially during student drop-oƯ in the morning, as well as the student pick-
up in the afternoon. Please see the bullet points below in regard to our questions and comments:
Pacific Ridge School has a considerable number of vehicles that use El Fuerte to enter the
campus for drop-oƯ and pick-up of students throughout the day. It appears that moving the north
bound traƯic to a single lane has contributed to a significant back-up in traƯic congestion as they
enter the campus from that direction. This in turn creates frustration amongst the local
commuters, as well as parents and students entering our campus.
It appears that the parents and students are using Greenhaven Drive, as well as Palmetto Drive, to
drop-oƯ and pick-up their students due to the changes that are being made on this busy
thoroughfare. This project has caused considerable consternation and frustration amongst the
neighboring community to the south of our campus. Pacific Ridge School works very hard in
keeping a good relationship with these neighbors and this project has exacerbated their
frustration of neighborhood traƯic being significantly increased.
We have serious concerns of near miss accident situations due to the high-speed traƯic that
moves southbound on El Fuerte (especially around the bling-curve) since the beginning of this
northbound modification project. Even though the speed limit is posted at 45 mph, the
southbound traƯic is often in excess of 60-65 mph.
I would ask that you reconsider this striping project and reach out to me with regard to my concerns. I
look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Have a safe and relaxing weekend.
Regards…Matt
Matt Marasciullo
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 15 of 48
2
Director of Facilities
PACIFIC RIDGE SCHOOL
___________________________________
Email mmarasciullo@pacificridge.org
Phone 760.448.9820
Direct 760.448.9859
Campus 6269 El Fuerte, Carlsbad, CA 92009
pacificridge.org
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1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: Concern - New traffic pattern on El Fuerte by Poinsettia
From: Shay Snyders <shay.snyders@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 2:50 PM
To: Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov>; Kevin Shin <kevin.shin@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Concern - New traffic pattern on El Fuerte by Poinsettia
Hello,
I am a resident of Carlsbad, and I live in Bressi Ranch, near the intersection of El Fuerte and Poinsettia.
There has been a recent project to change the lanes on El Fuerte. I believe this is to create a new bike
path. However, I have significant concerns:
1. SAFETY - As a cyclist myself, I have biked this intersection many times, including solo and with my
children to/from school at Poinsettia Elementary. Previously, I have never worried for my safety. I was
able to use the shared turn lane or bike straight in the shared lane or used the crosswalk. However, the
new pattern seems very unsafe, since the vehicle turn from Greenhaven requires drivers to swing wider
crossing the bike path and, potentially swerving past or in to bikers. I worry that drivers who are
distracted or are used to the old patterns will fail to notice the bend in the road or will cross the bike lane
into the turn lane, causing a threat to cyclists.
2. TRAFFIC - Changing El Fuerte to one lane south-bound instead of two will create back-up, especially at
the critical times such as school drop off and commuter hours.
Thank you for looking into this new traffic pattern and re-evaluating for effectiveness and safety.
Regards,
Shay Snyders
Shay.Snyders@gmail.com
757-812-2123
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1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: RE: El Fuerte steet lane reduction (Shah)
From: Suko Shah <sukoshah@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 9:34:33 AM
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte steet lane reducƟon
To Council woman Priya
I am a Carlsbad resident for past 40+ years !
I am very concerned about several streets where the city has reduced lanes and unintentionally created more
traƯic or unnecessary reduction of one lane and adding more space for bicycle buƯer lane when the bicycle lane
usage is nearly zero. I think bigger safety issue has been created.
Please reconsider and restore the lanes on el Fuerte street in La Costa area.
Many of my neighbors have the same concerns
Regards
Sukumar Shah
6431 el Perico lane
Carlsbad
760-315-4157
Sent from my iPhone
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 24 of 48
From:Faviola Medina
To:Tom Frank
Cc:Lovelynne Magalued
Subject:FW: El fuerte street lanes
Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1:01:19 PM
From: Dan Fiust <dsfiust@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 8:43:33 AM
To: Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El fuerte street lanes
Good morning sir,
I am writing to express my concerns with the plan to reduce el fuerte street to one lane in each
direction. I live in the Bressi Ranch community, and frequently use el fuerte to transit to our kids
schools, sporting events, and to attend mass at St Elizabeth Seton.
Traffic can already be bad during peak hours, reducing the amount of lanes will make all of our lives
more difficult. Why are we paying for something that will make our quality of life worse? Thank you for
your time.
R/
Dan Fiust
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 25 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: El Fuerte Striping
-----Original Message-----
From: SallyWillis <sallyevanswillis@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 12:28 PM
To: Michael O'Brien <michael.obrien@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte Striping
Michael
The new lane striping and loss of a driving lane on el fuerte by Pacific Ridge is ridiculous.
When school starts and ends the traffic on el fuerte was bad but at least there was a way around the school cars.
Please reconsider the current street configuraƟon. I drive there almost every day and hardly see bicycles and the prior
configuraƟon worked.
If it’s not broke, why fix it?
Respecƞully
Sally Willis
Sent from my iPhone
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 26 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: El Fuerte
From: gary versicom.net <gary@versicom.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 3:50:17 PM
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte
Dear Priya,
I was shocked to see the removal of lanes on El Fuerte between Poinsettia and Palomar Airport
Road. We travel that road frequently and in 15 years I can count on one hand the number of bike
riders I’ve seen. So they take away needed lanes which will cause traffic back ups, which causes
cars to idle, which creates more pollution, just to make a huge lane for no one to use.
How do we stop this madness?
Best regards,
Gary Cote
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 27 of 48
From:Faviola Medina
To:Tom Frank
Cc:Lovelynne Magalued
Subject:FW: Lane reduction
Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1:00:19 PM
From: Joelle Grove <joelle.grove@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 9:37:08 AM
To: Traffic@carlsabdca.gov <Traffic@carlsabdca.gov>; Council Internet Email
<council@carlsbadca.gov>; Kevin Shin <Kevin.shin@carlsbadca.gov>; Keith Blackburn
<Keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Lane reduction
Hello,
I’m writing on behalf of concerned residents in Bressi Ranch and parents of students at Pacific
Ridge School.
The re-striping of the roads and reduction of an entire lane on El Fuerte is extremely concerning
to residents that drive this corridor every day. Why was one lane removed? This has already
began to cause traffic buildup in this area, especially during morning commute and school
drop offs. Drivers who aren't used to the recent change are literally driving in the second lane
thinking it is still there, causing confusion. Reducing lanes does not reduce traffic, it actually
increases it.
Turing south out of Bressi now has a bike lane that cuts into the middle of the road as cars that
are turning right onto Poinsettia have to intersect this lane. This is extremely dangerous. "Road
diet" is actually NOT a safe idea and residents are concerned about the safety of the cyclists.
Will it take a cyclist getting injured for the city to actually listen to residents?
Why was this not brought before the residents before the city made the decision to change the
road? Who is making these road decisions and do they actually drive on this road? How can we
have our voices heard on this issue?
Joelle Grove
Joelle Grove
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 28 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: El Fuerte
-----Original Message-----
From: Melanie Kuderka <mmkuderka@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:45 AM
To: Traffic <traffic@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte
Hello-
I leŌ a voice message yesterday regarding the lane changes made on El Fuerte around the area of Pacific Ridge School.
As a homeowner of over 19 years, there have been several accidents coming down from El Fuerte approaching
Poinseƫa. We hear the traffic of speeding cars that go up and down El Fuerte. For years we’ve struggled with Pacific
Ridge school in minimizing traffic into our culdesac for pick up and drop offs. All this to say, any traffic modificaƟons
made to this area are a highly sensiƟve maƩer - for noise, speeding, and congesƟon.
Where can I learn more about the reasons for the lane changes, as well as the opportunity to explore or provide input on
future plans?
Sincerely,
Melanie Kuderka
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 29 of 48
From:Melanie Kuderka
To:Tom Frank
Subject:Feedback on El Fuerte
Date:Wednesday, March 5, 2025 7:05:40 PM
Hi Tom,
Thank you for returning my call and entertaining a conversation of my concerns on the lane changes along El
Fuerte.
As shared, there are 4 areas of concern along El Fuerte.
1) Pacific Ridge school has a considerable student population that brings a lot of traffic to El Fuerte. Moving to a
single road lane increases their already long wait times to enter and exit the school.
2) With the poor enter/exit design at Pacific Ridge school, impatient parents and students are using the Palmetto
culdesac and Greenhaven Drive to pick up or drop off. The culdesac leads to an emergency fire road area for the
school and the space in the area is not equipped to handle large volumes of traffic.
3) High speeds between Bressi Ranch Way and Poinsettia reach upwards of 60 miles an hour and bring considerable
noise all hours of the day. With downhill speeding there have been several major accidents that have caused damage
to Bressi homes as well as severe injuries. The traffic noise is extremely loud certain parts of the day due to the high
speeds.
4) The road going down El Fuerte towards Poinsettia has a blind curve starting at Bressi Ranch Way. During the
hours of 2:45-3:30 there is a line of cars that begin to pile up with parents waiting to pick up their student. Cars
traveling in that direction in the right lane could very possibly hit one of these parked cars, especially at high speeds
and low visibility.
As a concerned homeowner, I would like to express the need for two lanes on El Fuerte in both directions from
Palomar Airport Road to Poinsettia because of the Pacific Ridge traffic. I would be in support of reduced lane
widths similar to what was done on Poinsettia, to hopefully address the high speeds and noise and accommodate for
our growing population of e-bikes and cyclist. I understand the recent modifications were not meant to address the
challenges mentioned above, but it would be a welcomed start.
Modifications to El Fuerte north of Palomar Airport road to Faraday have little concern from my perspective, as the
traffic seems to flow in those areas.
If the opportunity arises to discuss solutions for speeding and noise, I would gladly volunteer my time.
Very kind regards,
Melanie Kuderka
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 30 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: El Fuerte Street Lanes
From: DENNIS CAPPS <denniscapps22@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 11:45 AM
To: Traffic <traffic@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte Street Lanes
Recently I have noticed diagonal white lines painted in the Right-hand lane of North-bound El Fuerte
Street between Rancho Poncho and Bressi Ranch Way. Does this indicate anything?
Dennis Capps
7111 El Fuerte St
Carlsbad 92009
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 31 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: What's happening on El Fuerte? (6179 Paseo Monona)
From: Tracy DeHaven <trd093@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 2:11 PM
To: Eddie Wills <eddie.wills@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: What's happening on El Fuerte?
Hi Mr. Wills,
I got your name and contact info from Nextdoor.
A lot of us are confused by the widened bike lane on El Fuerte between Poinsettia and Bressi Ranch.
It looks like neighborhood bikers did it themselves because it is confusing and unclear.
None of us think that cutting the road from two lanes each way to one lane each way makes sense.
Please go take a look at the terrible, confusing changes that have been made and let us know if it will be
changed back or made more clear.
Thank you,
Theresa DeHaven
6179 Paseo Monona
(253) 312-6690
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 32 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: Carlsbad Street Dept.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon Ferris <grferris1@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2025 11:42 PM
To: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov>
Cc: Tom Frank <Tom.Frank@carlsbadca.gov>; Paz Gomez <Paz.Gomez@carlsbadca.gov>; Hossein Ajideh
<Hossein.Ajideh@carlsbadca.gov>; Lovelynne Magalued <Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov>; Eddie Wills
<Eddie.Wills@carlsbadca.gov>; Miriam Jim <Miriam.Jim@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Re: Carlsbad Street Dept.
Re: Striping lanes at the entrance to Pacific Ridge School - eliminaƟng a lane
A soluƟon to the congesƟon at the start and end of school hours is to extend the leŌ turn lane heading north on El
Fuerte into Pacific Ridge School, much, much longer, so stopped leŌ turners that can’t move, will not back up into the
regular northbound lanes. If you haven’t done so, a study is needed to see to how many cars actually back up in the
morning and aŌernoons to determine the correct length of the leŌ turn lane to accommodate all the leŌ turners
Gordon Ferris
> On Mar 10, 2025, at 4:28 PM, John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> wrote:
>
> Mr. Ferris,
>
> Thank you for reaching out to the city to share your concerns about the restriping of lanes on city streets and
parƟcularly on El Fuerte. We always appreciate feedback on our projects. Our team is invesƟgaƟng this maƩer and will
respond with more details next week.
>
> JOHN T. KIM, P.E., T.E.
> City Traffic Engineer
> Traffic & Mobility Division
> City of Carlsbad
> 1635 Faraday Avenue
> Carlsbad CA 92008
> (442) 339-2757
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gordon Ferris <grferris1@gmail.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 1:00 PM
> To: Help <help@carlsbadca.gov>
> Subject: Carlsbad Street Dept.
>
> I noƟced Carlsbad is changing the number of lanes on El Fuerte Street at the entrance to the Pacific Ridge School
Heading North from 2 lanes to 1 lane. This will compound the problem when cars that try to turn leŌ at the light into the
before and aŌer school can’t turn leŌ at the light because the entrance is jammed. The leŌ turn only lane is not long
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 33 of 48
2
enough to accommodate all the stopped leŌ turners so cars back up into the normal northbound traffic lane. Currently,
the second lane of traffic helps alleviate the problem because the cars that aren’t turning leŌ can simply get to the right
lane and go around the backed up traffic. Now, by going to a single lane, the traffic will have no longer be able to go
around the stopped traffic and will probably illegally try to to around the stopped cars into the stripped off area, and bike
lane, causing a very serious and dangerous situaƟon. We need two lane through that hole secƟon of El Fuerte. Don’t
turn a bad situaƟon into something worse.
>
> Gordon Ferris
> 818 645-1250
>
> 2876 Via Conquistador
> Carlsbad, CA
> CAUTION: Do not open aƩachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 34 of 48
From:Faviola Medina
To:Tom Frank
Cc:Lovelynne Magalued
Subject:FW: Road Diet El Fuerte
Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 12:59:58 PM
From: Jamie Harrison <jamieh66@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 1:30:43 PM
To: Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>; Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-
patel@carlsbadca.gov>; Kevin Shin <kevin.shin@carlsbadca.gov>; Teresa Acosta
<teresa.acosta@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Road Diet El Fuerte
Good Afternoon,
I am a Carlsbad resident and I live off of Alga. I am extremely concerned about the “road
diet” that is happening in Carlsbad. I am specifically concerned about shrinking El
Fuerte from 4 lanes to 2 lanes. This is a very hilly route and not a lot of bicycles travel
this route yet bicycles now have more of the road than vehicles do. We are not having
less cars drive on our streets, we in fact are having more, shrinking the roads and
creating more traffic to force people out of cars is not strategy for our city and I don’t
think the majority of residents want this.
There is also a school on El Fuerte and shrinking this road will create an already
dangerous situation even worse, vehicles line up for about 100 yards in each direction.
It seems as though we are catering to the minority voice in Carlsbad, and I don’t want
you guys to Encinitas our Carlsbad with the terrible lane closures you are making.
I urge you to immediately stop the re-striping on El Fuerte.
As the tide is turning in Encinitas, voting out the people that made these decisions, I
suspect this will be next in Carlsbad.
Please re-consider these terrible decisions.
Thanks,
Jamie Harrison
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 35 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: Carlsbad Concerns
From: Doug Osterholt <ostey@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2025 7:39:28 AM
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>; Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Carlsbad Concerns
Mayor Blackburn and Ms. Bhat-Patel,
As a long term resident of Carlsbad, I'm concerned with a few things of late. The first is the lack of maintenance on the
landscape along La Costa avenue. There are a bunch of palm trees that pose a fire hazard and need trimming between I-
5 and El Camino Real. Can the city please trim these?
The second is the lane reduction and widening of roads around Carlsbad. I've noticed cars are dangerously drifting
between lanes because they are much narrower with the widening of the bike lane. There was no need to widen the bike
lanes. The latest move on El Fuerte is absolutely ridiculous. The northbound section has been reduced to one lane. Who
made this decision? Why did the public not have a say in this? Please stop this. No one I've spoken to agrees with these
lane changes.
Thank you,
Doug Osterholt
La Costa Greens.
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 36 of 48
From:Faviola Medina
To:Tom Frank
Cc:Lovelynne Magalued
Subject:FW: Road changes on el feurte
Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 12:58:33 PM
From: Cash Daniels <cashdaniels@icloud.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 2, 2025 7:52:08 PM
To: Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Re: Road changes on el feurte
Sent from my iPhone
> On Feb 27, 2025, at 7:45 PM, Cash Daniels <cashdaniels@icloud.com> wrote:
>
> Good evening Mr Blackburn,
>
> I was driving to work this morning and saw that el feurte had been turned into a 2 lane road(1
lane both ways). I was wondering why? Why does the city want to make driving harder for its
citizens? There is never any bike traffic due to the steep hill and no neighborhoods for children
to be present. Can you please reverse this new change and help the people. This is a
disservice to our community and a waste of our tax dollars that you get to spend. I could think
of 50 more constructive ways for you to use our money.
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 37 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: Road diets are counter productive, and screwing up this city!
From: Lucy Lusk-Rackham <lmstep@live.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 2, 2025 2:53:44 PM
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Road diets are counter productive, and screwing up this city!
Councilwoman Patel: Now El Fuerte is getting reduced, it simply does not make sense to have drivers who out
number cyclists , suffer the inconvenience. There is much of this happening thruout our district and I only see you
rolling over and questioning nothing.
Surely you have driven the single lane on Poinsettia from 101 eastward.
Lucy Lusk, 908 Alyssum Rd, Carlsbad 92011
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 38 of 48
From:Faviola Medina
To:Tom Frank
Cc:Lovelynne Magalued
Subject:FW: El fuerte lane removal outside Bressi ranch
Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1:00:37 PM
> -----Original Message-----
> From: laurene ryan <lganci3995@icloud.com>
> Sent: Sunday, March 2, 2025 11:17 PM
> To: Traffic <traffic@carlsbadca.gov>; Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
> Subject: El fuerte lane removal outside Bressi ranch
>
> Hello,
> I’m writing on behalf of concerned residents in Bressi ranch and parents of students at
pacific ridge school.
> The re-striping of the roads and reduction of an entire lane on el fuerte is extremely
concerning to residents that drive this corridor every day. Why was a lane removed to make
this a one lane road? This is going to cause traffic buildup in this area especially during
morning commute and school drop offs.
> Turning south out of Bressi has a bike lane that cuts into the middle of the road as cars
turning right onto poinsettia have to intersect this lane is going to be quite dangerous.
> Who can we speak to about these changes before they become permanent?
> Laurene Ryan
> 760-473-1164
> Sent from my iPhone
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 39 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: RE: Road markings on El Fuerte not clear
From: K Jeff <jeffrey.krisƟn@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 1, 2025 11:11 AM
To: Manager Internet Email <manager@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Road markings on El Fuerte not clear
Hello!
I'm emailing you as a resident of Bressi Ranch. The recent changes on El Fuerte are welcome to ensure better biker
safety!
However, the lines are very confusing and could be better marked. I'm concerned that the current markings are not
enough to ensure biker safety as the old lines are still quite visible and the new lines are not well demarcated.
Could we have this looked at to ensure the road lines are more obvious?
Thanks
Kristin JeƯrey
760-783-7786
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 40 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: El Fuerte Road Diet = A failed experiment
From: Leslea Meyerhoff <leslea.meyerhoff@att.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 1, 2025 12:45 PM
To: Transportation-Internet <transportation@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte Road Diet = A failed experiment
Hello City Staff, I am a 25 year City Of Carlsbad resident. I’m also a certified urban planner.
I’m hoping that you can’t address my concern or if you can’t you please forward my email message to the
appropriate city staff.
El Fuerte has recently been re-striped putting it on a “road diet”. I’m wondering why these restriping
changes were made.
To make these changes seems entirely unwarranted and inappropriate.
The roadway is wide. there were two lanes in both directions plus bike lanes and sidewalks.
Some sections of Northbound El Fuerte have been narrowed down to a single traffic lane.
This is going to have unintended consequences in backing up traffic, particularly on El Fuerte between
Poinsettia and Gateway Road during school pickup and drop off hours at Pacific Ridge School.
Essentially, the new striping layout is going to cause traffic problems where none existed before. This is a
bad use of city resources and a failed experiment.
I’m wondering if you can explain why these striping changes were implemented. Did you seek community
input or feedback in any meaningful way?
Hopefully there is some ongoing monitoring to see the traffic problems that the City is actually creating
where none exist existed before.
Perhaps this should’ve been restriped as a “ sharrow” lane although there is not a lot of bicycle traffic on
this road segment so it is puzzling why one entire traffic lane on northbound El Fuerte has been taken out
of use by vehicles. It’s nonsensical why traffic would be forced into a single lane leaving an entire traffic
lane restriped for use by essentially no one. If it’s intended to be a buffer, it is as wide as the adjacent
travel lane which is unprecedented. If the goal is to protect cyclists, an actual physical barrier would be
much more effective, separating them from travel lanes.
There was already adequate room for multi modal transportation like bikers who use the street and
sidewalks for people to walk on.
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 41 of 48
2
I am interested in looking at the traffic report or other backup safety data that City staff utilized in making
this decision to put this road segment on a road diet.
This is a failed experiment and I hope the city will quickly act to restore the lane striping that has been in
effect previously.
I would appreciate a call back or email response from someone at the city regarding the rationale for the
road diet and monitoring that will be ongoing as well as traffic impact report and any CEQA analysis that
was done as part of this restriping.
Thank you.
Leslea Meyerhoff, AICP
Summit Environmental Group, Inc.
760-845-8028
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 42 of 48
From:Faviola Medina
To:Tom Frank
Cc:Lovelynne Magalued
Subject:FW: El Fuerte rd
Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1:00:59 PM
From: Andrew <bergen.andrew@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2025 11:36 AM
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>; Keith Blackburn
<keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte rd
Hello,
Im curious as to why El Fuerte in front of Pacific Ridge school is going to be made
into one lane. Bikes and pedestrians don’t use this road because it is so steep. I
take this road everyday. It is not a dangerous or highly traveled road. Please
reconsider.
Additionally, have you considered doing something with Rancho Bravado between
Paseo Valindo and Melrose. I’ve live in that area since 2011 and the amount of
traffic and speeders continues to increase every year.
Andrew Bergen
Sent from my iPhone
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 43 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: El fuerte
From: Debbie <dschonenberg@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2025 6:24:07 AM
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El fuerte
What the heck????? Why is the road being narrowed to one lane? During school drop off and pick up at Pacific
Ridge traffic is bad enough with two lanes. Why is the city catering to the minority of people riding bikes??? We are
NOT giving up our cars! Stop this B S!
Sent from my iPhone
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 44 of 48
From:Faviola Medina
To:Tom Frank
Cc:Lovelynne Magalued
Subject:FW: El Fuerte Bressi Ranch
Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 12:57:58 PM
From: Bruce Bandemer <brucebcpa@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2025 9:26:03 PM
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>
Cc: Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: El Fuerte Bressi Ranch
Good evening
Emailing to let you know I am not a fan of the single lane El Fuerte! What kind of studies were
specifically done on this portion of El Fuerte that would warrant this change ?
Bruce Bandemer
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March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 45 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: Another ill considered road diet on an already busy section - El Fuerte
From: Tom Geldner <tom@geldner.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2025 5:30:36 PM
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>; Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
Cc: Linda Geldner <linda@geldner.com>
Subject: Another ill considered road diet on an already busy section - El Fuerte
Mayor Blackburn and Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel,
I'm getting tired of the Commissars of Central Planning in Carlsbad putting
every single four-lane road in Carlsbad on a "road diet" shrinking two lanes
down to one. They just did it to El Fuerte from Alga down to Poinsettia. Now,
with only one lane, turning out of Rancho Pancho onto El Fuerte or from the
other cross streets up the hill has become even more dangerous. People
already speed down the hill. I’m just anticipating that the next accident will
be with someone trying to turn out of a side street into El Fuerte or possibly
a rear-end collision.
They may claim they're doing it for cyclists or children, but this stretch of El
Fuerte gets very little bicycle traffic because the stretch from Rancho Pancho
to Alga is super steep. In reality, I firmly believe the planners are doing this to
discourage car use, so, in their little planning paradises, they can push you
into not driving or into public transportation. It's a joke. All it does is make
streets less safe, decreases fuel mileage and potentially increases air
pollution.
About six months ago, I called to complain, along with some others, when
they were about to do this to El Fuerte on the north side of Palomar Airport
Road. Planning halted that idiotic venture after noting that it would slow
down traffic at rush hour and there was almost zero bicycle traffic. But here,
without any public input, they snuck in and restriped El Fuerte on the south
side of PAR.
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 46 of 48
2
I will also add that Poinsettia from El Camino Real was also restriped to
shrink the two car lanes. Now, when I drive the section from El Fuerte to
Melrose, I am ALWAYS seeing trucks and wider vehicles having difficulty
staying in the lanes because they are now so narrow. Again, this is an
accident waiting to happen.
My City seems to be increasingly at odds with actual residents for no
perceived benefit. I ask you to reconsider this action.
Sincerely,
Tom Geldner
2814 Rancho Pancho
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Tel: 760-814-8105
Cel: 858-610-9020
Web: www.geldner.com
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content is safe.
CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is
safe.
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 47 of 48
1
Lovelynne Magalued
From:Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:RE: RE: new one lane markings
From: William & Valerie Lee <welflyboy@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:03 PM
To: Transportation-Internet <transportation@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: new one lane markings
The City of Carlsbad is finally finishing the sewer infrastructure repair at El Fuerte and Rancho Pancho. It has been
a long time and it's nice to see it nearing completion, but glad the city takes these kinds of problems for action.
However, we drove on El Fuerte, north, for the first time today up to Palomar Road and saw some City TraƯic
Engineer decided to eliminate the two lane road and reduce it to one lane until past Pacific Ridge school. Does this
Engineer ever get out of the oƯice or just make these unilateral decisions from some cubby hole. The traƯic north
on El Fuerte from Poinsettia to Bressi Ranch Road in the morning is a nightmare already due to the line up of
parents dropping their kids oƯ at school. If these markings become
permanent someone will be stuck for 20-30 minutes waiting for cars to enter the small left turn lane into Pacific
Ridge school just to go to Bressie Ranch or Palomar Road. Will someone please ask the traƯic Engineer to please
pull his or her head out of the lower part of their anatomy and re-think this decision before the rest of us have to
suƯer their extremely poor decision making process or planning. Part of the name is planning, which they have
obviously not done.
Thank You,
William Lee
2838 Rancho Pancho,
Carlsbad, Ca 92009
858-212-4748
March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 48 of 48
·•
What's the deal with taking away that lane?
I collected some data.
David Pierce
March 18, 2025
• Traffic jam sometimes on northbound El Fuerte
• Left turn lane overflows into through lane
Old design: use extra through lane to go around
• Today: You can't! You're stuck!
3/18/2025
1
2 possibilities:
Reduced from 2 lanes to 1-of course there's gridlock now!
Or
• 1 through lane sufficient
• Left turn bay is too short
• Math can help
Max traffic flow per lane: 1 car
every 2 seconds
• 1,800 cars per hour per lane
Highways = true
Surface streets = not true
Traffic signals
3/18/2025
2
• Take fraction of a cycle light is green
• Multiply by 1,800
• Example: Straight through lane green 1 /3 of cycle
1/3 of 1,800 is 600
• 600 cars/hour
Northbound thru lane: green 2
of the 3 cycles
2/3 of hour green
2/3 of 1,800 cars/hour= 1,200
3/18/2025
3
Monday morning, 8:00 to
school start at 8:30 350
Traffic Count at El Fuerte & Pacific Ridge
Northbound, morning
3/18/2025
"
& extra 1 0 minutes afterwards 300
• Results?
• Left turners by 8:30 = 202
Northbound straight thru by
8:30 = 229
Capacity in ½ hour = ½ of
1,200 = 600
Eyewitness observations:
All northbound straight
through cars cleared each
cycle
250
200
150
100
50
a
8:00-8:10 8:10-8:20 8:20-8:3> 8:30-8:40
Tmesegments
-[Bar] cars left tur111ng mto
school (10-minute segment)
-(Bar) cars going straight (10-
mlnute segment)
-[Line] Cumulalive cars left
turning into school
-(Line] Cumulative cars going
straight
Left turn bay overflowed 3
times
• All 3 times, median used
• No blockage = no gridlock
4
3/18/2025
One lane is plenty in certain circumstances
• Number of lanes was excessive for demand
• No traffic flow justification for 2 thru lanes at school
• Left turn overflow to blame for occasional gridlock
• Solution:
Extend left turn bay by a lot
Leave new design for single through lane
• Nearby, finish striping to prevent confusion
5
From:jpzimmtn
To:Faviola Medina
Subject:city roads slurry - please stop
Date:Tuesday, March 18, 2025 11:25:33 AM
I live in the La Costa neighborhood. You are putting a slurry sealer all over these
neighborhood roads. I asked a forman today about it. Feedback - its bumpy, unfinished,smells bad, and makes driving on the road very unpleasant. Why don't you just repave it? He
said it was a cost-saving item. It's my money you are spending, and I'd rather have nopavement for 20 years and then do a proper repave. This stuff is crap. Please stop.
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Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer
March 18, 2025
Options to Revise Striping
Plans on Slurry Seal Project
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Loker Avenue to provide two
vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard
operating procedure for lane widths (Exhibit 1); or
2.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to provide two
vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard
operating procedure for lane widths (Exhibit 2); or
3.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue, restoring the
striping to the pre-project lane configuration (Exhibit 3).
ITEM 11: STRIPING PLANS
2
WHAT WE’RE DOING AND WHY
3
ITEM 11: STRIPING PLANS
3
•Annual program to take care of our road's pavement
•Restriping standard operating procedure
•Benefits
–Improves traffic flow
–Enhances safety
–Cost benefits to save money in the long run
–Reduces vehicle exhaust pollutants
EXAMPLE – STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
4
ITEM 11: STRIPING PLANS
4
2 wide car lanes + narrow bike lane 2 appropriate car lanes + bike lane/3rd turning lane
6
Originally
approved striping
7
Option 1Originally
approved striping
EL FUERTE AND FARADAY AVE
8
ITEM 11: STRIPING PLANS
8
•Industrial area
9
Option 2Originally
approved striping
10
Option 3Originally
approved striping
11
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3
NEXT STEPS
1.Revise the striping plans based on the City Council
decision
2.Issue a construction change order
ITEM 11: STRIPING PLANS
12
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Loker Avenue to provide two
vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard
operating procedure for lane widths (Exhibit 1); or
2.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue to provide two
vehicle lanes in each direction, restriping to the city’s current standard
operating procedure for lane widths (Exhibit 2); or
3.Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El
Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue, restoring the
striping to the pre-project lane configuration (Exhibit 3).
ITEM 11: STRIPING PLANS
13