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2025-05-05; Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission; 02; Update on El Fuerte Street Striping Plan Modifications
Meeting Date: May 5, 2025 To: Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Staff Contact: Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer tom.frank@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2766 Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager nathan.schmidt@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2734 Subject: Update on El Fuerte Street Striping Plan Modifications District 2,3 Recommended Action Receive an update on the City Council’s decision regarding the El Fuerte Street Striping Plans. Executive Summary As part of the 2023 Slurry Seal Project (CIP No. 6001-23SS), El Fuerte Street between Rancho Pancho and Faraday Avenue was resurfaced and temporarily restriped to a one-lane configuration in each direction with buffered bike lanes. This was consistent with the previously City Council approved design from May 2024. Before restriping, this segment had a four-lane cross-section (two lanes in each direction) with narrower shoulders. The temporary restriping included: •One 10-foot vehicle lane in each direction •A buffered bike lane on each side of the roadway (approx. 7–8 feet for bike lane + buffer) •No center turn lane in most areas This new configuration was intended to reduce vehicle speeds, improve safety for all users, and lower long-term pavement maintenance costs. However, following implementation, the city received a high volume of community concerns, particularly regarding congestion during peak periods and school pick-up/drop-off near the Pacific Ridge School. A detailed overview of the striping plans and public comments are provided in the City Council staff report packet provided in Exhibit 1. Discussion At its March 18, 2025, meeting, the City Council considered three options for the El Fuerte Street Striping Improvements: 1.Option 1 – Restore two vehicle lanes in each direction between Rancho Pancho and Loker Avenue, with bike lanes and buffers TRAFFIC SAFETY & MOBILITY COMMISSION May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 1 of 212 Staff Report 2. Option 2 – Restore two vehicle lanes in each direction from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue 3. Option 3 – Revert to the pre-project configuration (two 11-foot vehicle lanes and 6-foot bike lanes) During their review, the City Council expressed concerns about the proposed reduction from two travel lanes to one on El Fuerte Street. These concerns were largely based on public feedback citing the potential for increased traffic congestion, particularly near Pacific Ridge School, where traffic volumes are already high during school drop-off and pick-up periods. City Council members questioned whether removing a travel lane could further impact congestion, resulting in longer delays for both residents and school-related traffic. Although the City Council did not support the lane reduction, they expressed general support for the concept of narrowing travel lanes and the current striping guidelines established during the East-West Corridors Project. Specifically, they noted that reducing lane widths has been effective in other parts of the city, allowing for the addition of buffered bike lanes without negatively impacting vehicle operations. The City Council also observed that where lane narrowing has been implemented, there has been no increase in traffic collisions and that the design has performed well overall. The City Council ultimately adopted Option 2, directing staff to restripe El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue with two vehicle lanes in each direction using the city’s current standard lane widths. The revised configuration includes buffered bike lanes and aligns with the city’s Mobility Element, Sustainable Mobility Plan, and Safer Streets Together Plan. No additional funding was required, as the change order cost remained within the existing project contingency. City Council Minute Motion In addition to approving the striping revision, the City Council adopted the following minute motion: Minute motion by Mayor Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, directing staff to return to the City Council in the future when there is a desire to make changes to a street from two lanes to one lane, to highlight in more detail future lane reduction design proposals when Council hears the item, and to enhance public outreach on these projects – passed 5/0. This motion reflects a broader policy direction regarding early engagement with the public and clear communication on roadway reconfiguration proposals. A video of the agenda item presentation and discussion of Item No. 11 is provided at: https://carlsbadca.new.swagit.com/videos/337805 Community Feedback As summarized in Exhibit 1, public correspondence submitted to the City Council raised several concerns, including: • Increased congestion during school drop-offs near the Pacific Ridge School. May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 2 of 212 • Safety issues related to the new configuration and perceived confusion over lane markings. • General opposition to lane reduction strategies in this corridor, especially near residential areas. • Some residents acknowledged the need for traffic calming and supported safer bike infrastructure but preferred designs that maintained existing vehicle capacity. Next Steps Staff will implement the revised striping configuration as directed by the City Council and will return later to present the finalized plans for the record. Exhibits 1. March 18, 2025, City Council Staff Report 2. March 18, 2025, City Council Action Agenda May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 3 of 212 CA 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 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 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 Adopt a resolution authorizing revision of the striping plans on El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Faraday Avenue, 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 Exhibit 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 4 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E ~ 1CITY 1COUNCIL W Staff Report 1. 2. 3. to restore 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 5 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E • • • • • • • 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 6 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E • • • 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 7 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E • • • • • • • • • • • • • 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 8 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E • • • • • • • • 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 9 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E • • • • • • 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 10 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 11 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Exhibit 2 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 FARADAY AVENUETO 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 12 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 2025-067 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 13 of 212 uocus1gn t:nve1ope 1u: /UH/Htl1 t-fl·t-t:l-4:>HJ·tlLIL-Jt::>:>:>bbJ/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 .:J~ R.. '1N, ~ ~ 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 AVENUETO 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 14 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 15 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 13 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 16 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: To: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov Eddie Wills 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> Exhibit 4 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 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 14 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 17 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 Fu rte 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 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 15 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 18 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 fore-bikes, as well as creating only a single lane for north bound traffic. 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-off 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-off and pick-up of students throughout the day. It appears that moving the north bound traffic to a single lane has contributed to a significant back-up in traffic 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 Green haven Drive, as well as Palmetto Drive, to drop-off 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 traffic being significantly increased. • We have serious concerns of near miss accident situations due to the high-speed traffic 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 traffic 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 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 16 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 19 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Director of Facilities PACIFIC RIDGE SCHOOL Email mmarasciullo@pacificridqe.org Phone 760.448.9820 Direct 760.448.9859 Campus 6269 El Fuerte, Carlsbad, CA 92009 pacificridge.org 2 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 17 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 20 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Please enter as Cl Sheila Cobian Fri, 7 Mar 2025 21:49:24 +0000 Council Inquiries Tammy Cloud-McMinn; Faviola Medina; Ana Alarcon FW: El Fuerte traffic lane change need fixing From: Keith Blackburn <Keith.Blackburn@carlsbadca.gov> Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 1:03 PM To: Sheila Cobian <Sheila.Cobian@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Fw: El Fuerte traffic lane change need fixing Get Outlook for iOS From: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca .gov> Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 10:16:00 AM Cc: Traffic <traffic@CarlsbadCA.gov> Subject: FW: El Fuerte traffic lane change need fixing From: Paul Kriz <paul.kriz@gmai l.com> Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 10:12 AM To: Council Internet Email <counci l@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Jacqueline Jimenez <jjimenez@waltersmanagement.com> Subject: El Fuerte traffic lane change need fixing With the new lane markings from the church on the corner of Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte one car lane has been replaced by a second huge bike lane in addition to the bike lane already there -this makes no sense and is causing traffic flow problems that did not exist prior to the new lane markings Traffic on the single lane already backs up to nearly the corner of the church now at certain times of the day Almost zero traffic turns onto Poinsettia coming down the hill from Alga as the majority of traffic on Alga proceeds to Melrose except for cars entering Rancho Carrillo HOA at the corner of the church or going up the hill toward Bressi Ranch adjacent to the Pacific Rim School entrance March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 18 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 21 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E The former two lanes approaching Poinsettia were fine and allowed for a smooth 2 lane traffic flow up the hill to the next traffic light beyond Poinsettia where there is left turn traffic up the hill into the Pacific Rim School entrance which is heavily used twice a day Whoever did this plan clearly did not understand the traffic flow through this area Please reverse this decision Paul Kriz Rancho Carrillo HOA delegate for homeowners who use Rancho Pancho to enter and exit from El Fuerte regularly CAUTION: Do not o en attachments or click on links unless know the content is safe. March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 19 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 22 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E From: Sheila Cobian Sent: Fri, 7 Mar 2025 21:49:52 +0000 To: Council Inquiries Cc: Tammy Cloud-McMinn; Ana Alarcon; Faviola Medina Subject: FW: El Fuerte Rd -new lanes an accident waiting to happen and waste of taxpayer resources. link to Nextdoor thread Please enter as Cl From: Keith Blackburn <Keith.Blackburn@carlsbadca.gov> Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 1:02 PM To: Sheila Cobian <Sheila.Cobian@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Fw: El Fuerte Rd -new lanes an accident wa iting to happen and waste of taxpayer resources. link to Nextdoor thread Get Outlook for iOS From: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov> Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 10:16:51 AM Cc: Traffic <traffic@CarlsbadCA.gov> Subject: FW: El Fuerte Rd -new lanes an accident waiting to happen and waste of taxpayer resources. link to Nextdoor thread From: Brian Neel <brian neel@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 9:54 PM To: Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Rd -new lanes an accident waiting to happen and waste of taxpayer resources. link to Nextdoor thread Hello, I'm a resident of Carlsbad and a parent (and member of the Board of Trustees) of two students at Pacific Ridge School off of el Fuerte. I live in Rancho Cortes off Unicornio and El Fuerte. I travel this road daily and have see the changes made as absolutely ridiculous, dangerous and for no benefit to the general public -and most importantly likely against the will of the majority of homeowners taxpayers, voters and residents that live in the area. I can tell you the street is already very dangerous and is an issue with the exit and entry into Pacific Ridge School -with accidents occurring frequently due to the low level of visibility. Bicyclists are rarely on these roads between Alga and Palomar Airport Road, and now the lanes are dangerously narrow, confusing, and quite frankly, a waste of space. I'm not sure who's making these policy decisions? A lot of questions here: March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 20 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 23 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Why must we try and emulate to roads in places like Encinitas they are narrow and dangerous ? Why would you buffer a barely used bike lane with appx. 9 to 10 feet and then shrink the only lane left to deliver what is no doubt more safety and traffic concerns? And guarantee less use of the taxpayer's roadway? Please address this issue at the City Council level. Please also read the threads on Nextdoor and I encourage you to drive this road at 8 am or 3pm on a weekday. This issue needs to be resolved and fixed quickly. Now El Feurte gets two bike lanes and one lane for traffic. nextdoor.com Best Regards, Brian Neel 760-755-9602 CAUTION: Do not o en attachments or click on links unless ou reco nize the sender an know the content is safe. March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 21 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 24 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 22 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 25 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Please enter as Cl Get Outlook for iOS Sheila Cobian Fri, 7 Mar 2025 21:48:38 +0000 Council Inquiries Ana Alarcon; Tammy Cloud-McMinn; Faviola Medina FW: Bike lane craziness From: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov> Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 10:15:03 AM To: Keith Blackburn <Keith.Blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>; Kevin Shin <Kevin.Shin@carlsbadca.gov>; Melanie Burkholder <Melanie.Burkholder@carlsbadca.gov>; Priya Bhat-Patel <Priya .Bhat- Patel@CarlsbadCA.gov>; Teresa Acosta <Teresa.Acosta@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Traffic <traffic@CarlsbadCA.gov> Subject: FW: Bike lane craziness -----Original Message----- From: Kristen Wolf <kristenwolf2@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 9:53 PM To: Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca .gov> Subject: Bike lane craziness Who amongst the entire city council decided that decreasing car lanes and increasing bike lanes was considered appropriate and helpful???? As a commuter on El Fuerte for over 14 years I can personally say I have never seen more than one or two bicyclists in these past 14 years. Who in their right mind decided that decreasing car lanes and adding extended and buffer lanes for bikes was a smart choice, both ethically and financially? What were any one of you thinking? This is getting out of control, the whole thought that people are going to "bike to work" concept is NOT REALITY!!! Come on people, use your common sense and critical thinking abilities and apply it to reality. What a waste of tax payers money (my money) on unrealistic expectations that bike lanes overrule cars and commuters on public streets. I'm so very disappointed in each and every one of you that allowed this to pass. March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 23 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 26 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Shame on you Sent from my iPhone 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 24 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 27 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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 reduction 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 traffic or unnecessary reduction of one lane and adding more space for bicycle buffer 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 1 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 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 25 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 28 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 26 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 29 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 configuration. I drive there almost every day and hardly see bicycles and the prior configuration worked. If it's not broke, why fix it? Respectfully Sally Willis Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 27 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 30 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 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 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 31 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 29 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 32 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 left 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 Poinsettia. 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 modifications made to this area are a highly sensitive matter -for noise, speeding, and congestion. 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 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 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 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 30 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 33 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 31 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 34 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 32 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 35 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 33 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 36 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov RE: Carlsbad Street Dept. -----Original Message----- From: Gordon Ferris <grferrisl@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 -eliminating a lane A solution to the congestion at the start and end of school hours is to extend the left turn lane heading north on El Fuerte into Pacific Ridge School, much, much longer, so stopped left 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 afternoons to determine the correct length of the left turn lane to accommodate all the left 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 particularly on El Fuerte. We always appreciate feedback on our projects. Our team is investigating this matter 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 <grferrisl@gmail.com> > Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 1:00 PM > To: Help <help@carlsbadca.gov> > Subject: Carlsbad Street Dept. > > I noticed 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 left at the light into the before and after school can't turn left at the light because the entrance is jammed. The left turn only lane is not long 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 34 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 37 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E enough to accommodate all the stopped left 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 left 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 situation. We need two lane through that hole section of El Fuerte. Don't turn a bad situation into something worse. > > Gordon Ferris > 818 645-1250 > > 2876 Via Conquistador > Carlsbad, CA > CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 2 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 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 35 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 38 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 36 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 39 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 1- 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. 1 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 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 37 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 40 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 38 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 41 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 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 > CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the 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 39 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 42 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 40 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 43 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov Subject: RE: RE: Road markings on El Fuerte not clear From: K Jeff <jeffrey.kristin@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 Jeffrey 760-783-7786 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 41 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 44 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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. 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 42 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 45 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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 2 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 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the 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 43 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 46 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 44 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 47 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 BS! Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 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 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 45 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 48 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 46 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 49 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov Subject: RE: Another ill considered road diet on an already busy section -El Fuerte From: Tom Geidner <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 Geidner <linda@geldner.com> Subject: Another ill considered road diet on an already busy section -El Fuerte Mayor Blackburn and Mayor Pro Tern 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. 1 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 47 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 50 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E 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 Geidner 2814 Rancho Pancho Carlsbad, CA 92009 Tel: 760-814-8105 Cel: 858-610-9020 Web: www.geldner.com CAUTION: Do not o en attachments or click on links unless content is safe. 2 March 18, 2025 Item #11 Page 48 of 48May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 51 of 212 Docusign Envelope ID: 7D979817-7FFB-4593-8272-3E555663733E Lovelynne Magalued From: Subject: Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov 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 Traffic 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 office or just make these unilateral decisions from some cubbyhole. The traffic 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 off 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 traffic 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 suffer 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 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 52 of 212 All Receive -Agenda Item# Li_ For the Information of the: Tammy Cloud-McMinn {::!TY COUNCIL oare·31J7g q .,.--CG .,,,, From: Sent: To: Steve Linke <splinke@gmail.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 4:11 AM City Clerk Subject: Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping 2024-01-09 Linke email to City Council regarding lane narrowing.pdf Attachments: Carlsbad City Council: When this project was presented at your 5/14/2024 meeting, the staff report stated: "[S]taff are confident that there will be no significant change to traffic delays along this segment of El Fuerte Street with the proposed reconfiguration." Given citizen feedbacl< expressing concerns about both the vehicle lane eliminations, as well as the narrowed lane widths, this was clearly very misguided. As most of you are aware, I have supported the vast majority of staff's projects to calm traffic and improve bicycle infrastructure, but I also have been warning you about lil<ely unintended consequences for a specific subset of the projects on streets that have challenging vehicle traffic issues and/or that are higher-speed. Note that when part of this project came before the traffic commission, I was the only commissioner to express reservations and vote against recommending it as proposed. I encourage you to take the following actions: 1. For tonight's agenda item, choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. Alternatively, authorize the road diet on the northernmost part of the street, as described in Option 1, but only do so with the additional directive that the vehicle lanes be maintained at an appropriate 11-foot width for the entire length of the street to provide adequate room for safe maneuvering. 2. Take action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. Mainly for Councilmember Shin's benefit, because he is new to the council, I want to reiterate my previously expressed concerns about narrowing our vehicle lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher from the appropriate 11-foot width down to 1 0 feet, including configurations that include a 10- foot wide two-way center turn lane ("suicide lane") sandwiched between. Large vehicles with their mirrors are 10-1 /2 feet wide, which means that adjacent vehicle lanes (including through-traffic and oncoming turning vehicles) literally overlap, even if they are able to stay within their lines--which they often don't with the new 10-foot widths being striped around the city. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 53 of 212 Staff claims that making drivers nervous about crashing makes them safer by causing them to drive more slowly, but there is no consistent evidence that these narrowed lanes meaningfully reduce speeds or increase safety on suburban streets with speed limits of 40 mph or more. I have attached one of my previous communications that discusses this issue in more detail in the context of consensus standards. And here are a couple of photos of larger vehicles presumably trying to stay in 10-foot lanes: 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 54 of 212 Best regards, Steve Linke Carlsbad 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 55 of 212 Subject: 1/9/2024 City Council Agenda Item 15: Semiannual Transportation Report From: Steve Linke <splinke@gmail.com> Date: 1/7/2024, 4:53 PM To: traffic@carlsbadca.gov, clerk@carlsbadca.gov Carlsbad City Councilmembers (and Traffic Safety & Mobility Commissioners): SUMMARY In the new Semiannual Transportation Report, staff again makes the false claim that the narrowing of our high speed, high-volume arterial vehicle through-lanes to less than 11 feet in width is consistent with industry standards, and the misleading claim that the projects will decrease speeds and improve safety. These claims have been made in numerous staff reports and City Manager's Updates, but repetition does not make them true. The consensus among the design standard-setting organizations, researchers, and other experts is that great caution needs to be exercised when narrowing lanes, and that arterial lane widths less than 11 feet should be restricted to streets with speeds of 30 to 35 mph or less with lower total volumes of vehicles and few large vehicles (buses, trucks). Inconsistent with these standards, staff's lane narrowing projects are being done on many streets with speeds of 40 to 55 mph--some of which carry high volumes and/or are truck/bus routes. In addition, strong evidence shows that narrowing high-speed arterial lanes has little to no meaningful effect on speeds--let alone the completely unsupported 5 mph reduction suggested by staff. And there is no demonstrable effect on safety outcomes. In fact, increased lane encroachments and sideswipe collisions arising from the narrowed lanes can decrease safety for both vehicles and cyclists. Staff is either unable to properly interpret the standards and individual research studies in the proper context, or they are knowingly defying the expert guidance, subjecting Carlsbad's street users to potentially dangerous experimentation. In either case, I would suggest that the "substantial evidence" requirement for "design immunity" has not been met, thereby exposing the city to liability when collisions occur, due to the creation of unsafe conditions. While lane-narrowing on some streets may increase safety, staff's extrapolation of this approach to our high-speed, high-volume suburban arterials is misguided and unsupported by evidence. You, as our elected leaders, should mandate that staff provide detailed analyses for each of their lane narrowing projects, showing that they are consistent with their cited standards: AASHTO Green Book (specifically, Section 7.3.3.2) and the Caltrans Highway Design Manual (specifically, Section 308). If they are unable to provide that, you should end these experiments. LACK OF STANDARDS COMPLIANCE Staff claims that they have analyzed the conditions on all of the streets on which lanes are being narrowed and determined that there are no safety concerns. However, in response to my public records request for those safety analyses, none were provided. Instead, staff has only made the general statement that all of the projects are allegedly consistent with the following national and state standards. May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 56 of 212 AASHTO "Green Book" (national standard) Staff cites an introductory sentence in Chapter 4 of the Green Book that describes the fact that city street lane widths are generally between 9 and 12 feet, and they state that their 10-foot lanes are within that range. However, this is extremely deceptive, because the next sentence explains how Chapters 5 through 8 need to be used for guidance on specific street types. The relevant guidance on arterial streets (Section 7.3.3.2) indicates that 12-foot through-lanes are desirable on high-speed, free-flowing principal arterials, while narrower 11-foot lanes are normally adequate for 45-mph or less arterials, but 10-foot lanes are only appropriate on arterials with speeds less than 35 mph and few large vehicles (buses, trucks). Ca/trans "Highway_ Design Manual" Section 308 (state standard) ---- Caltrans only regulates the portions of our streets at the highway interchanges, and the only reference to lane width in this standard requires 12 feet. In fact, staff has been forced to seek SQecial exceQtions from Caltrans outside of their standards to allow lane widths less than 11 feet at the interchanges. Thus, staff's citation of this standard to justify widths less than 11 feet is mystifying. Although not cited by staff, one of the most comprehensive and modern "complete streets" design standards is ITE's "Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares." Similar to the Green Book, it emphasizes street context and restricts the narrowing of arterial lanes to less than 11 feet to streets with speeds less than 35 mph. INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH STUDIES The only other evidence presented by staff is a 2007 research study~y Potts et al., which reported no statistical differences in collisions with narrower lanes. However, the results of this under-powered study are already incorporated into the Green Book and other standards described above, and it includes virtually no data relevant to the projects in Carlsbad (high-speed arterial lanes being reduced to less than 11 feet). The largest-ever nationwide study on narrowed lanes was published last year by Hamidi et al.-strong proponents of the practice. However, these authors also specifically recommend lanes less than 11 feet only on streets with speeds of 35 mph or less, and former ITE President Randy Mccourt issued a strong warning in an accompanying NPR interview: "It's a slam dunk on the 20 and 25 [mph streets], but when you get to the 35, 40, you got to be very careful." SPEED AND SAFETY NOT MEANINGFULLY AFFECTED BY LANE-NARROWING Some small studies suggest that lane narrowing might reduce speeds by a few mph on some street types (e.g., NCHRP Project 03-72). However, more robust, nationwide studies have concluded that lane widths have little or no effect on speeds on high-speed suburban arterials, (e.g., NCHRP Project 17-53). Due to the much larger sample sizes and wider geographic distribution, the latter results are considered more credible by the Transportation Research Board (NHCRP ReQort 783 ). May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 57 of 212 But even if one assumes that narrowed lanes can reduce arterial speeds by a few mph, I am unaware of any published evidence directly linking that to better injury outcomes-it is all assumptions layered upon other assumptions. In fact, narrowed lanes can increase lane encroachments and sideswipes that can make things more dangerous for all users, including cyclists (Dai et al., 2020}. Best regards, Steve Linke 2,~linke@gmail.com Carlsbad May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 58 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Doug Osterholt <ostey@yahoo.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 7:27 AM Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin; City Clerk; Keith Blackburn Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping As a long term resident of Carlsbad, I am against the reduction of traffic lanes to 1 O' in width. The roads that have been reduced in width are more dangerous than ever. Cars and trucks are not keeping within these reduced lanes and the argument that this is keeping thing safer is nonsense. The restriping of El Fuerte needs to stop. Reducing this path of road in front of the school to a single lane is not the right thing to do. You need to keep the lane as is was with two lanes at the original width. Restripe it was it was. Thank you, Douglas CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 59 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Suko Shah <sukoshah@gmail.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 10:30 AM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin : Public comment on 3/18/2025Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping To Carlsbad City officials and staff. From Sukumar Shah 6431 el Perico lane Carlsbad 92009 Hello: 1. My input is Option 3 for the upcoming meeting. -Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning great before. Also maintain 11 feet wide as many SUVs and trucks need that width. Please maintained 11-foot width for the entire length of the street to provide adequate room for safe maneuvering. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes for safe maneuvering. Thanks you Sukumar Shah 760-415-4157 Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 60 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Hi, Lorrie Losse <llosse@aol.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 11 :34 AM City Clerk Lane changes on El Fuerte road I've noticed the lane changes for El Fuerte road and see a big problem. When parents are dropping off or picking up their kids from the Pacific Ridge School the left turn lane gets backed up way past the spot where the cars are supposed to wait for the light to change. If there is no second lane to go past these left turn waiting cars the entire road will be blocked. People will get tired of waiting and drive around the cars in the bike lane. Hope the city can figure out a way to solve this problem. Lorrie Losse La Costa Greens resident Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 61 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Linda Sinclair <lindajsinclair@gmail.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 12:05 PM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Council Internet Email; Kevin Shin Re 3/18/2025 City Council meeting to discuss options to restripe El Fuerte Street I strongly urge the City Council to adopt the Option 3 Resolution to return the road configuration to what it was before this recent debacle. I am a Carlsbad resident who has lived in the Rancho Carrillo development for 24 years. I frequently drive on El Fuerte between Poinsettia and Palomar Airport Road, and oftentimes drive on El Fuerte between Alga Road and Poinsettia. I was puzzled by the restriping done on El Fuerte south of Alga Road a few years ago that provides only a single lane each direction on what is a very wide street, but assume it was done that way because vehicles park along the street. At least that seems to make some sense. The recent restriping work on El Fuerte (where no street parking is permitted) that reduces traffic to a single lane between Poinsettia and Palomar Airport Road, however, makes no sense, creates hazardous conditions for everyone using the road, especially during school pick up & drop off at Pacific Ridge School, and rush hour, and is opposed by residents who actually use the road. I am vehemently opposed to this restriping and so-called "lane diet." Linda Sinclair 6122 Paseo Monona Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 62 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: • Suzanne Colgrove <suzannecolgrove@yahoo.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 1 :52 PM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Road work in Carlsbad 1. For tonight's agenda item, choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. Thank you, Suzanne and Steven Colgrove, Carlsbad residents . • • suzanne CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 63 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: • Randy Venier < randy.venier@gmail.com > Friday, March 14, 2025 1 :58 PM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping 1. For tonight's agenda item, choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two- way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. • Randy Venier CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 64 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Importance: Hello Tina Marino -MMM <tina@marinomoneymasters.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 2:51 PM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping High Foy your consideration re Item #11 on your agenda for 3/18/25: 1. For the 3/18/25's agenda item, PLEASE choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. Respectfully, Tina Marino President M~!l'ino :'I.Ioney \laskrS 760-271-8331 www.MarinoMoneyMasters.com Tina Marino -Linkedln CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 65 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Frances Bernal <francesbernal@gmail.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 2:56 PM Sent: To: City Clerk Cc: Subject: Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping Hello, 1. For tonight's agenda item, choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. Thank you, Frances Bernal CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 66 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Andrew <bergen.andrew@gmail.com> Friday, March 14, 2025 5:53 PM Council Internet Email City Clerk Item #11 on the 3/18/2025 agenda Implementing a road diet on El Fuerte Rd and Carlsbad at large raises several concerns that merit careful consideration: 1. Potential Traffic Congestion Reducing the number of lanes dedicated to vehicular traffic can lead to increased congestion, especially in cities where driving is the predominant mode of transportation. In Los Angeles, for instance, debates around road diets have highlighted concerns about exacerbating congestion, particularly in areas heavily reliant on car traveL I have already experienced this when turning right onto El Fuerte from Poinsettia when headed north. Cars have backed up onto Poinsettia because it is blocked by the digital sign. 2. Impact on Emergency Response Times Narrowing roadways may impede the movement of emergency vehicles, potentially delaying critical response times. The Federal Highway Administration acknowledges that while road diets can improve safety, they may also affect the operational efficiency of emergency services if not properly planned. 3. Limited Benefits for Pedestrians and Cyclists In areas where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is minimal, reallocating road space may not yield significant benefits. The Federal Highway Administration notes that the success of road diets depends on existing and anticipated demand from non-motorized users. This road, which is steep, is not frequently used by pedestrians or bicycles. This can't be used as an argument for this change. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 67 of 212 4. Risk of Traffic Diversion Reducing lanes on El Fuerte may lead drivers to seek alternative routes, potentially increasing traffic on Palomar during the heaviest traffic times. This unintended consequence can compromise safety and make traffic worse. 5. Questionable Applicability in Car-Centric Communities Carlsbad's infrastructure is predominantly designed to accommodate vehicular traffic. Implementing a road diet without substantial demand from pedestrians and cyclists may result in underutilized spaces, failing to justify the reduction in vehicular lanes. The Federal Highway Administration emphasizes that road diets are most effective in contexts with significant non-motorized user activity. This is not the case for El Fuerte. Conclusion While road diets aim to enhance safety and promote multimodal transportation, their effectiveness is highly context-dependent. In a car-centric city like Carlsbad, where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is limited, reducing vehicular lanes could lead to increased congestion, hindered emergency response, economic drawbacks, and traffic diversion without delivering the intended benefits. A thorough analysis of local traffic patterns and community needs is essential before proceeding with such a transformation. At this time, it does not seem as this has been done and will only impact the communities surrounding this road who frequently use this route to avoid Palomar. Please consider my thoughts. I have been a resident in Carlsbad since 2011 and in my opinion the road diet strategy has not been effective and is certainly not indicated on El Fuerte. Thanks for your consideration. Andrew Bergen Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 68 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Andrew < bergen.andrew@gmail.com > Friday, March 14, 2025 5:53 PM Council Internet Email City Clerk Item #11 on the 3/18/2025 agenda Implementing a road diet on El Fuerte Rd and Carlsbad at large raises several concerns that merit careful consideration: 1. Potential Traffic Congestion Reducing the number of lanes dedicated to vehicular traffic can lead to increased congestion, especially in cities where driving is the predominant mode of transportation. In Los Angeles, for instance, debates around road diets have highlighted concerns about exacerbating congestion, particularly in areas heavily reliant on car travel. I have already experienced this when turning right onto El Fuerte from Poinsettia when headed north. Cars have backed up onto Poinsettia because it is blocked by the digital sign. 2. Impact on Emergency Response Times Narrowing roadways may impede the movement of emergency vehicles, potentially delaying critical response times. The Federal Highway Administration acknowledges that while road diets can improve safety, they may also affect the operational efficiency of emergency services if not properly planned. 3. Limited Benefits for Pedestrians and Cyclists In areas where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is minimal, reallocating road space may not yield significant benefits. The Federal Highway Administration notes that the success of road diets depends on existing and anticipated demand from non-motorized users. This road, which is steep, is not frequently used by pedestrians or bicycles. This can't be used as an argument for this change. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 69 of 212 4. Risk of Traffic Diversion Reducing lanes on El Fuerte may lead drivers to seek alternative routes, potentially increasing traffic on Palomar during the heaviest traffic times. This unintended consequence can compromise safety and make traffic worse. 5. Questionable Applicability in Car-Centric Communities Carlsbad's infrastructure is predominantly designed to accommodate vehicular traffic. Implementing a road diet without substantial demand from pedestrians and cyclists may result in underutilized spaces, failing to justify the reduction in vehicular lanes. The Federal Highway Administration emphasizes that road diets are most effective in contexts with significant non-motorized user activity. This is not the case for El Fuerte. Conclusion While road diets aim to enhance safety and promote multimodal transportation, their effectiveness is highly context-dependent. In a car-centric city like Carlsbad, where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is limited, reducing vehicular lanes could lead to increased congestion, hindered emergency response, economic drawbacks, and traffic diversion without delivering the intended benefits. A thorough analysis of local traffic patterns and community needs is essential before proceeding with such a transformation. At this time, it does not seem as this has been done and will only impact the communities surrounding this road who frequently use this route to avoid Palomar. Please consider my thoughts. I have been a resident in Carlsbad since 2011 and in my opinion the road diet strategy has not been effective and is certainly not indicated on El Fuerte. Thanks for your consideration. Andrew Bergen Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 70 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: B Plante <b_plante@hotmail.com> Saturday, March 15, 2025 11 :47 AM City Clerk Bike lanes/restripe. Hi CBD resident since about 1990 when it was small & cute. This is regarding the current IMO over compensating of allowances to give bikes more and more space on public roads over motor vehicles. And, yes I do ride a bike sometimes. It makes NO sense to disrupt motor vehicle movement to set aside (mostly) empty large lanes for bikes. Repeat, they are mostly empty except weekends when the bike groups do the mass cycle events. Good for them, but the rest of the time you (the folks who decide to restripe & add bike lanes) have screwed all the other 99% who drive cars. Just THINK ABOUT IT, ok? Bob Plante Corte Cicuta Carlsbad CA CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 71 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: connie.reininger@gmail.com Sunday, March 16, 2025 12:04 AM City Clerk; Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin 'Cc: Marco Reininger'; 'michael stankus' Subject: RE: Comment on 3/18/2025 Council item Nr. 11; El Feurte Street restriping Sorry-this email got away too soon -please see the below. To Whom it may concern, I received this email mailing list from a former traffic commissioner (Steve Linke) and I also want to thank him for the additional information he provided to me. I, as well as my husband, son and my close neighbors, are very concerned about the above "initiative" on the part of the city to narrow the above street to accommodate bicycle riders. First of all the people who need a bike lane on this street do not exist-we have rarely seen a bicyclist on that street (the section that runs between Palomar Airport Road and Alga Road) because the hills on that street are too steep to allow routine bike traffic -even for kids after school. Furthermore, this street is the main entrance way to the Bressie Ranch shopping center and also crosses a school which has a long line of parents waiting for their kids every day after school during the school year that will most likely block the one existing lane if this project comes to fruition. As such this lane restriction will cause major traffic congestion during these important daylight hours-most likely extending to Palomar Airport Road .. Unfortunately my husband and I cannot attend the City Hall meeting on coming Tuesday at 5 PM to discuss the matter, as he is recovering hip surgery and I have an appointment on that day. However, I am sure that other concerned and dismayed citizens will voice their opinions and you will hopefully listen to reason and stop this expensive, useless and potentially harmful development. Kind regards, Dr. Cornelia Reininger Adress: 2855 Cacatua Street, Carlsbad, CA CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 72 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: City Clerk Subject: RE: Council item #11 El Fuerte Street swiping From: Kris Wright <kriswrt222@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 9:08:06 PM To: KEITH BLACKBURN <keithb911@aol.com>; Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>; Teresa Acosta <teresa.acosta@carlsbadca.gov>; Melanie Burkholder <melanie.burkholder@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Council item #11 El Fuerte Street swiping Dear Mr. Mayor and Council, To date, El Fuerte has functioned well with the current original striping. To change the striping to "calm traffic" on specific roadways on certain roadway such as El Fuerte would be a huge error. This particular roadway and others in Carlsbad that have normal posted high speeds have challenging traffic issues and there will be unintended consequences if a new restriping as proposed by the Traffic Division is implemented. Therefore I urge you to vote for Option 3, to restore the original striping which we know has functioned well. Secondly, please consider taking future action to establish a policy that requires city staff (when they propose vehicle lane eliminations) to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street rather than solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations. That method of analysis does not necessarily reflect realistic traffic conditions. Thirdly, please take future action to direct city staff to change their Standard Operating Procedure for lane widths to establish minimum 11 ft. widths for vehicle-through lanes and two way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 MPH or higher appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. Thank you, Kris Kris Wright District 1 kriswrt222@gmail.com CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 73 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: City Clerk Subject: RE: Re-Striping of El Fuerte From: William & Valerie Lee <welflyboy@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 12:58:40 PM To: Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>; Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov>; Teresa Acosta <teresa.acosta@carlsbadca.gov>; Melanie Burkholder <melanie.burkholder@carlsbadca.gov>; Kevin Shin <kevin.shin@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Re-Striping of El Fuerte Dear City Council Representatives, I am unable to attend the meeting on March 18th, but I wanted you all to know our feelings concerning the Re-striping of El Fuerte, from just south of Rancho Pancho up to Lowker and the Bressi Ranch area. I have written to emails to Mr. John Kim and he has been nice enough to answer me back, but we still think his Traffic Department's idea of restriping El Fuerte from the two lanes that have worked fine for the 8 1 /2 years we have lived up is ids VERY ill-thought out. The only thing it accomplishes is to create a hugh bike lane (about 18-20 feet) but constricts normal automobile traffic to one lane, which during the arrivals and exits from Pacific Ridge school, will be very long delays with very, frustrated drivers trying to go north on El Fuerte up to the Bressi Ranch shopping center and Palomar Road. The frustration could lead to cars and trucks illegally passing to the right of the long lines trying to turn into the school and accidents. I don't know if this very poor idea comes from someone in the traffic department being an extremely pro- bicycle guy or gal or just someone who never gets out of the office to observe the effects their proposal would have on traffic in the area at heavy use times. I have included the letters I sent to Mr. Kim. I also received and included a letter from Steve Linke, who was a former Carlsbad traffic Commissioner. That he has dealt with and finds the traffic staff very stubborn to anything other than their ideas. It seems some of this staff should be either council on their attitude or replaced in this department! Steve's letter: Dear Concerned Resident: I am contacting you, because you submitted feedback to the city on the El Fuerte vehicle lane elimination/narrowing project and to let you know that this issue is back on next Tuesday's City Council agenda. The large number of prior communications received from residents like you is what prompted this reconsideration. I ask you to contact them again immediately and consider including the three recommendations below to influence the final decision on this project and similar ones planned throughout Carlsbad. Please also consider showing up at the meeting to provide a verbal comment, which is an even stronger form of support--and encourage friends and neighbors to submit comments, as well. As background, I am a former Carlsbad traffic commissioner, and, while I have supported the vast majority of city staff's projects to calm traffic and improve bicycle infrastructure, I have been warning the City Council about likely unintended consequences for a specific subset of the projects on streets that have challenging vehicle traffic issues and/or that are higher-speed. Note that when part of this project 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 74 of 212 came before the traffic commission, I was the only commissioner to express reservations and vote against recommending it as proposed. As examples, there are multiple projects where streets are being reduced to one vehicle lane in each direction with a shared center turn lane ("suicide lane") where all three of these lanes have been reduced to just 1 O feet in width, while providing 8-foot wide bike lanes plus up to 9-foot wide buffers on both sides (see the cross-section image appended at the bottom of this email). This means that adjacent vehicle lanes (including through-traffic and oncoming turning vehicles) literally overlap, even if they are able to stay within their lines--which they often don't with the new 10-foot widths being striped around the city (see the images appended at the bottom). Yet, city staff have stubbornly refused to give up any part of the 17-foot bicycle areas to provide just one more foot of room (11 feet) to more safely maneuver in the vehicle lanes. Staff claims that making drivers nervous about crashing makes them safer by causing them to drive more slowly, but there is no consistent evidence that these narrowed lanes meaningfully reduce speeds or increase safety on suburban streets with speed limits of 40 mph or more. If you are interested in more technical details, I have attached one example of a communication I sent to the City Council regarding lane narrowing. For Tuesday's City Council meeting on the El Fuerte Street striping, city staff have included three options: • Option 3 is to restore the striping to the way it was before, including two vehicle through-lanes in each direction and the old 11-foot lane widths for the entire length of the street. • Option 2 would restore the two lanes but still narrow the lanes to 1 O feet for the entire length of the street. • Option 1 is the same as Option 2 with its 10-foot wide lanes, except the street also would be reduced to one lane in each direction at its northern end--between Loker Avenue and Faraday Avenue. Here are the three potential recommendations to include in a new communication to the City Council with an alternative provided within #1. However, please share all of your thoughts and make your own custom letter. To: clerk@carlsbadca.gmt Cc: keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov, priya.bhat- patel@carlsbadca.gov, teresa.acosta@carlsbadca.gov, melanie.burkholder@carlsbadca. gov, kevin.shin@carlsbadca.gov Subject: Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping 1. For tonight's agenda item, choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. [Alternatively, authorize the road diet on the northernmost part of the street, as described in Option 1, but only do so with the additional directive that the vehicle lanes be maintained at an appropriate 11-foot width for the entire length of the street to provide adequate room for safe maneuvering.] 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 75 of 212 vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. END OF RECOMMENDATION Again, thank you for submitting your first comment, and please submit another as soon as possible, so that the City Council has a chance to read all of them before their meeting next Tuesday. And also consider showing up at the meeting itself and provide a verbal comment. The meeting starts at 5:00 PM, and you need to fill out a speaker slip (available in the back of the council chambers) designating Item #11, then hand it to the clerk in the front. You should be granted 3 minutes of speaking time. Best regards, Steve Linke Former Vice Chair of the Carlsbad traffic commission and concerned Carlsbad citizen My emails to Mr. Kim: John l<im <John.l(im@carlsbadca.gov> t Mr. Lee, Tue, Mar 11, 2:38 PM (5 days ago) Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the changes on El Fuerte Street. Community feedback on temporary lane markings provides an opportunity to make adjustments as needed before the final striping goes down. In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. That report is tentatively scheduled to be presented to the City Council March 18. To be notified when this item goes to the City Council, please sign up for the email list. You can find City Council agendas and information on how to participate on the city's website. What's happening on El Fuerte Street 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 76 of 212 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 take care of cracks and potholes and ensure a smooth drive. When we resurface the roadways, the city can also restripe to provide additional traffic safety benefits, including helping to address speeding and better support all modes of travel. What's next? The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18. Why the initial change? During the design process for the project, city staff studied the traffic in the area and analyzed how the change in the lanes could impact traffic and to determine the safest, most efficient configuration for the roadway. The majority of El Fuerte Street was comprised of 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 total length, 2.4 miles of El Fuerte Street featured one vehicle lane in each direction. The proposed restriping made the lane configuration more consistent along the entire roadway. The change from two lanes to one was intended to: • Encourage safer driving speeds while keeping traffic flowing. In Carlsbad, speeding is the No. 1 contributing factor in injury collisions. Slowing traffic down even 5 mph can make a difference in the severity and survivability of collisions. • 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 right to make right turns onto side streets without slowing down cars who are behind Thank you again for your feedback and for your patience as we work to enhance traffic safety for everyone on our streets. City of rlsbad Traffic & Mobility Division Transportation Department 4 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 77 of 212 Public Works Branch 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 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 Traffic 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 office or just make these unilateral decisions from some cubby hole. The traffic 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 off 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 traffic 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 suffer their extremely poor decision making process or planning. Part of the name is planning, which they have obviously not done. Thank You, 5 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 78 of 212 William Lee 2838 Rancho Pancho, Carlsbad, Ca 92009 858-212-4748 William & Valerie Lee <welflyboy@gmail.com> to John □ Tue, Mar 11, 7:41 PM (5 days ago) Thank you for responding to my email, John. I agree with you about the restriping to just one lane on El Fuerte, south of Poinsetta up the hill to Alga and down. I don't think that one lane vs two for that small portion will matter. I do think that cutting El Fuerte down to one lane, north of Poinsettia towards Palomar Rd is a very poor idea and the City Council either received wrong or very poor information. In the morning and in the afternoon, when Pacific Ridge school starts and lets out, El Fuerte becomes a bottleneck, as well as Poinsettia east up to the El Fuerte stoplight. If the City of Carlsbad choose the option of reducing the previous two lanes up to Bressi Ranch and Palomar, you, the City of Carlsbad will actually cause an increase in accidents and be liable for them, as drivers frustrated about the 15-20 minute wait to head up the hill will illegally drive to the right of the stopped traffic over your new markings to get past the cars stopped trying to pull into Pacific Ridge. Even though there is traffic leading up to and from the entrance and exit of the school, with two lanes open, everyone not trying to get into the school moves along smoothly. We have lived here for over 8 years and regularly observe this traffic both in the morning and in the afternoon. Please advise the City Council of these concerns, as it is now on record if they choose the wrong option and accidents or death occur, which could result in multi-million dollar lawsuits against Carlsbad. Sincerely, Bill Lee I" William & Valerie Lee <welflyboy@gmail.com> to John n Hello Mr. Kim, 6 Fri, Mar 14, 11:29AM (2 days ago) May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 79 of 212 I am including the letter I received from another concerned citizen and former Carlsbad traffic commissioner. I also added my response o him in the second part of this email. I definitely vote for Option 3 and then option 2, but could live with Option three as long as the two lanes continued from Poinsettia to Lowker. I hope your Department Engineers get the message that their idea of reducing this area of streets to one one lane is VERY ILL CONCEIVED!!!!! We the citizens of Carlsbad will not put up with Stupidity. I am contacting you, because you submitted feedback to the city on the El Fuerte vehicle lane elimination/narrowing project and to let you know that this issue is back on next Tuesday's City Council agenda. The large number of prior communications received from residents like you is what prompted this reconsideration. I ask you to contact them again immediately and consider including the three recommendations below to influence the final decision on this project and similar ones planned throughout Carlsbad. Please also consider showing up at the meeting to provide a verbal comment, which is an even stronger form of support--and encourage friends and neighbors to submit comments, as well. As background, I am a former Carlsbad traffic commissioner, and, while I have supported the vast majority of city staff's projects to calm traffic and improve bicycle infrastructure, I have been warning the City Council about likely unintended consequences for a specific subset of the projects on streets that have challenging vehicle traffic issues and/or that are higher-speed. Note that when part of this project came before the traffic commission, I was the only commissioner to express reservations and vote against recommending it as proposed. As examples, there are multiple projects where streets are being reduced to one vehicle lane in each direction with a shared center turn lane ("suicide lane") where all three of these lanes have been reduced to just 10 feet in width, while providing 8-foot wide bike lanes plus up to 9-foot wide buffers on both sides (see the cross-section image appended at the bottom of this email). This means that adjacent vehicle lanes (including through-traffic and oncoming turning vehicles) literally overlap, even if they are able to stay within their lines--which they often don't with the new 10-foot widths being striped around the city (see the images appended at the bottom). Yet, city staff have stubbornly refused to give up any part of the 17-foot bicycle areas to provide just one more foot of room (11 feet) to more safely maneuver in the vehicle lanes. Staff claims that making drivers nervous about crashing makes them safer by causing them to drive more slowly, but there is no consistent evidence that these narrowed lanes meaningfully reduce speeds or increase safety on suburban streets with speed limits of 40 mph or more. If you are interested in more technical details, I have attached one example of a communication I sent to the City Council regarding lane narrowing. For Tuesday's City Council meeting on the El Fuerte Street striping, city staff have included three options: • Option 3 is to restore the striping to the way it was before, including two vehicle through-lanes in each direction and the old 11-foot lane widths for the entire length of the street. • Option 2 would restore the two lanes but still narrow the lanes to 10 feet for the entire length of the street. • Option 1 is the same as Option 2 with its 10-foot wide lanes, except the street also would be reduced to one lane in each direction at its northern end--between Loker Avenue and Faraday Avenue. 7 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 80 of 212 Here are the three potential recommendations to include in a new communication to the City Council with an alternative provided within #1. However, please share all of your thoughts and make your own custom letter. Dear Steve, Thank you for your email Steve and like you I am concerned that the City Traffic Engineering staff has made these stupid new proposals without ever actually observing traffic. It reminds me of Engineers in Military aircraft design that proposed putting switches behind the pilot that at times had to be changed while the pilot and aircraft were at 500 feet and 500 knots. No pilot in his right mind is going to turn his head backwards to do that at that altitude and speed. Luckily we had people on hand that told them just wrong these design proposals were. These (Carlsbad) Engineers sit in their quiet cubicles and make these decisions that the rest of us have to live with. Although I am not a fan of the current administration's attempt to wholesale fire people, I would consider it for this group in the Carlsbad Traffic Engineering group and start over with people that realize the citizens of Carlsbad are not going to put up with their thoughtless, ill concieved ideas .. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the meeting tonight, but I hope you and the group of other angry citizens hold these Engineers' feet to the fire. I sent a second email after Mr. Kim responded to my first email and also pointed out that our concerns are on record and could create a huge liability for the City in case of accidents or death, when drivers get tired of the long delays of one traffic lane up to and from the Pacific Ridge school in the morning and afternoon five days a week and go around the long line, driving in the 9 foot buffer you listed. I could be one of those and I would have no problem suing the City for the problem they created and could have prevented with comprehensive on-site study. Good luck for all of us! Sincerely, William "Bill" Lee 2838 Rancho Pancho Carlsbad, Ca 92009 858-212-4748 Please choose Option 3 or 2 and not this very ill-concieved "one lane" idea. William "Bill" Lee 2838 Rancho Pancho Carlsbad, Ca 92009 858-212-4748 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 8 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 81 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: dml718@roadrunner.com Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 10:53 PM To: City Clerk; Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Subject: Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping The temporary striping of the current project on El Fuerte Street has created significant congestion problems due to downsized lanes. 1. For tonight's agenda item, choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. You did not do this on Cannon, and I have talked to residents in that area who say they were NEVER contacted regarding the restriping on that street, and many of them find they have to swerve into the bicycle lane when the vehicle in the left lane is either large (think trucks) or the driver in the left lane is moving or swerving to the right. When are you going to stop doing unsafe striping that is potentially going to cause an accident? 4. Chose Option 3. Donna Linehan Carlsbad resident CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 82 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Teeto Cheema <teetocheema@gmail.com> Sunday, March 16, 2025 11 :23 PM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin #11: El Fuerte street re-striping Studies show that narrowed lanes on high speed arterial do not meaningfully decrease speeds but do increase the frequency of lane encroachment. Vehicles crossing the center line and into the bike buffers. Everyone in this email needs to go to pacific ridge high school on El Fuerte at the time the kids are let out and observe the absolute chaos and potential injuries and even death that could and will occur from traffic backing up for over a mile in both north and south directions due to this absurd project. These designs are local experiments being conducted by our city council which will be potentially dangerous to all users and which could open the city up to significant liability. I have lived off of El Fuerte Street before the street ever went all the way through. It has become a major street for all the development and shopping areas at El Fuerte and Gateway drive. Proceeding with this project will not only put drivers and bikers at risl< of injury, but also kids trying to just get home from Pacific Ridge High School. Be prepared for class action law suits because no formal studies were ever completed to understand the impact of potential dangerous driving and bicycle injuries that will occur at a much higher rate. People are watching this and will keep track of the increase in injuries and possible fatalities. Please go out and observe traffic at school begin and end times before any such foolish plan is completed. Please reverse this decision for the sake of everyone's safety who use El Fuerte. Sincerely Teeto Cheema Cacatua street, Carlsbad, CA CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 83 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Donna Cheema <donnajcheema@gmail.com> Monday, March 17, 2025 1 :48 AM Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin; City Clerk; Keith Blackburn #11: El Fuerte Street Re-striping -Option 3 choice on El Fuerte -SUBJECT: Public comment on 3/18/2025 / Council Item 11 My husband and I have been residents of La Costa since 1992, first on Cazadero Street, and now on Cacatua Street since 2000. The actions of the city recently would lead one to believe that we live in the 1950's in Carlsbad. Yet, it is 2025. And, we have experienced a massive explosion in density of development and population over the years . In my opinion the City of Carlsbad has welcomed exclusive, mass development with wide open arms although the roads have not been expanded but instead are becoming less and less wide and incapable of handling massive increases in traffic. We are becoming increasingly" blocked in," The majority of the traffic is vehicular and drivers who reed to obtain licenses, pay registration and insurance fees (which are quite high) are not being considered or even treated equally with regard to the one lane narrowing of El Fuerte. There are not many bicyclists and e-bikers and they are not required to have a license, pay for registration, or carry insurance. The reduction of traffic lanes into one extremely narrow 1 0 foot wide lane is a very faulty and dangerous design which is now highly congested at many times of the day. In comparison, there is a vastly larger group of lanes for bikers to ride side by side and for pedestrians to wall< down the road. There is a lack of room for drivers, on the other hand, to safely use the road for work commutes, appointments of any kind, shopping, and every day activities that people need and do accomplish the majority of the time through vehicular usuage .. Because of the immense congestion and potential danger, this seems to be a conscious intention to turn this section of El Fuerte into a private rood for the elite and private Pacific Ridge High School. For years, there have already been many fatalities and accidents at Pointsettia and El Fuerte The massive congestion caused by this one lane road reduction will definitely increase the accident rate and injuries. I am terrified of what's been done to reduce that section of El Fuerte to one lane and I no longer feel safe using it and don't use any of the stores or restaurants in that direction any longer. I now have to use more time, energy, mileage and gas to take the alternate route up Alga to turn on to El Camino Real. Please understand that you don't have to read this additional part, yet; )I, myself, was hit in my vehicle and also other cars were at the intersections of Alga and Alicante a fewyrs ago. It was 100 %, not any of our faults as determined by police and insurance. All the drivers involved suffered traumatic brain injuries and other permanent, debilitating conditions. This was because of a young woman, passed by many people, going about 15 miles under the speed limit and swerving in and out of her lane. Everyone went around her but the city had worked on the traffic light at Alga and Alicante and hadn't reset it properly so that it could flow like it normally did. It was deeply congested and she wavered over several lanes and smacked into at least 4 of us. The next day, there was another picture of another accident at the same intersection . The light wasn't fixed and a driver ran a red light and over-turned the other driver's brand new Volvo sur. I asked the 1st officer at my accident site if 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 84 of 212 he was going to give her a ticket for reckless driving or texting. When I was afraid of her swerving and going in and out of her lane at slow speed and pissed her, I had seen it. He replied "No, she's young and has to learn." Thank God other police and paramedics arrived as he appeared to be good buddies with her and her mother who showed up evidenced by standing with them, arms crossed and chatting. 2) I was hit again, on Alga, waiting until after a red light turned green, to turn L onto Corintia St. in Feb 2021. Again, it was 100% not my fault. An elderly man ran a red light as I was turning Lon a green light/ slammed into me and admitted. it to myself, the police and insurance. He wasn't speeding but didn't pay attention to the red light. I used to enjoy my full -time occupation but am so injured that I can no longer work. I asked the police at the scene if he would receive a ticket and they said no because they hadn't seen it ( there were witnesses). 3) Finally, my husband was at a red light that turned green for him by La Costa and Via Montebello. The ist driver yielded to their then red light, However, the Tesla driver behind her purposely decided to go around her at the red light, blew through the red light and hit my husband at 55mi per hr. He has massive injuries he's being treated for, still, almost a year later. And witnesses. My husband was 100% not at fault. The reason for mentioning these accidents is that other drivers are not focused and highly distracted . None of these accidents involved speeding. However, red light violations are a popular violation. If a driver won't stop for a clear red light or a group of drivers in multiple lanes, as I mentioned in my 3 examples, what make the City of Carlsbad believe that they will pay attention or stop safely on a very inappropriately restructured one lane congested road? Sincerely, Donna Geswaldo-Cheema (760)102-6358 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 85 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: City Council Members: Ken Wolf <kwolfy99@gmail.com> Monday, March 17, 2025 8:04 AM City Clerk; Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping My name is Kenneth Wolf and I have been a resident of Carlsbad, CA for thirty years. I have commuted on El Fuerte between Alga and Faraday for fourteen years and may have seen three or four cyclists using this route during this time period. The traffic on this route is typically heavy during business hours and the speed limit is 40 to 45 MPH. I see no reason to narrow this section of road to accommodate cyclists who do not use it at the expense of safety for automobile drivers. Respectively: 1. For tonight's agenda item, choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. Thank you, Kenneth Wolf 7066 Corintia Street Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 86 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Tammy.McMinn@carlsbadca.gov All Receive -Agenda Item # J.l For the Information of the: f/;Jz!:,OUNCIL Date.3 CA v CC~ CM _L.ACM ~CM(3)~· Subject: RE: ADDED FACTS RE AGENDA 11 March 16, 2025 -RANCHO PANCHO RISK FACTORS From: Sharon Lightholder <solightholder@me.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 10:01:47 AM To: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: ADDED FACTS RE AGENDA 11 March 16, 2025 -RANCHO PANCHO RISK FACTORS TO: Mayor Pro-tern Priya Bhat-Patel RE: Agenda Item 11, March 18, 2025, striping options for El Fuerte and The Underlying Issue I wrote to the Board and Mr. Kim on the key points about the safety at the intersection of Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte and how a two-lane northbound curb lane provided an essential safe 'on ramp' to mitigate the ongoing hazard of the fast-moving downhill traffic. I restricted my comments to the three options on agenda, yet there is an underlying issue that has not been addressed despite numerous requests over many years to correct this inherently unsafe intersection. Now it is time for fresh eyes to examine the design and find corrective solutions. I hope my quick "staff report' on the matter will be of assistance to you and your leadership of the Board. RANCHO PANCHO REMAINS THE ONLY CARLSBAD STREET ENTERING EL FUERTE BETWEEN ALGA AND FARADAY WITHOUT A STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN, OR TRAFFIC CALMING BY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A STOPPED INTERSECTION (Cacatua St.). All exits from all sections of the Rancho Carrillo Development to Melrose are at stoplights. The southern section (bounded by Poinsettia, Melrose and El Fuerte) have three exits. A light on Melrose, stop signs on El Fuerte at Unicornio, and the unprotected Rancho Pancho intersection. RECOMMENDATION: Direct Traffic and Planning to revisit the intersection's safety and design in view of current circumstances, either as an amendment to the striping option or a direction to staff. While I defer to the experts on whether stop signs or stop lights on El Fuerte are the solution, it is imperative to retain the safe on-ramp lane and reexamine the design at this intersection for effective traffic control, increased safety, and add a cross walk. A FAST HISTORY: 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 87 of 212 1. When the Rancho Carrillo Development opened in 2020, El Fuerte from Alga ended at Poinsettia. I have been told that residents before I moved to Rancho Carrillo had requested a stop sign at Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte. Denied. 2. When I moved to Rancho Carrillo in 2017, El Fuerte at Poinsettia was not a throughway to Palomar Airport Road. The Bressi Ranch development changed that. Traffic increased on El Fuerte when it opened as a northbound connector to Palomar Airport Road. All the new streets entering El Fuerte from Bressi were designed as stop light controlled intersections. Specifically: Gateway, Bressi Ranch Way, Greenhaven, and more recently, the entrance to Pacific Ridge School. Notably the Green haven -El Fuerte intersection is a mirror image of the uncontrolled Rancho Pancho -El Fuerte intersection. Several neighbors reported the reason for the denials was that Rancho Pancho was TOO CLOSE to Poinsettia, yet Greenhaven is closer. 3. Many of my neighbors have shared stories of their requests before I moved here and after to get a stop sign or light at the intersection, specifically noting that the Green haven intersection was designed to be controlled by a light. Denied. 4. During the public hearings for Faith Community Church at Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte, many residents of Rancho Carrillo welcomed the church but wanted traffic controlled at Rancho Pancho due to a) the generally increased traffic now that El Fuerte went past Poinsettia to the north, and b) the event-specific congested traffic increases for church services, church events, and day care functions. I testified to this effect as did others while even more wrote of their concerns. Denied. 5. Today, the city's protection of cyclists is even more reason to control the intersection and for the inclusion of a crosswalk. Currently, a cyclist exiting Rancho Carrillo on Rancho Pancho intending to bike south toward Alga must cross four traffic lanes of uncontrolled traffic to get to the bike lane on the west side of El Fuerte. Thank you for your consideration of offering an amendment or direction to review the options for improving safety at the Rancho Pancho -El Fuerte intersection. Sharon Lightholder 2832 Via Conquistador Carlsbad, CA Third District Constituent. 760-707-2749 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 88 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Craig Calsbeek <ccalsbeek@gmail.com> Monday, March 17, 2025 10:22 AM Sent: To: City Clerk Cc: Subject: Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Public comment on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11: El Fuerte Street restriping Carlsbad and North County has become a nightmare to drive around in and it has to stop. 1. For tonight's agenda item, choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. Craig Calsbeek 7506 Jerez Ct. Carlsbad, CA 92009-7 433 ccalsbeek@gmail.com Mobile: 760-822-8918 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 89 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:35 AM City Clerk FW: 3/18/25 city council meeting lane reconfiguration on El Fuerte Tesla cam.mp4 From: Phil Sheridan <psheridan00@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 1:42 PM To: Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: 3/18/25 city council meeting lane reconfiguration on El Fuerte Hello, I am emailing to provide feedback on the recent lane reconfiguration on El Fuerte, eliminating the second lane in both directions between Palomar Airport rd. and Alga rd. I read elsewhere the reasoning behind this decision, that the thought was the road should be consistent with the single lane style north of Palomar and the hope that this would decrease speeding on the road. As a resident of this neighborhood for 2 decades who uses this road several times a day, I am at a loss that anyone thought this was a good idea. Speeding isn't really a problem on this stretch of road. It's just under 2 miles between Palomar and Alga, and there are 7 traffic lights and 2 stop signs on the route, plus it's a steep hill in both directions from Poinsettia. It is however a heavily trafficked road. Unlike El Fuerte on the north side of Palomar which is single lane and light commercial, this stretch has 3 schools and thousands of homes feeding off of it. It's also one of the more direct routes connecting Palomar and Alga, two other heavily trafficked roads. What this re-striping has done is cause back-ups and traffic jams, along with some incredibly unsafe driving now happening as people are confused and frustrated. I'm sure you know Pacific Ridge School is directly in the middle of all this. Parents queue up for several hundred yards in both directions about an hour each day for drop off and pick up. With 2 lanes it's not a problem, they rarely block lanes or intersections. Not anymore. While your intentions might have been in the right place, the results are pretty awful. I'm also pretty upset that tax dollars were used to build a road with 4 lanes, and now you have arbitrarily decided that taxpayers can only use 2 of those lanes. If the striping remains as it is, I suppose my tax dollars will be used to properly maintain those 2 closed lanes as the world's largest bike lane. I've enclosed a video from my front facing camera of my car around 3:00 on 3/12. Don't take my word for it. Watch as a city bus nearly crashes into a citizen. I didn't include the follow up clip where this extremely upset driver drove into the bike lane further up the road to flip the bird to the bus driver, causing both vehicles to stop in the middle of the road, but that did happen. Imagine if that bus had hit that car, or worse caused a chain reaction accident with the cars in the northbound lanes and us following behind. How much would that lawsuit have cost the taxpayers? Please do the right thing and restore this stretch of road to 2 lanes in both directions. It already has a very wide and safe bike lane in both directions, my wife and I bike it often. Thank you for your consideration. Phil Sheridan CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 90 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:35 AM City Clerk FW: Regarding El Fuerte From: Kim Turner <mattandkimmi@yahoo.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 3:20 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Regarding El Fuerte I have lived here for over 25 years and walk and drive El Fuerte almost everyday. I have children that bike to Bressi. I am OPPOSED to eliminating a lane to make it a bike lane! This is very dangerous and will cause a lot of traffic and confusion. Not only do the bikers have a lane, there are not that many bikers, definitely not enough to need an entire width of a car lane plus a bike lane, plus a trail that goes along side the road between Poinsettia all the way to Bressi Ranch. Pacific Ridge traffic spills onto that street and this will ha ult cars twice a day whether you go to the school or not. Many will cut into the bike lane to pass people and more likely to hurt a bike rider, than just giving them their lane they already have. Kim Turner 2906 Rancho Rio Chico Carlsbad CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 91 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:36 AM City Clerk FW: Carlsbad Board Agenda Item 11, March 18, 2025 El Furete and Rancho Pancho lane safety issues From: Sharon Lightholder <solightholder@me.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 3:56 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <Council@Carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Carlsbad Board Agenda Item 11, March 18, 2025 El Furete and Rancho Pancho lane safety issues To Board Members and Mr Kim: Earlier today, I expressed my concerns over the cun-ent striping in an email to Tom Frank. Now, I was advised that you, Mr. Kim, are the better contact point so let me share my concerns with both you and directly to the Board. These concerns are shared by many of my neighbors in the Rancho Carrillo HOA. There are two concerns that we would like to address as residents in Rancho Can-illo who use the Rancho Pancho -El Fuerte intersection as a main exit from our homes. We hope that corrective action is implemented soon, as the cun-ent one lane situation has substantially increased the risk of a collision at Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte and impedes traffic flow past the Pacific Ridge School in both the morning and afternoon as students arrive and depaii the school. a. To address immediate safety concerns, we need the prior two-lane northbound configuration on El Fuerte restored. Cars coming downhill (from Alga) regularly exceed the speed limit and pass this intersection at well above the posted limit. This was an issue raised during the hearings for the church which was built at that intersection. Despite some ticketing, frequent speeding continues as the hill is steep and the appropriate speed limit is easily exceeded. These speeding cars WERE channeled into the lane closest to the center line due to a well placed left turn lane entering Rancho Pancho. That turn lane pushed the through traffic against the center line, leaving the curb lane empty which provided some protection and a safer entry for those turning right/north from Rancho Pancho. Contributing to the risk, the cars speeding downhill are briefly hidden by a curve that reduces the line of sight to the south. The former lane configuration provided some level of protection that the cun-ent one-lane design has removed. That safer lane has been removed by the excessively wide bike lane. This con-ection needs to be a priority as the change has created a new hazardous condition. b. Additionally, there is a traffic choke point that blocks northbound traffic on El Fuerte at the Pacific Ridge School. The left turn lane into the Pacific Ridge School (Northbound on El Fuerte) is far too short for the number of cars stacked up twice daily waiting for the well-placed left turn light. As cars fill the left turn lane, the overflow clogs the lane closest to the center line, effectively reducing the traffic to one lane. An extension of the left turn lane would reduce or eliminate this daily choke point as they wait for the left turn light. Thank you for your time and consideration of these comments. Sharon Lightholder 2832 Via Conquistador 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 92 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:36 AM City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Lane Striping From: Robert Woelffer <rwoelffer@yahoo.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 4:05 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Lane Striping As residents of Rancho Carrillo HOA we would strongly recommend Option # 3, keeping 2 lanes each direction from Rancho Pancho to PAR. This is a key access for our community to Poinsettia, the Bressi Ranch commercial district and PAR. Reducing the number of lanes between Poinsettia and the Bressi Ranch commercial district is crucial for traffic flow. Many eastbound cars turn left from Poinsettia plus westbound traffic from the elementary school and our community turning right onto El Fuerte. The entry to Pacific Ridge further congests the roadway with backups several times a day at the light to turn left. With only one lane that will be a real problem. Cars would have to move right into the wide bike lane to get past which could be a dangerous situation. The city planners designed El Fuerte as a 4 lane connector roadway between major arteries based upon the expected traffic volumes. There must have been good projections for why this was designed that way. Are the traffic volumes far less than what was projected? It does not seem so with traffic as it is today. What is the advantage of reducing it to 2 lanes? Obviously it is not to provide additional bike lane width. Again, we recommend Option# 3, keeping 2 lanes in each direction. Robert & Barbara Woelffer 6138 Paseo Monona Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 93 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:36 AM City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Changes From: Rose Mary Moegling <rose.mary@moegling.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 5:12 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Changes John, As a resident off of El Fuerte who also has to do drop off and pick up of young children at the surrounding schools, I am not sure if you realize the negative impact your recent changes have made. I do not recall anyone in the surrounding neighborhoods who are directly impacted by these decisions being consulted. If we had been, we could have explained how important it is to have two lanes of traffic in both directions. As it is, with these changes I am seeing traffic jams on the street for the first time since I've lived here and disgruntled drivers are now driving where there used to be lanes. This change -made without collaboration with, consideration of, or notice to residents -has created a dangerous driving situation daily. If I could, I would avoid El Fuerte completely due to these new circumstances but again, I can't because I live here, work here and take my kids to school on this street. Please, put back the two lanes in each direction. This may have seemed like a good idea on paper but this is what happens when you don't get the voice of the customer when making decisions. Thank you, Rose Mary Moegling 714-206-1535 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 94 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 10:37 AM City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Road repairs -----Original Message----- From: Max Moegling <max@moegling.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 5:13 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Road repairs Dear Mr. Kim and Dear Council members, It is ridiculous that we as neighbors living in the surrounding streets in the Rancho Carrillo HOA had to live with the unproductive road construction for many months. This whole project appeared mismanaged as they were not finishing whatever digging project they were doing in a swift manner. Now since ever this additional hurdle of the new striping was put in place a few weeks ago, this whole situation is a total disaster. There is actually now a felt traffic jam. Especially from the church to the pacific ridge school. Nobody needs this bike lane anyhow. The wannabe Lance Armstrongs are driving in the car lane anyway (and that is an observation throughout Carlsbad on this note. This whole silly green striping (which is already worn out everywhere is a subject for another day of tax pay money waste). To sum, I kindly request to restore El fuerte to a two way road in each way as it was. Don't break something to make it worse and waste money in the progress. As a concerned citizen I will monitor the voting on this subject. Best regards Max Moegling CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 95 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:37 AM City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Restriping Project -Opinion From: Eduardo <edb@illumina.net> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 5:19 PM To: jim.kim@carlsbadca.gov; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Restriping Project -Opinion As residents who have lived on Rancho Pancho for twenty-two years, we are compelled to offer our opinions regarding the restriping of El Fuerte Street. This is not a complicated topic, but realities addressing pros and cons are essential if reasonable, rational decisions are to be made. Of the three options being discussed, Option 3 is the most reasonable choice. It offers the most functional movement of the many cars and trucks using the road. Option 2 would pointlessly reduce lane width to accommodate imagined numbers of bikes, motorized or not. Additionally, there are a sufficient number of larger vehicles daily to justify the 11-foot-wide lanes. Carlsbad has far more vehicles now that large numbers of multifamily housing are being built. Narrower roads are not rational given the increase of traffic on Poinsettia and Palomar Airport Road; two main roadways that are fed by El Fuerte. If the Council believes the road between Loker and Faraday must be reduced to one lane, then the vehicle lanes should be maintained at the appropriate 11-foot width for the entire length of the street. Thank you for considering our opinions in this matter. Edward Bauman and Terri Novak 2810 Rancho Pancho, Carlsbad CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 96 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 10:38 AM City Clerk To: Subject: FW: Concerns re: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: Michelle Schneider <michellescc@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 8:10 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: FW: Concerns re: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project Dear Mr. Kim and Carlsbad Council Members, I am writing to you to express my concerns about the new lane markings on El Fuerte Street, particularly along the section between Bressi Ranch Road and Poinsettia. While I understand and appreciate the need to create a safer environment for cyclists traveling along El Fuerte, as a long-time resident of the nearby Rancho Carrillo Community and as a parent of an 11th grader at Pacific Ridge School, I am very familiar with the potential dangers associated with reducing traffic down to one lane in each direction. I'm sure you are getting plenty of feedback about this project, so I'll be brief in expressing my most pressing concerns: • Pacific Ridge School's two driveways along El Fuerte between Bressi Ranch Road and Poinsettia are heavily used twice a day by both parents and new/inexperienced drivers at various times throughout the week due to school, sports, and other on-campus activities. It should also be noted that the school has no alternate entrance/exit routes for vehicles and that there was a serious accident involving a student exiting the school in the past few years. • This stretch of El Fuerte is located on a hill, resulting in high downhill speeds for cars heading south and creating a natural hazard for anyone attempting to exit the school. • To make matters worse, this stretch of El Fuerte is also curved, creating a significant blind spot for drivers heading south down the hill and anyone attempting to exit Pacific Ridge. • The natural backup of cars lined up to enter and exit the school twice a day five days a week creates an additional hazard if there isn't a second lane available for thru-traffic to access. With these factors in mind, I sincerely hope that your team will consider an option that allows for two vehicle traffic lanes in each direction. If you would like to discuss my concerns in more detail, please feel free to contact me at (760) 419-2543. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Michelle Schneider 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 97 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:39 AM City Clerk FW: Lane Chaos on El Fuerte From: Valorie Medina <mamoka3@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 12:03 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Lane Chaos on El Fuerte > > I am writing to express my concerns and dismay regarding the ridiculous changes made to the traffic lanes on El Fuerte. First and foremost are the questions why? Why in the world would the city remove an entire lane of traffic from use, and then make the lane that remains too narrow to stay in? Why was the seldom used bike lane made larger? Why were we left with so many lines all over the road, drivers could not figure out where they were supposed to be? Total chaos! > > I live on Rancho Pancho and exit my neighborhood turning right onto El Fuerte. It has always been challenging because the cars driving north are coming downhill, around a blind curve and are often not seen until we pull out from Rancho Pancho. The two lanes allowed us to turn into the close lane so that cars coming down the hill could remain in the far lane. I have witnessed many close calls. Now that there is only one lane, it's just a matter of time before there is an accident. > > I would like to know who made this decision, what was the reason behind it, and why the community was not informed. In my opinion, and that of many of my neighbors, this is a huge waste of taxpayers' hard earned money and city resources. It was completely unnecessary. > > I understand El Fuerte is supposed to be re-paved and re-lined. In the best interest of our community, and as a matter of safety, the lanes should be returned to the way they were originally. > > Thank you, > > Valorie Medina > > Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 98 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: City Clerk Subject: RE: El Fuerte ----------Forwarded message--------- From: betty valentine <bjvaz511@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Mar 15, 2025 at 7:41 AM Subject: El Fuerte To: <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> MY VOTE IS FOR OPTION 3!!! I believe the city needs to reconsider the changes being made to El Fuerte! I have only lived here since 2019 but in all of my travels up to the shopping center in Bressi Ranch (almost on a daily basis) I have never seen a bicyclist on El Fuerte. I do not understand the rationale behind the removal of a lane in both directions, and the current restriping. This makes no sense at all. Somebody didn't do their homework! Please reconsider your actions! Again, I VOTE FOR OPTION THREE!!! Betty Valentine 2986 Via Conquistador CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 99 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 10:39 AM City Clerk Subject: FW: EL FUERTE LANE CONFIGURATION REQUEST FOR COMMENT From: Joseph Gagliardi <josephgagliardi95@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 1:29 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Lori Gagliardi <2thta1k7542@gmail.com> Subject: EL FUERTE LANE CONFIGURATION REQUEST FOR COMMENT The purpose of this email is to request that the lanes and striping on N/B El Fuerte (south of Alga) be restored to the previous 2 lane configuration. We frequently travel from our home at 2872 Via Conquistador, Carlsbad via Rancho Panco to N/B El Fuerte. The N/B traffic from Alga north is usually travelling at speeds between 40 and 50 mph. Taking a right turn from Rancho Pancho to N/B El Fuerte, there exists an almost blind curve to the south of Rancho Pancho. With cars travelling N/B El Fuerte at the speeds indicated, under the new single lane configuration, upon turning right, N/B cars are quickly upon you. Under the old configuration, turning N/B (from Rancho Pancho) into a dedicated lane from N/B El Fuerte traffic allowed for a safe transition for those vehicles onto El Fuerte. If the change (single lane) remains in place, I believe that public traffic safety will be negatively impacted. Thank you for your consideration. Joseph F. Gagliardi, LASO Captain (Retired) 2872 Via Conquistador, Carlsbad, Ca 92009 Cell 909 974-8149 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 100 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: City Clerk Subject: RE: El Fuerte Road changes at Poinsettia ----------Forwarded message--------- From: Asha Nuthi <ashanuthi@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Mar 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM Subject: El Fuerte Road changes at Poinsettia To: <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Dear Mr. Kim and Carlsbad Council Members, I am writing to you to express my concerns about the new lane marl<ings on El Fuerte Street, particularly along the section between Bressi Ranch Road and Poinsettia. While I understand and appreciate the need to create a safer environment for cyclists traveling along El Fuerte, as a long-time resident of the nearby Rancho Carrillo Community and as a parent of an 11th grader at Pacific Ridge School, I am very familiar with the potential dangers associated with reducing traffic down to one lane in each direction. I'm sure you are getting plenty of feedback about this project, so I'll be brief in expressing my most pressing concerns: • Pacific Ridge School's two driveways along El Fuerte between Bressi Ranch Road and Poinsettia are heavily used twice a day by both parents and new/inexperienced drivers at various times throughout the week due to school, sports, and other on-campus activities. It should also be noted that the school has no alternate entrance/exit routes for vehicles and that there was a serious accident involving a student exiting the school in the past few years. • This stretch of El Fuerte is located on a hill, resulting in high downhill speeds for cars heading south and creating a natural hazard for anyone attempting to exit the school. • To make matters worse, this stretch of El Fuerte is also curved, creating a significant blind spot for drivers heading south down the hill and anyone attempting to exit Pacific Ridge. • The natural backup of cars lined up to enter and exit the school twice a day five days a week creates an additional hazard if there isn't a second lane available for thru-traffic to access. With these factors in mind, I sincerely hope that your team will consider an option that allows for two vehicle traffic lanes in each direction. If you would like to discuss my concerns in more detail, please feel free to contact me at (256)656-0697. The safety of our new inexperienced drivers is of utmost importance to us parents, a student had a rollover accident leaving pacific ridge school to enter El Fuerte few years ago, this could have been fatal because of the high speeds. Thank you for your consideration. Asha Nuthi, CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i afe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 101 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:40 AM City Clerk FW: Concerns Regarding Planned Restriping of El Fuerte -Maintaining Existing Lane Configuration From: Craig Womack <craigdwomack@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 1:00 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Concerns Regarding Planned Restriping of El Fuerte -Maintaining Existing Lane Configuration Dear CityTraffic Engineer John Kim, Mayor Keith Blackburn, and Members of the Carlsbad City Council, As an original homeowner in Rancho Carrillo, I am writing to express my strong concerns regarding the planned restriping and lane reconfiguration of El Fuerte street, specifically the proposal to reduce or narrow the existing travel lanes. I urge you to reconsider these plans and instead implement Option 3, which restores the street striping to its original configuration. For many years, El Fuerte has functioned effectively with two vehicle through-lanes in each direction and 11-foot lane widths. This configuration has proven safe and efficient for the diverse range of traffic that utilizes the street. Having resided in Rancho Carrillo since its inception, I have observed that El Fuerte primarily serves the adjoining residences, schools, shopping center and businesses as a connector for work vehicles, delivery trucks, and personal vehicles, with relatively infrequent bicycle traffic. While I fully support the City of Carlsbad's commitment to enhancing bicycle safety, I believe that El Fuerte is an inappropriate location for the proposed lane reduction. The current traffic patterns and the nature of the vehicles that frequent this street suggest that narrowing the lanes would likely lead to increased congestion, potential safety hazards for larger vehicles, and minimal benefit for cyclists. Additionally, since the "temporary" reconfiguration of a reduction to one travel lane I have observed vehicles passing slower vehicles using the "old" travel lane. I feel this will most likely continue putting bicyclists or anyone using that area in greater danger. Option 3, restoring the original striping, is the best choice as it would maintain the existing traffic flow and ensure the continued safety and efficiency of El Fuerte for its primary users. This option would also avoid the potential negative impacts associated with lane reduction, such as increased congestion and potential accidents. I understand the importance of balancing the needs of all road users, and I believe that alternative solutions for bicycle safety should be explored in areas more conducive to bicycle traffic. I kindly request that you prioritize the preservation of the existing lane configuration on El Fuerte, ensuring the continued safety and efficiency of this vital thoroughfare for the residents of Rancho Carrillo and the wider Carlsbad community. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 102 of 212 Sincerely, Craig Womack 2802 Rancho Pancho 760-803-4505 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 103 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 10:40 AM City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: Elizabeth Davis <e1izabedavis7793@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 4:25 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project Dear Mr. Kim and Carlsbad City Council Members, I would like to respectfully request that the City of Carlsbad scrap the plans to eliminate a vehicle lane on El Fuerte Street and restore 2 vehicle lanes in each direction with 11-foot lane width for the entire length of the street. Restoring 2 lanes for the entire length or the road but reducing the lane width to 10 feet would also be acceptable. I have lived in Rancho Carrillo since 1999. Traffic conditions on El Fuerte have changed dramatically during this time. I am sure you have done your traffic counts and studies. I use the El Fuerte exit almost exclusively when leaving the neighborhood. Cars traveling north on El Fuerte from Alga come flying down the hill. Between the speed of the oncoming cars and the limited sightline due to the curves on El Fuerte, turning north on El Fuerte from Rancho Pancho can be dangerous, but having the second lane makes it less so, allowing an oncoming northbound car to go around a car turning pnto El Fuerte. I strongly urge you to restore 2 lanes on El Fuerte. Sincerely, Elizabeth Davis 2831 Via Conquistador Carlsbad CA 92009 cell: 619-993-7355 email: elizabedavis7793@sbcglobal.net CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 104 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 10:41 AM City Clerk Subject: FW: City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: John D Clark <JDClark@datadivider.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 5:40 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: FW: City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project Hi John Kim, As a local resident and regular user of El Fuerte, and with reference to the attached notification from our HOA, I would like to strongly record my objection to the current restriping project on El Fuerte. With the stated objective of improving traffic flow, the proposed changes seem to aimed at completely the opposite result. What seems to be the LEAST sensible change, is the reduction to one lane on the north bound section between Poinsettia and Bressi Ranch Way. One lane of this section is already blocked for, about an hour, twice a day by school traffic waiting to tum left. Reducing this section to a single lane would produce nothing but congestion. There are multiple other pointless, or even dangerous changes partly already partly restriped but I'm sure many other complainers will have itemized them for you. OPTION 3 therefore, in the attached email, would seem to be the ONLY option that would improve traffic flow and minimize multiple dangerous sections of the restriping plan. Regards, John John Clark 2870 Rancho Cortes, Carlsbad, CA 92009 408 655 0046 From: Rancho Carrillo Master Association [mailto:ranchocarrillo@engage.goenumerate.com] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 2:52 PM To: John D Clark Subject: City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 105 of 212 !l1I !l1I I I Posted by Community Director (Jackie Jimenez) on Mar 14, 2025 2:51 pm City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project Rancho Carrillo residents in the villages of Califia, Estancia, Brasado, Benicia, Haciendas and other residents that routinely use Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte street who are concerned about the elimination of one of the car lanes on El Fuerte may want to provide input on this project before any changes are finalized. Attached is the Agenda for the City Council's Regular meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting (in person or virtually) and/or to provide their concerns in writing to John Kim who is the City Traffic Engineer at iohn.kim@carlsbadca.gov and council@carlsbadca.gov with your concerns. Written concerns should be submitted today or ASAP to ensure that the City Council has a chance to read all of them before their meeting next Tuesday. Below are the details of the project; What's happening on El Fuerte Street? The work on El Fuerte Street, from Faraday Avenue to iust south of Rancho Pancho, is part of a project to resurface streets throughout Carlsbad to take care 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 106 of 212 of cracks and potholes and attempt to improve traffic flow With the new lane markings from the church on the corner of Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte one car lane has been replaced by a second huge bike lane in addition to the bike lane that was already there The city is finalizing replacing a car lane on El Fuerte with an oversize bike lane replacing the old bike lane going up and down El Fuerte The former two lanes approaching Poinsettia allowed for a smooth 2 lane traffic flow up and down the hill the hill to the next traffic light at Poinsettia The Pacific Ridge School entrance and second exit which is heavily used twice a day is also impacted by this proposed change What's next? The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18th. In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. The three options are as follows: • Option 3 is to restore the striping to the way it was before, including two vehicle through-lanes in each 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 107 of 212 direction and the old 11-foot lane widths for the entire length of the street. • Option 2 would restore the two lanes but still narrow the lanes to 10 feet for the entire length of the street. • Option 1 is the same as Option 2 with its 10-foot wide lanes, except the street also would be reduced to one lane in each direction at its northern end--between Loker Avenue and Faraday Avenue." Residents should include their option preference listed above in their written response to the City Traffic Engineer, John Kim. Additional information on this project can be found by visiting the City of Carlsbad's website at www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/streets- traffic. More images DOWNLOAD ATTACHMENT (PDF) 4 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 108 of 212 Walters Plus is a community communication platform provided to your Association by Walters Management in partnership with Nabr Network. If you do not wish to receive these notifications, please update your notification preferences. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 5 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 109 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:41 AM City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: Sally Winston-Stark <sallyws19@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 7:47 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Sally Winston-Stark <sallyws@outlook.com> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project I thinl< Option 2 would be a good compromise. 2 lanes are necessary on this street that gets busy and will give a little wider bil<e lane. Thanl<you Sally winston-Starl< 2836 Via Conquistador From: Rancho Carrillo Master Association <ranchocarrillo@engage.goenumerate.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 2:52 PM To: sallyws19@gmail.com <sa11yws19@gmail.com> Subject: City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowingi Project 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 110 of 212 Iii 1111 I I Posted by Community Director (Jackie Jimenez) on Mar 14, 2025 2:51 pm City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 111 of 212 Rancho Carrillo residents in the villages of Califia, Estancia, Brasado, Benicia, Haciendas and other residents that routinely use Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte street who are concerned about the elimination of one of the car lanes on El Fuerte may want to provide input on this project before any changes are finalized. Attached is the Agenda for the City Council's Regular meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting (in person or virtually) and/or to provide their concerns in writing to John Kim who is the City Traffic Engineer at iohn.kim@carlsbadca.gov and council@carlsbadca.gov with your concerns. Written concerns should be submitted today or ASAP to ensure that the City Council has a chance to read all of them before their meeting next Tuesday. Below are the details of the project; What's happening on El Fuerte Street? The work on El Fuerte Street, from Faraday Avenue to iust south of Rancho Pancho, is part of a project to resurface streets throughout Carlsbad to take care of cracks and potholes and attempt to improve traffic flow With the new lane markings from the church on the corner of Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte one car lane has been replaced by a second huge bike lane in addition to the bike lane that was already there The city is finalizing replacing a car lane on El Fuerte with an oversize bike lane replacing the old bike lane going up and down El Fuerte The former two lanes approaching Poinsettia allowed for a smooth 2 lane traffic flow up and down the hill the hill to the 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 112 of 212 next traffic light at Poinsettia The Pacific Ridge School entrance and second exit which is heavily used twice a day is also impacted by this proposed change What's next? The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18th. In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. The three options are as follows: • Option 3 is to restore the striping to the way it was before, including two vehicle through-lanes in each direction and the old 11-foot lane widths for the entire length of the street. • Option 2 would restore the two lanes but still narrow the lanes to 10 feet for the entire length of the street. • Option 1 is the same as Option 2 with its 10-foot wide lanes, except the street also would be reduced to one lane in each direction at its northern end--between Loker Avenue and Faraday Avenue." Residents should include their option preference listed above in their written response to the City Traffic Engineer, John Kim. Additional information on this project can be found by visiting the City of Carlsbad's website at www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/streets-traffic. 4 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 113 of 212 More images DOWNLOAD ATTACHMENT (PDF) Walters Plus is a community communication platform provided to your Association by Walters Management in partnership with Nabr Network. If you do not wish to receive these notifications, please update your notification preferences. 5 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 114 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 10:41 AM City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Street Concerns From: A Jen <eataguava@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 9:12 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Street Concerns Hello, I am a Rancho Carillo resident who uses El Fuerte street every day, multiple times a day. As both a biker, and a driver, I'd like to express my concern over the elimination of one of the car lanes. Having only one lane has actually created more congestion in this area that seems more dangerous for bikers and drivers. It also is just excessive as a biker. What I had before was fine. Please choose option 3! • Option 3 is to restore the striping to the way it was before, including two vehicle through-lanes in each direction and the old 11-foot lane widths for the entire length of the street. Thank you, Athena-Rose Jennings CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 115 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 10:41 AM City Clerk FW: Option 3 El Fuerte From: Andres Mosqueda <andres.a.mosqueda@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 9:26 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Option 3 El Fuerte H·1 I. As a Rancho Carillo resident who frequents El Fuerte street daily, I choose option 3, please restore it to how it was before. Thank you, Andres CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 116 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11:17 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Project From: Charles Stark <cmstark27@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 11:12 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Project I believe Option 2 would be the best approach. In my opinion, 2 lanes are necessary for the smooth flow of traffic on El Fuerte. It also provides a little wider bike lane. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Charles M. Stark CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 117 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11:17 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: Temp lining El Fuerte from Rancho Pancho to Poinsettia From: MAUREEN SHANAHAN <moshanahan@aol.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 8:14 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Temp lining El Fuerte from Rancho Pancho to Poinsettia Dear sir: I am so sorry that I am out of town and cannot attend the meeting on the 18th. Please read this and accept the heartfelt information I include for my husband and myself. When we moved into Rancho Carrillo in 2020 we immediately noted and reported the dangerous intersection at El Fuerte and Rancho Pancho. We reiterated this concern at least three times over the next few years. We were told there could NOT be another traffic light or stop sign at "our" intersection because of its proximity to the light at the next intersection at El Fuerte and Poinsettia. Please note, however, that the next intersection northward along El Fuerte into the Bressi Ranch neighborhood DID qualify for a traffic light!!! I winder why that was allowed but OURS was NOT. We and our neighbors discussed this intersection a number of times an all came to the conclusion that the safest way to turn North onto El Fuerte from Rancho Pancho was to slide into the far right lane and then change lanes if safe. It has been noted and reported that cars descending the hill on El Fuerte toward Poinsettia are FREQUENTLY exceeding the 45 mph speed limit. It is actually difficult to keep below the speed limit because of the steep slope of the hill. This makes the "requirement" of turning into the right lane a matter of utmost safety. Once we have acquired El Fuerte we can move into the lane we desire when safe This is the safety habit most of my neighbors have applied to entering El Fuerte from Rancho Pancho. Note AGAIN that Carlsbad Traffic has repeatedly denied our request for a traffic light at this intersection. With the new TEMPORARY lining you have eliminated our SAFE method of entering onto El Fuerte. A perfect example of this horrible scenario occurred March 7 as I was going shopping. The traffic to the uphill side of El Fuerte was absolutely clear from my vantage point coming out onto El Fuerte from Rancho Pancho. I pulled out into the temporarily lined lane and within seconds was almost rear-ended. The SUV that almost hit me then swerved along my right ride(in the bike lane) and proceeded to make rude gestures and shout at me. I was very fearful of what he might do next but I got into the left lane and he got into to lane to proceed up El Fuerte. As we waited for the light to change he continued to shout and gesture to me. I almost called 911 for assistance as I truly was alarmed for my safety. The man however stayed in his car and as the light changed we went our separate ways. I can only imagine that the current lining of this intersection will allow more and more of these incidents which may escalate into actual assault and battery. I would like to AGAIN request a traffic light or stop sign at the intersection in question. I cannot count the ALMOST accidents at this intersection that have only been avoided because of defensive driving techniques and GOOD LUCK. Sincerely, Maureen O Shanahan 2839 Via Conquistador Carlsbad CA 92009 760-505-6322 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 118 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11:18 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte proposed changes From: David Bloch <davidbloch18@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 11:06 AM To: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte proposed changes Dear Mr. Kim - My wife and I live in Rancho Carrillo, close to the area of El Fuerte in question, and drive there frequently. Rather than reiterate what I hope many others have indicated to you about the proposed changes to El Fuerte, I would like to simply state that what is being proposed is, in my opinion, almost absurd. The changes would, I think, create dangerous driving conditions, on top of conditions being made inconvenient for drivers. Reducing to one lane the section of El Fuerte between Poincietta and Bressi Ranch Way would impede traffic flow, rather than improve it. What is being proposed would have the opposite effect of what is, or should be, desired. What I, and it seems many others, would like to see is the striping restored to the way it was, with two lanes, that are the usual width (11 '?), in each direction. As my wife and I are currently in Ecuador; we will be unable to attend the meeting scheduled for March 18 at 5 PM, to make our opinions and sentiments known in person. Please consider restriping El Fuerte to the way it was. Thank you for your consideration of my opinion and sentiments regarding this matter. David Bloch 2863 Rancho Cortes, Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 119 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :19 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Narrowing -----Original Message----- From: Hilary Pouchak <hpouchak@earthlink.net> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 7:19 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Narrowing Dear John Kim, I am a long time resident living on Rancho Pancho and routinely enter onto El Fuerte at that intersection. Turning right (northbound) onto El Fuerte requires a dual vehicle lane to safely accelerate and avoid high speed traffic coming down the hill from Aviara. The current temporary lane elimination forces traffic to merge together immediately without any buffer zone. Naturally high speed downhill traffic quickly overtakes incoming Rancho Pancho traffic which is obviously dangerous and maddening for both drivers. Also, reverse direction traffic turning from southbound El Fuerte onto Rancho Pancho is at again at risk from high speed downhill traffic from Aviara. Frankly, that intersection should have a traffic signal or 4-way stop the same as an uphill intersection at Cacatua St. to slow downhill traffic speeds. Of the three options suggested, I would prefer adoption of Option 1. Thank you for listening! Hilary Pouchak 2902 Rancho Pancho Carlsbad, CA 760-603-8690 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 120 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :19 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: John D Clark <JDClark@datadivider.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 5:40 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: FW: City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project Hi John Kim, As a local resident and regular user of El Fue1ie, and with reference to the attached notification from our HOA, I would like to strongly record my objection to the cunent restriping project on El Fue1ie. With the stated objective of improving traffic flow, the proposed changes seem to aimed at completely the opposite result. What seems to be the LEAST sensible change, is the reduction to one lane on the north bound section between Poinsettia and Bressi Ranch Way. One lane ofthis section is already blocked for, about an hour, twice a day by school traffic waiting to turn left. Reducing this section to a single lane would produce nothing but congestion. There are multiple other pointless, or even dangerous changes partly already paiily restriped but I'm sure many other complainers will have itemized them for you. OPTION 3 therefore, in the attached email, would seem to be the ONLY option that would improve traffic flow and minimize multiple dangerous sections of the restriping plan. Regards, John John Clark 2870 Rancho Cortes, Carlsbad, CA 92009 408 655 0046 From: Rancho Carrillo Master Association [mailto:ranchocarrillo@engage.goenumerate.com] Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 2:52 PM To: John D Clark Subject: City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project (Wan(f~rfl//fl..:J Rancho Carrillo ~a~ter =!..~-~-oo .~ -p Assoc1at1on 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 121 of 212 Association News Posted by Community Director (Jackie Jimenez) on Mar 14, 2025 2:51 pm City Update: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project Rancho Carrillo residents in the villages of Califia, Estancia, Brasado, Benicia, Haciendas and other residents that routinely use Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte street who are concerned about the elimination of one of the car lanes on El Fuerte may want to provide input on this project before any changes are finalized. Attached is the Agenda for the City Council's Regular meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting (in person or virtually) and/or to provide their concerns in writing to John Kim who is the City Traffic Engineer at iohn.kim@carlsbadca.gov and council@carlsbadca.gov with your concerns. Written concerns should be submitted today or ASAP to ensure that the City Council has a chance to read all of them before their meeting next Tuesday. Below are the details of the project; What's happening on El Fuerte Street? The work on El Fuerte Street, from Faraday Avenue to iust south of Rancho Pancho, is part of a project to resurface streets throughout Carlsbad to take care 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 122 of 212 of cracks and potholes and attempt to improve traffic flow With the new lane markings from the church on the corner of Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte one car lane has been replaced by a second huge bike lane in addition to the bike lane that was already there The city is finalizing replacing a car lane on El Fuerte with an oversize bike lane replacing the old bike lane going up and down El Fuerte The former two lanes approaching Poinsettia allowed for a smooth 2 lane traffic flow up and down the hill the hill to the next traffic light at Poinsettia The Pacific Ridge School entrance and second exit which is heavily used twice a day is also impacted by this proposed change What's next? The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18th. In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. The three options are as follows: • Option 3 is to restore the striping to the way it was before, including two vehicle through-lanes in each 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 123 of 212 direction and the old 11-foot lane widths for the entire length of the street. • Option 2 would restore the two lanes but still narrow the lanes to 10 feet for the entire length of the street. • Option 1 is the same as Option 2 with its 10-foot wide lanes, except the street also would be reduced to one lane in each direction at its northern end--between Loker Avenue and Faraday Avenue." Residents should include their option preference listed above in their written response to the City Traffic Engineer, John Kim. Additional information on this project can be found by visiting the City of Carlsbad's website at www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/streets- traffic. More images DOWNLOAD ATTACHMENT (PDF) ACCESS THE NETWORK 4 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 124 of 212 Walters Plus is a community communication platform provided to your Association by Walters Management in partnership with Nabr Network. If you do not wish to receive these notifications, please update your notification preferences. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless 5 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 125 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 202511:19 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte lane changes From: KC Loewen <whofan@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 2:58 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; counsil@carlsbadca.gov Subject: El Fuerte lane changes Hello, I am among those who are very unhappy with the new lane changes along El Fuerte. There is considerable automobile traffic and very little bike traffic, probably due to how steep it is. It is now down to one lane almost all the way to bressi ranch from unicorno. There seems to be no reason behind this change. I'm all for going with option two which would allow slightly larger bike lanes but still keeping the two car lanes. Please stripe it back to two lanes ASAP. I vote for: Option 2 would restore the two lanes but still narrow the lanes to 1 O feet for the entire length of the street. KC Loewen CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 126 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :20 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: jeffrey wolff <xhilacom@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 11:24 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project John, Option 3 (restoring the previous striping) is recommended, as Options 1 and 2 would cause significant congestion, leading to backups along the entire street at the Pacific Ridge School entrance during dismissal times. Thanks, Jeffrey CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 127 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11:20 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Road changes at Poinsettia From: Asha Nuthi <ashanuthi@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 5:00 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Road changes at Poinsettia Dear Mr. Kim and Carlsbad Council Members, I am writing to you to express my concerns about the new lane markings on El Fuerte Street, particularly along the section between Bressi Ranch Road and Poinsettia. While I understand and appreciate the need to create a safer environment for cyclists traveling along El Fuerte, as a long-time resident of the nearby Rancho Carrillo Community and as a parent of an 11th grader at Pacific Ridge School, I am very familiar with the potential dangers associated with reducing traffic down to one lane in each direction. I'm sure you are getting plenty of feedback about this project, so I'll be brief in expressing my most pressing concerns: • Pacific Ridge School's two driveways along El Fuerte between Bressi Ranch Road and Poinsettia are heavily used twice a day by both parents and new/inexperienced drivers at various times throughout the week due to school, sports, and other on-campus activities. It should also be noted that the school has no alternate entrance/exit routes for vehicles and that there was a serious accident involving a student exiting the school in the past few years. • This stretch of El Fuerte is located on a hill, resulting in high downhill speeds for cars heading south and creating a natural hazard for anyone attempting to exit the school. • To make matters worse, this stretch of El Fuerte is also curved, creating a significant blind spot for drivers heading south down the hill and anyone attempting to exit Pacific Ridge. • The natural backup of cars lined up to enter and exit the school twice a day five days a week creates an additional hazard if there isn't a second lane available for thru-traffic to access. With these factors in mind, I sincerely hope that your team will consider an option that allows for two vehicle traffic lanes in each direction. If you would like to discuss my concerns in more detail, please feel free to contact me at (256)656-0697. The safety of our new inexperienced drivers is of utmost importance to us parents, a student had a rollover accident leaving pacific ridge school to enter El Fuerte few years ago, this could have been fatal because of the high speeds. Thank you for your consideration. Asha Nuthi, CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 128 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11:21 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lanes From: bmnicks <bmnicks@att.net> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 9:34 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lanes We live in this area .... regularly use El Fuerte .... It will be a bigger traffic flow hazard to decrease the traffic lanes in this area and increase the size of the bike lanes ... There are far more motor vehicles than bikes ... yes that creates more awareness for all drivers and bike riders .. in our perspective and experience .... trying to slow down traffic by creating less space is more hazardous than creating smooth passage ... reduction doesn't feel ir seem to be the answer. Just like the speed humps, traffic lanes like the ones on Gateway Road. When I travel around Carlsbad it looks like a traffic control experiment ... from all the various approaches the city has installed around Carlsbad. We as residents of Carlsbad ARE NOT experiments ... we are the tax payers who are paying for what feels like "trials" And it appears to me that they are NOT working well. Do I have an answer ... not quite sure but the what has been tried and is now being considered as given from 3 choices, certainly doesn't feel like the answer/s .... just another experiment. You could just randomly put speed humps (such as the ones on Corintia St) likely less costly and easier ... However, as a 37 year resident on Corintia and a home owner with one those humps in front of their home (basically) the only resident on Corintia with it in front of their home .... We Can tell you .. they really haven't changed the speed or flow of motor vehicles, let alone bikers that much .... every day several times a day ... we hear and see vehicles going over these things at a speed where it sounds and looks they are bottoming out ... and that is safe .. right? Bike riders.(kids mostly} use them like a ramp to become airborne ... and that's safe ... right? So we vote and believe the el Fuerte project wisest choices presented by council are: 1st choice be #1 2nd choice be #2 Than I< you Marilyn & Benjamin Nicholas 671 O Corintia St Carlsbad 92009 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 129 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :21 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte lane elimination -----Original Message----- From: Char Comcast <charlevans@comcast.net> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 8:48 AM To: counsil@carlsbadca.gov Cc: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte lane elimination This email is regarding the re-stripping on El Fuerte and Poinsettia area of Carlsbad. My first question is "WHY". Why would you change something that works perfectly and change it. 1. Have there been accidents? No. I have never heard of any. 2. Is there not room for two lanes any more. No. The lanes are already there. 3. Is there not a bike lane. No. There is one. (Even though few bikes ride the steep hills). Points to consider: 3 schools in the immediate area create traffic mornings and afternoons. One being a high school with young drivers who are distracted. They need all the room they can get. Narrow lanes are a hazard. The lane at El Fuerte coming down the hill from the high school at Greenhaven "doesn't even have a center divider" between the turn lane and the down hill lane. I was there the other day when an Amazon truck was in the left turn lane to the housing on Greenhaven and the cars in the down hill lane had to move over to not have a head on crash with the truck. Absolutely "astounding" that you would make the lanes smaller when there is plenty of room to make them wider or leave them the same. Turning "right" out of housing on Rancho Pancho and looking up the hill to see if cars are coming down the hill (by the way they are never going the speed limit . .45) it is impossible to see around the bend in the hill. By the time you decide to go right the cars are on your bumper and either have to go around you or hit you. There "absolutely" needs to be two lanes there. There are many other problems with the decrease/size of lanes but you get the picture so I don't need to go on. Just leave the lanes the way they were. My neighbors and I agree .... we want you to leave the street the way it was. Please stick with OPTION 3 and leave the street the same. There is also "no cost" to this proposal ! ! Sent from my iPad 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 130 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :21 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: Re 3/18/2025 City Council meeting to discuss options to restripe El Fuerte Street From: Linda Sinclair <lindajsinclair@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 8:27 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Re 3/18/2025 City Council meeting to discuss options to restripe El Fuerte Street I strongly urge the City Council to adopt the Option 3 Resolution to return the road configuration to what it was before this recent debacle. I am a Carlsbad resident who has lived in the Rancho Carrillo development for 24 years. I frequently drive on El Fuerte between Poinsettia and Palomar Airport Road, and oftentimes drive on El Fuerte between Alga Road and Poinsettia. I was puzzled by the restriping done on El Fuerte south of Alga Road a few years ago that provides only a single lane each direction on what is a very wide street, but assume it was done that way because vehicles parl< along the street. At least that seems to mal<e some sense. The recent restriping worl< on El Fuerte (where no street parking is permitted) that reduces traffic to a single lane between Poinsettia and Palomar Airport Road, however, mal<es no sense, creates hazardous conditions for everyone using the road, especially during school picl< up & drop off at Pacific Ridge School, and rush hour, and is opposed by residents who actually use the road. I am vehemently opposed to this restriping and so-called "lane diet." Linda Sinclair Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 131 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :21 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: Lane marking on El Fuerte -----Original Message----- From: Michele Miholich <mbulte@yahoo.com> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 8:23 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Lane marking on El Fuerte I say stay with option 3. Keep the same lanes as they were originally. We drove through there yesterday and it was very confusing. Why a second wider bike lane??? Don't see the need for it. I saw people driving in that" new" bike lane because it was not obvious why it was no longer a second car lane. I'm a Carlsbad resident and say stay with option 3. ! ! ! Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 132 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :21 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte From: betty valentine <bjvaz511@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 7:41 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte MY VOTE IS FOR OPTION 3!!! I believe the city needs to reconsider the changes being made to El Fuerte! I have only lived here since 2019 but in all of my travels up to the shopping center in Bressi Ranch (almost on a daily basis) I have never seen a bicyclist on El Fuerte. I do not understand the rationale behind the removal of a lane in both directions, and the current restriping. This makes no sense at all. Somebody didn't do their homework! Please reconsider your actions! Again, I VOTE FOR OPTION THREE!!! Betty Valentine 2986 Via Conquistador CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 133 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :22 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane From: Craig Vaughn <vaughncb@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 6:45 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Hi Mr. Kim, I live on Rancho Pancho and use El Fuerte every day as a driver and as a bicyclist. I bike from Rancho Pancho to Poinsettia. Before the change there was a bike line on the southbound side of the of the road. It was fine. I had to go from that bike line to the left lane to make a left on Poinsettia, but this was also fine before. Now there is a wider bike line, which is nice, but strangely enough, it is not easier to go over to the left lane. The striped area on the left of the bike line still must be crossed, and there are always cars there. It seems a waste of good road surface. I never ride up El Fuerte northbound because the hill is so steep. As a driver, I go both ways on El Fuerte. It was easier to make a right turn from Rancho Pancho onto El Fuerte where there were two lanes because most cars were going south on El Fuerte in the left lane. Having the two lanes allowed me to make the right onto El Fuerte then gave me time to merge into the left lane or even to the far-left lane. Crossing Poinsettia, travelling north, the former 2 lanes were also better than one. Going south from Palomar Airport, the 2 lanes were better, especially with the school traffic clogging the right lane. The 2 lanes + left turn lane at Poinsettia was also a good set up as it allowed a smooth flow of traffic up El Fuerte. So, in summary, I liked the road as it was. I think going to on lane on either side of Poinsettia does not make it better for bikes or cars. thanks Craig Vaughn 630-730-8510 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 134 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :22 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Changes From: Michael Fox <mike@thefoxfactor.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 6:35 PM To: counsil@carlsbadca.gov; John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Changes Hello. As a resident that literally lives on El Fuerte, has children in school district, and shop/bank/dine at Bressi Ranch-these lane changes are causing chaos already. I am for keeping the lanes the same as before or reducing to 1 Oft lanes but not for reducing any driving lanes. The GIANT bike lane is unnecessary and has already caused traffic and near accidents. Please do not consider option 3, it's a nightmare. Michael Fox Realtor© cell: 619.885.0498 email: mike@theFoxFactor.com I reaJ thefoxfactor.com I Work Hard. Be Kind. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 135 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :23 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: Cleta D'Sa <cleta_dsa@hotmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 5:44 PM To: counsil@carlsbadca.gov; John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project Hello I'm writing to express my concern about the narrowing of the El Fuerte Street from Rancho Pancho to Gateway. My family uses this route multiple times a day and now having it down to one lane increases the congestion on the street. It gets worse during school pick up and drop off. I object strongly to this decision. Please bring back the 2 lanes as it was before all the work started on this street. Thank you Dr Cleta D'Sa Sent from my iPhone CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 136 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :23 AM City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Project From: Charles Stark <cmstark27@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 11:12 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Project I believe Option 2 would be the best approach. In my opinion, 2 lanes are necessary for the smooth flow of traffic on El Fuerte. It also provides a little wider bike lane. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Charles M. Stark CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 137 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :23 AM City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Project From: Charles Stark <cmstark27@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 11:12 AM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Project I believe Option 2 would be the best approach. In my opinion, 2 lanes are necessary for the smooth flow of traffic on El Fuerte. It also provides a little wider bike lane. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Charles M. Stark CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 138 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :23 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Loss of a Vehicle Lane -----Original Message----- From: PATRICK GOUGH <pgough3775@aol.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 4:40 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Loss of a Vehicle Lane Dear John I am a longtime resident of Rancho Carrillo (Rancho Brasado specifically). Recently, El Fuerte lost one of the two vehicle lanes, significantly and negatively impacting vehicle flow. One vehicle lane has been turned into an excessively large bicycle lane that runs alongside the existing bicycle lane. This is an unnecessary duplication. What us residents would like to know is "why?" What secret justification is the City of Carlsbad using to justify this change and why has this change not been effectively communicated to us ... the residents? The traffic going into and out of Pacific Rim School twice a day, dominates the one remaining vehicular lane and bottlenecks other traffic trying to transit from our homes to the Bressi Ranch stores. Recently I witnessed an excessively unsafe and unwarranted use of the bike lanes to illegally pass on the right to bypass Pacific Rim inbound traffic or Pacific Rim traffic clogging the bike lane as they turn into the School. It is entirely unsafe and someone is going to get hurt or killed by this arbitrarily mandated artificial congestion. We need to see the statistical justification for this change to traffic lanes. I vote to return to the original two lane design with a small bike lane. It wasn't broke, so why are we fixing it? Thank you Patrick J. "Paddy" Gough Colonel USMC (Retired) Chief Executive Officer/Founder Poseidon Consulting LLC Partner Omaha Services International LLC 2916 Rancho Brasado Carlsbad, CA 92009 Cell: (760) 522-9500 poseidonconsultingl@gmail.com Pgough@cairnintl.com 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 139 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :24 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Rd From: Andrew <bergen.andrew@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 3:31 PM To: counsil@carlsbadca.gov; John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Priya Bhat-Patel <priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Rd Implementing a road diet on El Fuerte Rd and Carlsbad at large raises several concerns that merit careful consideration: 1. Potential Traffic Congestion Reducing the number of lanes dedicated to vehicular traffic can lead to increased congestion, especially in cities where driving is the predominant mode of transportation. In Los Angeles, for instance, debates around road diets have highlighted concerns about exacerbating congestion, particularly in areas heavily reliant on car travel. I have already experienced this when turning right onto El Fuerte from Poinsettia when headed north. Cars have backed up onto Poinsettia because it is blocked by the digital sign. 2. Impact on Emergency Response Times Narrowing roadways may impede the movement of emergency vehicles, potentially delaying critical response times. The Federal Highway Administration acknowledges that while road diets can improve safety, they may also affect the operational efficiency of emergency services if not properly planned. 3. Limited Benefits for Pedestrians and Cyclists In areas where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is minimal, reallocating road space may not yield significant benefits. The Federal Highway Administration notes that the success of 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 140 of 212 road diets depends on existing and anticipated demand from non-motorized users. This road, which is steep, is not frequently used by pedestrians or bicycles. This can't be used as an argument for this change. 4. Risk of Traffic Diversion Reducing lanes on El Fuerte may lead drivers to seek alternative routes, potentially increasing traffic on Palomar during the heaviest traffic times. This unintended consequence can compromise safety and make traffic worse. 5. Questionable Applicability in Car-Centric Communities Carlsbad's infrastructure is predominantly designed to accommodate vehicular traffic. Implementing a road diet without substantial demand from pedestrians and cyclists may result in underutilized spaces, failing to justify the reduction in vehicular lanes. The Federal Highway Administration emphasizes that road diets are most effective in contexts with significant non-motorized user activity. This is not the case for El Fuerte. Conclusion While road diets aim to enhance safety and promote multimodal transportation, their effectiveness is highly context-dependent. In a car-centric city like Carlsbad, where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is limited, reducing vehicular lanes could lead to increased congestion, hindered emergency response, economic drawbacks, and traffic diversion without delivering the intended benefits. A thorough analysis of local traffic patterns and community needs is essential before proceeding with such a transformation. At this time, it does not seem as this has been done and will only impact the communities surrounding this road who frequently use this route to avoid Palomar. Please consider my thoughts. I have been a resident in Carlsbad since 2011 and in my opinion the road diet strategy has not been effective and is certainly not indicated on El Fuerte. Thanks for your consideration. Andrew Bergen 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 141 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :24 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: Vehicle Lane Elimination on El Fuerte -----Original Message----- From: Philip Bierman <pmbierman@hotmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 3:23 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Vehicle Lane Elimination on El Fuerte Dear Mr. Kim: As a Carlsbad resident and someone that frequently drives on El Fuerte, I am writing to express my vehement opposition to the elimination of a vehicle lane on El Fuerte. There is absolutely no need to add additional bike lanes to the street. I travel on that road multiple times a day and rarely see more than a couple bicyclists at one time, yet alone so many that an additional bicycle lane is needed for them. Eliminating a vehicle lane will only serve to increase traffic congestion in our neighborhood. I employ you to reconsider this project. Sincerely, Philip Bierman, Esq. 6219 Paseo Colina Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 142 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :24 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Change From: Paul Kriz <paul.kriz@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 3:09 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Change Option 3 would appear to be the better option to me -put it bacl< the way it way -it is too confusing as it is now striped and impedes traffic flow Paul Kriz 2908 Via Conquistador CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 143 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :25 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: Concerns with El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: Evelyn Carone <evcarone@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 3:06 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; counsil@carlsbadca.gov Subject: Concerns with El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project I understand from the homeowners association that the road improvements for Carlsbad El Fuerte is going to result in a lane narrowing/ lane closure. I would like to understand the motivation behind this change? El Fuerte has a lot of traffic including morning traffic for Pacific Ridge and commuters that use Poinsettia to get to El Camino or the freeway. Since there is already a bike lane, the addition of a bike lane seems unnecessary. The bike traffic on El Fuerte is minimal due to the large hill. Please consider this my official request to have the city revisit this decision. Also, the road repairs are great, however they have taken an extremely long time. As this project wraps up please make sure that we maintain our previous level of smooth traffic flow. Regards, Evelyn Carone (I live on Rancho Cortes) CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 144 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :25 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte bike line concerns From: Elizabeth Porter <elizabethportersd@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 3:06 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; counsil@carlsbadca.gov Subject: El Fuerte bike line concerns Hello, I am a resident in Rancho Carrillo who regularly utilizes El Fuerte & Rancho Pancho and is deeply concerned about the expansion of two large bike lanes and one traffic lane. This is extremely unsafe and not well thought out considering the amount of traffic for drop/off pick ups at Pacific Ridge, and the amount of traffic that gets backed up from Bressi. This is not an area to prioritize bike lanes. This idea made a perfectly fine street into a one lane nightmare. Please restore to how it was before. Elizabeth Porter, MSW CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you reco nize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 145 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :25 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: new one lane markings From: William & Valerie Lee <welflyboy@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 11:29 AM To: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Re: new one lane markings Hello Mr. Kim, I am including the letter I received from another concerned citizen and former Carlsbad traffic commissioner. I also added my response o him in the second part of this email. I definitely vote for Option 3 and then option 2, but could live with Option three as long as the two lanes continued from Poinsettia to Lowker. I hope your Department Engineers get the message that their idea of reducing this area of streets to one one lane is VERY ILL CONCEIVED!!!!! We the citizens of Carlsbad will not put up with Stupidity. I am contacting you, because you submitted feedback to the city on the El Fuerte vehicle lane elimination/narrowing project and to let you know that this issue is back on next Tuesday's City Council agenda. The large number of prior communications received from residents like you is what prompted this reconsideration. I ask you to contact them again immediately and consider including the three recommendations below to influence the final decision on this project and similar ones planned throughout Carlsbad. Please also consider showing up at the meeting to provide a verbal comment, which is an even stronger form of support--and encourage friends and neighbors to submit comments, as well. As background, I am a former Carlsbad traffic commissioner, and, while I have supported the vast majority of city staff's projects to calm traffic and improve bicycle infrastructure, I have been warning the City Council about likely unintended consequences for a specific subset of the projects on streets that have challenging vehicle traffic issues and/or that are higher-speed. Note that when part of this project came before the traffic commission, I was the only commissioner to express reservations and vote against recommending it as proposed. As examples, there are multiple projects where streets are being reduced to one vehicle lane in each direction with a shared center turn lane ("suicide lane") where all three of these lanes have been reduced to just 1 O feet in width, while providing 8-foot wide bike lanes plus up to 9-foot wide buffers on both sides (see the cross-section image appended at the bottom of this email). This means that adjacent vehicle lanes (including through-traffic and oncoming turning vehicles) literally overlap, even if they are able to stay within their lines--which they often don't with the new 10-foot widths being striped around the city (see the images appended at the bottom). Yet, city staff have stubbornly refused to give up any part of the 17-foot bicycle areas to provide just one 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 146 of 212 more foot of room (11 feet) to more safely maneuver in the vehicle lanes. Staff claims that making drivers nervous about crashing makes them safer by causing them to drive more slowly, but there is no consistent evidence that these narrowed lanes meaningfully reduce speeds or increase safety on suburban streets with speed limits of 40 mph or more. If you are interested in more technical details, I have attached one example of a communication I sent to the City Council regarding lane narrowing. For Tuesday's City Council meeting on the El Fuerte Street striping, city staff have included three options: • Option 3 is to restore the striping to the way it was before, including two vehicle through-lanes in each direction and the old 11-foot lane widths for the entire length of the street. • Option 2 would restore the two lanes but still narrow the lanes to 10 feet for the entire length of the street. • Option 1 is the same as Option 2 with its 10-foot wide lanes, except the street also would be reduced to one lane in each direction at its northern end--between Loker Avenue and Faraday Avenue. Here are the three potential recommendations to include in a new communication to the City Council with an alternative provided within #1. However, please share all of your thoughts and make your own custom letter. Dear Steve, Thank you for your email Steve and like you I am concerned that the City Traffic Engineering staff has made these stupid new proposals without ever actually observing traffic. It reminds me of Engineers in Military aircraft design that proposed putting switches behind the pilot that at times had to be changed while the pilot and aircraft were at 500 feet and 500 knots. No pilot in his right mind is going to turn his head backwards to do that at that altitude and speed. Luckily we had people on hand that told them just wrong these design proposals were. These (Carlsbad) Engineers sit in their quiet cubicles and make these decisions that the rest of us have to live with. Although I am not a fan of the current administration's attempt to wholesale fire people, I would consider it for this group in the Carlsbad Traffic Engineering group and start over with people that realize the citizens of Carlsbad are not going to put up with their thoughtless, ill concieved ideas .. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the meeting tonight, but I hope you and the group of other angry citizens hold these Engineers' feet to the fire. I sent a second email after Mr. Kim responded to my first email and also pointed out that our concerns are on record and could create a huge liability for the City in case of accidents or death, when drivers get tired of the long delays of one traffic lane up to and from the Pacific Ridge school in the morning and afternoon five days a week and go around the long line, driving in the 9 foot buffer you listed. I could be one of those and I would have no problem suing the City for the problem they created and could have prevented with comprehensive on-site study. Good luck for all of us! Sincerely, William "Bill" Lee 2838 Rancho Pancho Carlsbad, Ca 92009 858-212-4748 On Tue, Mar 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM William & Valerie Lee <welflyboy@gmail.com> wrote: 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 147 of 212 Thank you for responding to my email, John. I agree with you about the restriping to just one lane on El Fuerte, south of Poinsetta up the hill to Alga and down. I don't think that one lane vs two for that small portion will matter. I do think that cutting El Fuerte down to one lane, north of Poinsettia towards Palomar Rd is a very poor idea and the City Council either received wrong or very poor information. In the morning and in the afternoon, when Pacific Ridge school starts and lets out, El Fuerte becomes a bottleneck, as well as Poinsettia east up to the El Fuerte stoplight. If the City of Carlsbad choose the option of reducing the previous two lanes up to Bressi Ranch and Palomar, you, the City of Carlsbad will actually cause an increase in accidents and be liable for them, as drivers frustrated about the 15-20 minute wait to head up the hill will illegally drive to the right of the stopped traffic over your new markings to get past the cars stopped trying to pull into Pacific Ridge. Even though there is traffic leading up to and from the entrance and exit of the school, with two lanes open, everyone not trying to get into the school moves along smoothly. We have lived here for over 8 years and regularly observe this traffic both in the morning and in the afternoon. Please advise the City Council of these concerns, as it is now on record if they choose the wrong option and accidents or death occur, which could result in multi-million dollar lawsuits against Carlsbad. Sincerely, Bill Lee On Tue, Mar 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gilll> wrote: Mr. Lee, Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the changes on El Fuerte Street. Community feedback on temporary lane markings provides an opportunity to make adjustments as needed before the final striping goes down. In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. That report is tentatively scheduled to be presented to the City Council March 18. To be notified when this item goes to the City Council, please sign up for the email list. You can find City Council agendas and information on how to participate on the city's website. What's happening on 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 take care of cracl<s and potholes and ensure a smooth drive. When we resurface the roadways, the city can also restripe to provide additional traffic safety benefits, including helping to address speeding and better support all modes of travel. What's next? 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 148 of 212 The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18. Why the initial change? During the design process for the project, city staff studied the traffic in the area and analyzed how the change in the lanes could impact traffic and to determine the safest, most efficient configuration for the roadway. The majority of El Fuerte Street was comprised of 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 total length, 2.4 miles of El Fuerte Street featured one vehicle lane in each direction. The proposed restriping made the lane configuration more consistent along the entire roadway. The change from two lanes to one was intended to: • Encourage safer driving speeds while keeping traffic flowing. In Carlsbad, speeding is the No. 1 contributing factor in injury collisions. Slowing traffic down even 5 mph can make a difference in the severity and survivability of collisions. • 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 right to make right turns onto side streets without slowing down cars who are behind Thank you again for your feedback and for your patience as we work to enhance traffic safety for everyone on our streets. City of rlsbad Traffic & Mobility Division Transportation Department Public Works Branch JOHN T. KIM, P.E., T.E. City Traffic Engineer 4 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 149 of 212 Traffic & Mobility Division City of Carlsbad 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad CA 92008 (442) 339-2757 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 Traffic 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 office or just make these unilateral decisions from some cubbyhole. The traffic 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 off 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 traffic 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 suffer 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 5 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 150 of 212 858-212-4748 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 6 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 151 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :25 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: Lane narrowing From: Scott <night_train44@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 3:32 PM To: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Miriam Jim <Miriam.Jim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: RE: Lane narrowing Hi Thanks for the reply. So who authorized this lane narrowing? What evidence do you use to justify narrowing streets with 55mph limits to 10 feet wide? It seems dot recommends 12 feet wide does it not?? This is really infuriating. I hope you will reconsider. Look at Encinitas as proof of people electing change when things go too far. People are upset there and I feel a similar very strong sentiment growing in Carlsbad. I have talked to dozens of people who are upset and have yet to meet a single person who supports these narrowing and other changes. We live in this city and should have a say in such dramatic changes. Also, all the paint and striping is very ugly. It reflects poorly on our city. Ugly, confusing, and dangerous! A much higher priority should be timing of lights so you don't get stopped at every single light through town. Thanks Scott Yahoo Mail -Email Simplified On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 9:20, John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> wrote: Mr. Dyer, 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 152 of 212 Thank you for reaching out to the city to share your concerns about the restriping of lanes on local streets. The lanes were restriped to address excessive speeds on our roadways, which is the top cause of injury collisions in Carlsbad. As we change the roadways, we are changing behavior and encouraging drivers to pay more attention and slow down. Other nearby cities such as Del Mar, Encinitas, and San Clemente also have 1 O and 10.5' lanes on their arterial streets. We understand that the new lane striping is a change and we want to allow time for drivers to adjust to the new striping. We plan to do an evaluation after giving time for drivers to adjust and are monitoring the impact that the new lane striping has on traffic operations and will make adjustments as needed. Your comments are noted and appreciated. Thanks again for contacting the city. Please let me know if you have further questions. City of rlsbad Traffic & Mobility Division Transportation Department Public Works Branch 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 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 153 of 212 From: Scott Dyer <night train44@yahoo.com> Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 3:26 PM To: Traffic <traffic@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Lane narrowing Hi I'm a Carlsbad resident and I'm trying to figure out what's up with the narrowing of so many busy traffic lanes on very important streets. Who authorized this? It's awful, please go back to the wider lanes. The narrow lanes are way too narrow. Just watch people drive in them, they are constantly driving over the lane lines. This is going to cause accidents. Please fix this Thanks Scott CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 154 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :26 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: new one lane markings From: William & Valerie Lee <welflyboy@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 7:42 PM To: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Re: new one lane markings Thank you for responding to my email, John. I agree with you about the restriping to just one lane on El Fuerte, south of Poinsetta up the hill to Alga and down. I don't think that one lane vs two for that small portion will matter. I do think that cutting El Fuerte down to one lane, north of Poinsettia towards Palomar Rd is a very poor idea and the City Council either received wrong or very poor information. In the morning and in the afternoon, when Pacific Ridge school starts and lets out, El Fuerte becomes a bottleneck, as well as Poinsettia east up to the El Fuerte stoplight. If the City of Carlsbad choose the option of reducing the previous two lanes up to Bressi Ranch and Palomar, you, the City of Carlsbad will actually cause an increase in accidents and be liable for them, as drivers frustrated about the 15-20 minute wait to head up the hill will illegally drive to the right of the stopped traffic over your new markings to get past the cars stopped trying to pull into Pacific Ridge. Even though there is traffic leading up to and from the entrance and exit of the school, with two lanes open, everyone not trying to get into the school moves along smoothly. We have lived here for over 8 years and regularly observe this traffic both in the morning and in the afternoon. Please advise the City Council of these concerns, as it is now on record if they choose the wrong option and accidents or death occur, which could result in multi-million dollar lawsuits against Carlsbad. Sincerely, Bill Lee On Tue, Mar 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> wrote: Mr. Lee, Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the changes on El Fuerte Street. Community feedbacl< on temporary lane markings provides an opportunity to make adjustments as needed before the final striping goes down. In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. That report is tentatively scheduled to be presented to the City Council March 18. To be notified when this item goes to the City Council, please sign up for the email list. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 155 of 212 You can find City Council agendas and information on how to participate on the city's website. What's happening on 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 take care of cracks and potholes and ensure a smooth drive. When we resurface the roadways, the city can also restripe to provide additional traffic safety benefits, including helping to address speeding and better support all modes of travel. What's next? The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18. Why the initial change? During the design process for the project, city staff studied the traffic in the area and analyzed how the change in the lanes could impact traffic and to determine the safest, most efficient configuration for the roadway. The majority of El Fuerte Street was comprised of 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 total length, 2.4 miles of El Fuerte Street featured one vehicle lane in each direction. The proposed restriping made the lane configuration more consistent along the entire roadway. The change from two lanes to one was intended to: • Encourage safer driving speeds while keeping traffic flowing. In Carlsbad, speeding is the No. 1 contributing factor in injury collisions. Slowing traffic down even 5 mph can make a difference in the severity and survivability of collisions. • 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 right to make right turns onto side streets without slowing down cars who are behind Thank you again for your feedback and for your patience as we work to enhance traffic safety for everyone on our streets. 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 156 of 212 City of rlsbad Traffic & Mobility Division Transportation Department Public Works Branch 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 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 Traffic 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 office or just make these unilateral decisions from some cubbyhole. The traffic north on El Fuerte from Poinsettia to Bressi Ranch Road in 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 157 of 212 the morning is a nightmare already due to the line up of parents dropping their kids off 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 traffic 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 suffer 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 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 4 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 158 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :26 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Road Diet = A failed experiment From: Leslea Meyerhoff <leslea.meyerhoff@att.net> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 3:22 PM To: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Lovelynne Magalued <Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov>; Hossein Ajideh <Hossein.Ajideh@carlsbadca.gov>; Tom Frank <Tom.Frank@carlsbadca.gov>; Paz Gomez <Paz.Gomez@carlsbadca.gov>; Miriam Jim <Miriam.Jim@carlsbadca.gov>; Eddie Wills <Eddie.Wills@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: RE: El Fuerte Road Diet= A failed experiment Hello John, Thank you for the follow up. I have signed up for the notifications. I am away for the March 18 City Council meeting but that meeting seems too soon to be making any kind of decisions with regard to the new (temporary) road striping have been in place for less than, or about, 30 days. Resurfacing is ongoing maintenance which we all appreciate even with short term construction delays that result. There still does not seem to be any real justification for the temporary restriping. Was it based on a traffic impact report or other data/analysis indicating it is warranted? I would be interested in reviewing such reports or any background quantitative data that is the basis of the temporary restriping. You note that "The proposed restriping made the lane configuration more consistent along the entire roadway." How does this lead to safer roadways or improved traffic flow? If you have been out there this week you can see that drivers are very confused with the new restriping scheme creating real hazards as drivers are forced into a single lane in the middle of the intersection of El Fuerte and Poinsettia. What is the speed limit v. average speeds and are speed limits clearly posted? We all love living in Carlsbad and want safer roads and there is a right way to do this but there must be a real problem to solve and a solid justification making changes to roadways. Right now I am not seeing a problem and I drive this stretch of road multiple times daily and have done so for 20 years. Thank you. Sincerely, Please include my comments in the public record for this agenda item. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 159 of 212 Leslea Meyerhoff, AICP, Principal Summit Environmental Group, Inc. Summitenvironmental.org Cell Office Fax 760.845.8028 760.804.9144 760.804.9744 From: John Kim <John.l<im@carlsbadca.gov> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 2:39 PM To: leslea.meyerhoff@att.net Cc: Lovelynne Magalued <Lovelynne.Magalued@carlsbadca.gov>; Hossein Ajideh <Hossein.Ajideh@carlsbadca.gov>; Tom Frank <Tom.Frank@carlsbadca.gov>; Paz Gomez <Paz.Gomez@carlsbadca.gov>; Miriam Jim <Miriam.Jim@carlsbadca.gov>; Eddie Wills <Eddie.Wills@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: RE: El Fuerte Road Diet= A failed experiment Ms. Meyerhoff, Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the changes on El Fuerte Street. Community feedback on temporary lane markings provides an opportunity to make adjustments as needed before the final striping goes down. In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. That report is tentatively scheduled to be presented to the City Council March 18. To be notified when this item goes to the City Council, please sign up for the email list. You can find City Council agendas and information on how to participate on the city's website. What's happening on 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 take care of cracks and potholes and ensure a smooth drive. When we resurface the roadways, the city can also restripe to provide additional traffic safety benefits, including helping to address speeding and better support all modes of travel. What's next? The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18. Why the initial change? During the design process for the project, city staff studied the traffic in the area and analyzed how the change in the lanes could impact traffic and to determine the safest, most efficient configuration for the roadway. The majority of El Fuerte Street was comprised of 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 total length, 2.4 miles of El Fuerte Street featured one vehicle lane in each direction. The proposed restriping made the lane configuration more consistent along the entire roadway. The change from two lanes to one was intended to: 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 160 of 212 • Encourage safer driving speeds while keeping traffic flowing. In Carlsbad, speeding is the No. 1 contributing factor in injury collisions. Slowing traffic down even 5 mph can make a difference in the severity and survivability of collisions. • 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 right to make right turns onto side streets without slowing down cars who are behind Thank you again for your feedback and for your patience as we work to enhance traffic safety for everyone on our streets. ( City of Carlsbad Traffic & Mobility Division Transportation Department Public Works Branch 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 From: Miriam Jim <Miriam.Jim@carlsbadca.gov> Sent: Monday, March 3, 2025 2:39 PM To: leslea.meyerhoff@att.net Cc: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Eduardo Martinez <Eduardo.Martinez@carlsbadca.gov>; Lindy Pham <Lindy.Pham@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: RE: El Fuerte Road Diet= A failed experiment Dear Ms. Meyerhoff, Thank you for contacting the city and sharing your concerns about the recent restriping on El Fuerte Street. We appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention. Staff are reviewing the recent striping changes proposed as part of the pavement management program project and will provide you with more information next week. Thank you again for your email and we will be in touch. Regards, Miriam ( City of Carlsbad Miriam W. Jim, P.E., T.E. 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 161 of 212 Senior Engineer Public Works Traffic & Mobility Division 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008 www.carlsbadca.gmt (442) 339-5796 I miriam.jim@carlsbadca.gov 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 see I< 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. 4 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 162 of 212 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 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you reco nize the sender and know the content i safe. 5 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 163 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Monday, March 17, 2025 11 :27 AM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Striping -----Original Message----- From: SallyWillis <sallyevanswillis@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1:31 PM To: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Re: El Fuerte Striping John I really appreciate your quick explanation. I'll wait until after the City Council decides, hopefully they will rethink one lane around the school. Sally Willis Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 11, 2025, at 3:28 PM, John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> wrote: > >Ms.Willis, > > Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the changes on El Fuerte Street. Community feedback on temporary lane markings provides an opportunity to make adjustments as needed before the final striping goes down. In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. That report is tentatively scheduled to be presented to the City Council March 18. fo be notified when this item goes to the City Council, please sign up for the email list. I > > You can find City Council agendas and information on how to participate on the city's website. > > What's happening on 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 take care of cracks and potholes and ensure a smooth drive. When we resurface the roadways, the city can also restripe to provide additional traffic safety benefits, including helping to address speeding and better support all modes of travel. > > What's next? > The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18. > > Why the initial change? > During the design process for the project, city staff studied the traffic in the area and analyzed how the change in the lanes could impact traffic and to determine the safest, most efficient configuration for the roadway. The majority of El Fuerte Street was comprised of a single vehicle lane, from south of Rancho Pancho, just south of Poinsettia Lane, until it 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 164 of 212 turns into Alicante Road. Of the 4.2 miles of total length, 2.4 miles of El Fuerte Street featured one vehicle lane in each direction. The proposed restriping made the lane configuration more consistent along the entire roadway. > > The change from two lanes to one was intended to: > * Encourage safer driving speeds while keeping traffic flowing. In Carlsbad, speeding is the No. 1 contributing factor in injury collisions. Slowing traffic down even 5 mph can make a difference in the severity and survivability of collisions. > * 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 right to make right turns onto side streets without slowing down cars who are behind > > Thank you again for your feedback and for your patience as we work to enhance traffic safety for everyone on our streets. > > 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: 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 configuration. I drive there almost every day and hardly see bicycles and the prior configuration worked. > > If it's not broke, why fix it? > > Respectfully > > Sally Willis > Sent from my iPhone > CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 165 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 12:05 PM City Clerk To: Subject: FW: Urgent Request to Restore Original Lane Striping on El Fuerte Street (Rancho Pancho to Faraday Ave.) From: Linda Womack <lpselstad@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 12:00 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Urgent Request to Restore Original Lane Striping on El Fuerte Street (Rancho Pancho to Faraday Ave.) Regarding: City Council Agenda Item 11, OPTION 3 Restore Original Lane Striping on El Fuerte Street (Rancho Pancho to Faraday Ave.) Dear City Traffic Engineer John Kim, Honorable Mayor Keith Blackburn and City Council Members, I am writing to express my strong concern and request the immediate restoration of the original lane striping configuration on El Fuerte Street, between Rancho Pancho and Faraday Avenue. The current "temporary" striping has created a demonstrably dangerous and confusing situation for drivers. As one of the earliest homeowners in Rancho Carrillo, I have witnessed the significant growth and increased traffic congestion in our community, driven by the development of schools, a bustling shopping center, offices, and business parks. The recent implementation of the temporary lane striping has resulted in the following critical issues: • • • Increased Driver Confusion and Hazardous Lane Changes: • The reduction of the second travel lane has led to widespread driver confusion, with vehicles frequently driving in undesignated lanes and encroaching into adjacent lanes. This creates a highly unsafe environment. • • • • Dangerous Blind Corner at Rancho Pancho: • The elimination of the second lane starting at Rancho Pancho has created a severe safety hazard. Vehicles traveling northbound down the hill around the blind corner are often obscured, making it extremely dangerous for drivers pulling out onto El Fuerte Street. • The original two-lane configuration provided a critical passing lane, mitigating this risk . • • • • Exacerbated Congestion: 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 166 of 212 • The reduction to a single lane will significantly increase congestion, particularly given the high volume of traffic from Amazon delivery vans traveling from their depot near Faraday Avenue, as well as traffic to and from the Bressi Ranch business parks and • shopping centers . • • • • Minimal Bicycle Lane Usage: • Observations indicate that the existing bicycle lanes on El Fuerte Street are rarely utilized . • Therefore, I urge the council to approve the resolution to reinstate the original lane striping configuration. This action is essential to ensure the safety and efficient flow of traffic on El Fuerte Street. Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical matter. Sincerely, Linda Selstad 6343 Paseo Corono (760) 845-1750 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 167 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 1:21 PM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk To: Subject: FW: Urgent Request to Restore Original Lane Striping on El Fuerte Street (Rancho Pancho to Faraday Ave.) From: Linda Womack <lpselstad@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 12:00 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Urgent Request to Restore Original Lane Striping on El Fuerte Street (Rancho Pancho to Faraday Ave.) Regarding: City Council Agenda Item 11, OPTION 3 Restore Original Lane Striping on El Fuerte Street (Rancho Pancho to Faraday Ave.) Dear City Traffic Engineer John Kim, Honorable Mayor Keith Blackburn and City Council Members, I am writing to express my strong concern and request the immediate restoration of the original lane striping configuration on El Fuerte Street, between Rancho Pancho and Faraday Avenue. The current "temporary" striping has created a demonstrably dangerous and confusing situation for drivers. As one of the earliest homeowners in Rancho Carrillo, I have witnessed the significant growth and increased traffic congestion in our community, driven by the development of schools, a bustling shopping center, offices, and business parks. The recent implementation of the temporary lane striping has resulted in the following critical issues: • • • Increased Driver Confusion and Hazardous Lane Changes: • The reduction of the second travel lane has led to widespread driver confusion, with vehicles frequently driving in undesignated lanes and encroaching into adjacent lanes. This creates a highly unsafe environment. • • • • Dangerous Blind Corner at Rancho Pancho: • The elimination of the second lane starting at Rancho Pancho has created a severe safety hazard. Vehicles traveling northbound down the hill around the blind corner are often obscured, making it extremely dangerous for drivers pulling out onto El Fuerte Street. • The original two-lane configuration provided a critical passing lane, mitigating this risk . • • • • Exacerbated Congestion: 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 168 of 212 • The reduction to a single lane will significantly increase congestion, particularly given the high volume of traffic from Amazon delivery vans traveling from their depot near Faraday Avenue, as well as traffic to and from the Bressi Ranch business parks and • shopping centers . • • • • Minimal Bicycle Lane Usage: • Observations indicate that the existing bicycle lanes on El Fuerte Street are rarely utilized . • Therefore, I urge the council to approve the resolution to reinstate the original lane striping configuration. This action is essential to ensure the safety and efficient flow of traffic on El Fuerte Street. Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical matter. Sincerely, Linda Selstad 6343 Paseo Corono (760) 845-1750 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 169 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Subject: Monday, March 17, 2025 1:21 PM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Striping -----Original Message----- From: SallyWillis <sallyevanswillis@yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 1:10 PM To: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Re: El Fuerte Striping John I would like to formally put my opinion on the El Fuerte striping. I prefer Option 3 Putting back the 2 lane option, but wide enough for trucks. I'm assuming this includes 2 lanes north of Pointsettia to Faraday. Respectfully Sally Willis 2930 Rancho Brasado Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 12, 2025, at 1:30 PM, SallyWillis <sallyevanswillis@yahoo.com> wrote: > >John > > I really appreciate your quick explanation. > > I'll wait until after the City Council decides, hopefully they will rethink one lane around the school. > > Sally Willis > > Sent from my iPhone > » On Mar 11, 2025, at 3:28 PM, John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov> wrote: >> » Ms. Willis, >> » Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the changes on El Fuerte Street. Community feedback on temporary lane markings provides an opportunity to make adjustments as needed before the final striping goes down. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 170 of 212 In response to community concerns, the City Council directed city staff to provide options for the restriping of El Fuerte Street and restoring certain parts to two lanes. That report is tentatively scheduled to be presented to the City Council March 18. To be notified when this item goes to the City Council, please sign up for the email list. >> » You can find City Council agendas and information on how to participate on the city's website. >> » What's happening on 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 take care of cracks and potholes and ensure a smooth drive. When we resurface the roadways, the city can also restripe to provide additional traffic safety benefits, including helping to address speeding and better support all modes of travel. >> » What's next? » The final striping on El Fuerte has been paused until the City Council decides on next steps on March 18. >> » Why the initial change? » During the design process for the project, city staff studied the traffic in the area and analyzed how the change in the lanes could impact traffic and to determine the safest, most efficient configuration for the roadway. The majority of El Fuerte Street was comprised of 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 total length, 2.4 miles of El Fuerte Street featured one vehicle lane in each direction. The proposed restriping made the lane configuration more consistent along the entire roadway. >> » The change from two lanes to one was intended to: » * Encourage safer driving speeds while keeping traffic flowing. In Carlsbad, speeding is the No. 1 contributing factor in injury collisions. Slowing traffic down even 5 mph can make a difference in the severity and survivability of collisions. >> * 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 right to make right turns onto side streets without slowing down cars who are behind >> » Thank you again for your feedback and for your patience as we work to enhance traffic safety for everyone on our streets. >> » 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: 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. >> 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 171 of 212 » Please reconsider the current street configuration. I drive there almost every day and hardly see bicycles and the prior configuration worked. >> » If it's not broke, why fix it? >> » Respectfully >> » Sally Willis » Sent from my iPhone » CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 172 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Monday, March 17, 2025 1:31 PM City Clerk FW: El Fuerte lane elimination/narrowing project From: chaela pastore <chaelap@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 1:30 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte lane elimination/narrowing project Dear Mr. Kim and Carlsbad City Council. I was dismayed to learn about the lane elimination/narrowing project on El Fuerte. I understand and support the need to have safe streets for bicycle riders, but I am concerned that losing a lane between Poinsettia and Palomar Airport Road will put inexperienced drivers in harm's way. In particular, I am concerned about young drivers exiting from Pacific Ridge School. As a parent of former PRS students, I know from my own and my children's experience that exiting the PRS parking lot can be difficult: the exit is at a blind spot both for cars exiting and for cars coming down the hill, which tend to pick up a lot of speed. Happily, speeding cars tend to use the left lane, leaving the right lane open for people to exit the school slowly and carefully. If El Fuerte is reduced to one lane, I fear we will put young drivers more at risk than they already are. As a Rancho Carrillo resident, I use El Fuerte frequently, and as a slower driver I am grateful to have two lanes there so that more aggressive drivers can pass me. This is not a safety issue of course, but I do notice that having two lanes on El Fuerte keeps the temperature down when it comes to anger on the road. Thank you for taking the time to read this email. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 760-846-5844. Sincerely, Chaela Pastore CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 173 of 212 Tammy Cloud -McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- John Kim Monday, March 17, 2025 2:08 PM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Restriping From: Melissa Harold <melissajharold@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 1:58 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; counsil@carlsbadca.gov Subject: El Fuerte Restriping PLEASE restore the striping on El Fuerte to what was there originally. Alf Receive -Agenda Item # J i For the Information of the~ _ 'ii!'( COUNCIL Date~CA v-cc V CM ~ACM ~DCM (3) ~ -- The new plan causes cars to get stuck in the intersection of El Fuerte and Poinsettia when school drop off begins. This issue is very important to my Rancho Carrillo neighbors and to me . I plan to be at tomorrow's city council meeting. Thank you. Melissa Harold 2908 Rancho Brasado CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 174 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Dear City Council, laurene ryan < lganci3995@icloud.com> Monday, March 17, 2025 2:38 PM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Removal of lanes outside Bressi 1. For tomorrow nights agenda item on the restriping of El Fuerte, please choose Option 3 to simply restore the street to its original striping, which we know was functioning fine. 2. Take future action to establish a policy that requires city staff, when they propose vehicle lane eliminations, to first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak traffic along the entire street, rather than relying solely on daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. 3. Take future action to direct city staff to change their "standard operating procedure for lane widths" to establish minimum 11-foot widths for vehicle through-lanes and two-way center turn lanes on streets with speed limits of 40 mph or higher--appropriately sized to provide room for safe maneuvering. We have been dealing with this over the past 2 weeks and I see near missed car accidents all the time. If the concern is speeding, then put up flashing lights with your speed displayed or have an officer sit there a couple of times. Thank you Laurene Ryan CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 175 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Keith Keating <keithkeating@gmail.com> Monday, March 17, 2025 5:22 PM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Meeting Item 11 -El Fuerte restriping Cars are essential in our suburban environment-that's why we live in "the suburbs" Sure, its nice to go cycling on the weekend but it is NOT how we go shopping, go to restaurants, dropping children at ___ activities etc. Electric bikes are changing the environment and their operators need TRAINING. I can drive around the city on a weekday and, except for schools opening and closing, never see a cyclist at a traffic light or stop sign. PLEASE, rein in your desire to try and make the streets unsuitable for vehicle traffic-most of us are NOT using a bike for daily activities. So please, for a through street like El Fuerte, keep it open for 4 lane traffic. Thanks Keith Keating 8054 via Arce cell 760-917-0844 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you reco nize the sender and know the content i ate. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 176 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Good Evening, Jennifer Douglass <jangular@gmail.com> Monday, March 17, 2025 5:27 PM City Clerk; Priya Bhat-Patel; Keith Blackburn; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin El Fuerte Street Restriping I am writing to express my concern about the changes that have been made to traffic lanes on El Fuerte Street between Palomar Airport Road and Poinsettia Lane. The new lanes are confusing and dangerous and should be returned to how they were. I know that there is a meeting tomorrow night regarding this issue, and I would like to recommend that the street is restored to its original striping which we know was functioning fine. Thank you, Jennifer Douglass Bressi Ranch resident CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 177 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Teeto Cheema <teetocheema@gmail.com> Monday, March 17, 2025 7:37 PM City Clerk Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Re: #11: El Fuerte street re -striping 20250313_182343Jpg This is just an example of how this project is proceeding. This misspelled word has been like this since day 1 of when this sign was first put up. The whole plan needs to proceed with "CAUION". Note the spelling in the attached pie. On Sun, Mar 16, 2025, 11 :22 PM Teeto Cheema <teetocheema@gmail.com> wrote: Studies show that narrowed lanes on high speed arterial do not meaningfully decrease speeds but do increase the frequency of lane encroachment. Vehicles crossing the center line and into the bike buffers. Everyone in this email needs to go to pacific ridge high school on El Fuerte at the time the kids are let out and observe the absolute chaos and potential injuries and even death that could and will occur from traffic backing up for over a mile in both north and south directions due to this absurd project. These designs are local experiments being conducted by our city council which will be potentially dangerous to all users and which could open the city up to significant liability. I have lived off of El Fuerte Street before the street ever went all the way through. It has become a major street for all the development and shopping areas at El Fuerte and Gateway drive. Proceeding with this project will not only put drivers and bikers at risk of injury, but also kids trying to just get home from Pacific Ridge High School. Be prepared for class action law suits because no formal studies were ever completed to understand the impact of potential dangerous driving and bicycle injuries that will occur at a much higher rate. People are watching this and will keep track of the increase in injuries and possible fatalities. Please go out and observe traffic at school begin and end times before any such foolish plan is completed. Please reverse this decision for the sake of everyone's safety who use El Fuerte. Sincerely Teeto Cheema Cacatua street, Carlsbad, CA en attachments or click on links unless 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 178 of 212 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 179 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Dear City Council, Judy Kimbler <finallyjudy@yahoo.com> Monday, March 17, 2025 8:24 PM City Clerk Lane Reduction on El Fuerte Street I went back though Traffic and Mobility Commission Meetings from Nov. 4, 2024 though Mar. 3, 2025 and found no mention of the lane reduction plan. I was totally surprised by it as were many motorists who were flabbergasted when the lane they were travelling in disappeared causing them to have to suddenly merge into one lane. I realize that mobile warning signs are now present, but motorists are still confused especially since the lanes are not marked well. The reduction of lanes on El Fuerte created a substantial issue. I, and several others were trapped behind a southbound trash truck doing 20 mph. in a 45 mph. zone for miles with no way around it because there was now only one lane. What a colossal and frustrating waste of time. I drive all day and into the evening for my business, so time is money. I make at least two round trips a day at least four days a week from the comer ofLuciemaga Street Gust south of Alga Rd.) and El Fuerte to the comer of El Camino Real and Tamarack. I do this by taking El Fuerte to Faraday to E. C.R. to Tamarack. This route saves time even though the speed limit on El Fuerte is 10 mph. slower than on El Camino Real. This route avoids the traffic on El Camino Real for a least a portion of my drive. El Fourte is a vital alternative route to El Camino Real. I implore the city council to re-stripe it as two lanes in each direction. Thank you for time and consideration. Judy Kimbler CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 180 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: To: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 8:10 AM City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte Two Lane Restoration From: Jack Stephens <jes@jackstephens.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 5:04 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Two Lane Restoration rl'JI E LA\\' 0 ti'J,,H 1 Ji,S ~f ' .J \(~l{ srp]~J.l f-l J~NS , .JJ >., LL.:\I. Council: My name is Jack Stephens, J.D., LL.M. I am an attorney whose office is located at 12526 High Bluff Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92130. I have been a resident of Rancho Carrillo in Carlsbad for over 24 years. The recent "temporary" striping of El Fuerte through Pointsetta has caused concerning risks and has impeded traffic flow. It is my understanding that the Council is considering making El Fuerte a one lane north and south from Rancho Pancho Street through Pointsetta on a permanent basis. I suggest to you, based on my everyday trip to my office, that this would be a grave mistake. As a former personally injury attorney and discussing this issue with several of my attorney friends who specialize in personal injury, it is not a matter of if, but a matter as to when a major accident will occur if El Fuerte remains one lane north and south. It should be restored to a two-lane arrangment as soon as reasonably possible. I am also a bike (e-bike) enthusiast and find there is plenty of room in the bike lane that exists now. As a result, I adamently vote for Option 3 and suggest that you take 4 7 years of legal experience into consideration in making your decision. Sincerely, Jack E. Stephens, Esq. Law Offices of Jack E. Stephens, J.D., LL.M. 12526 High Bluff Drive, Ste. 200 San Diego, CA 92130 (858) 792-0909 phone (858) 792-0806 fax 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 181 of 212 M artindale•Hubbetr !PR E E M I N E N r· .. II • -sa11Qi~ Top Lawyer www.iackstephens.com Jack Stephens Newsletter Sign Up Click Here CONFIDENTIALITY: This communication (including any attachment) contains confidential information and is intended for the use of the named recipient only and any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete all copies hereof (including any attachment) from your system. TAX ADVICE DISCLOSURE: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS under Circular 230, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments), unless otherwise specifically stated, was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 182 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Council Internet Email Sent: To: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 8:10 AM City Clerk Subject: FW: Lane Reduction on El Fuerte Ave -----Original Message----- From: Adam Arolla <adamarolla@yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 9:14 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Lane Reduction on El Fuerte Ave Good evening John, We live in Rancho Carrillo, just off of Rancho Pancho which feeds into El Fuerte. Regarding the proposed lane conversion, I STRONGLY OPPOSE Option 1. There are very few bike riders on this road, mainly because of the hills. It is EXTREMELY RARE to see a biker. The hill is TOO STEEP, especially going south, AND at high traffic times, having only one lane will cause backups, both north and south, heading towards Poinsettia. Option 2 would be TOLERABLE but is unnecessary. Again, there are hardly any bike riders AND there are existing bike lanes which are more than sufficient. Option 1 MAKES THE MOST SENSE. It provides the safest and most logical solution. We vote Option 1. Adam Arolla & Jeanie Kennedy 2840 Via Conquistador CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 183 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Dear City Council: Ronald Ball < ronball@alumni.stanford.edu > Tuesday, March 18, 2025 10:30 AM City Clerk Connie Agenda item#11 Restriping on El Future St. This restriping of El Fuerte is unnecessary and will lead to much more congestion, delays and pollution, especially during school hours. I bike along this road almost daily and there is a safe bicycle trail parallel to El Fuerte that makes this project unnecessary. Please do not adopt the proposed resolution. Thank you, Ron Ball and Connie Smith 2934 Rancho Cortes, Carlsbad, CA 92009 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 184 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Faviola Medina Sent: To: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 10:43 AM City Clerk Subject: FW: Lane narrowing in Carlsbad Importance: High From: Scott <night train44@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 4:01:09 PM To: Keith Blackburn <keith.blackburn@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Lane narrowing in Carlsbad Dear Mayor Blackburn, I'm a resident of Carlsbad and wanted to learn more about why the city has decided to make driving a constant headache. I'm referring of course to the decision to narrow beautiful lanes from 12 feet to an absurd 1Oor10.5 feet, often on very busy roads with speed limits at 50 -55 mph? I have yet to hear positive feedback from any of my neighbors on these changes. I believe they are dangerous and totally unsolicited from most of the city (barring the most extreme activists). The lane diets and new striping are ugly. Trucks often drive with their wheels over the line. It causes frustration and anxiety just to drive down the road. It degrades the quality of life in our town and makes it look busy and ugly. Please reconsider. If speeding is a problem, the proper response is to use our wonderful polite department to publicly enforce the limits, so the burden is born by the scoff laws rather than messing up a good thing for everybody. Also, please get tougher one-bikes. Good job on the camping ordinance! I'm am very happy the city listened to the residents and came up with a good start towards a solution. Thanks for all you do for our beautiful city Scott 801-367-4468 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 185 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Council: Steve Linke <splinke@gmail.com> Tuesday, March 18, 2025 11 :50 AM City Clerk All Receive -Agenda Item # / / For the Information of the: ,(ITY COUNCIL Date?/1~/J'S; CA .,....-CC .,,-- CM .,....-ACM✓ DCM (3) ✓ Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Public comment #2 on 3/18/2025 Council Item #11 : El Fuerte Street restriping After weeding out duplicates, you have received public comments from a total of 67 residents on this project as of 10:45 AM today, and here is the breakdown: 46 --> Option 3/restore to previous striping (11-foot lanes) 14 --> Restore dual-lane configuration (but did not specify Option 1, 2, or 3) 3 --> Option 2 (restore dual lanes but narrow full length to 10-foot width) 2 --> Option 1 (road diet on northernmost segment and narrow full length to 10-foot width) 2 --> Commented only about Rancho Pancho intersection concerns The guidance and studies suggesting narrower lanes reduce speeds are not applicable to 40 mph+ streets. The large national studies I have cited show that there is no meaningful speed reduction on such streets, and there is no safety improvement. There are dozens and dozens of posts on social media complaining about the narrowed lanes, with observations that people are now just driving over the lines. And some drivers over-correct when they notice other drivers encroaching on them, causing them to swerve into center medians on one side or into bike lanes on the other. Again, use common sense and set the default lane width to 11 feet for our 40 mph+ streets. Best regards, Steve Linke CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 186 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: John Kim Sent: To: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 1 :31 PM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk Subject: FW: El Fuerte to One Lane/ Poinsettia From: Rick Evans <rickevans7@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 12:56 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; counsil@carlsbadca.gov Subject: Fwd: El Fuerte to One Lane/ Poinsettia Completion of previous email. .. ----------Forwarded message--------- From: Rick Evans <ricl<evans7@gmail.com> Date: Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM Subject: RE: El Fuerte to One Lane/ Poinsettia To: <john.l<im@carlsbadca.gov>, <counsil@carlsbadca.gov> So John, When this decision was made, did anyone get input from the residents that use this corridor everyday lil<e I do? There is a church on the corner of Rancho Pancho and El Fuerte, that is jam pacl<ed with l<ids and cars. Turning right from Rancho Pancho to El Fuesrte can be an adventure as cars come down the street from Alga at about 60 mph and you can't see them unless they are on you. Previously you could turn into the right lane, not now. Now you turn into the single lane and hope for the best. There are also two major schools in the area that have major traffic in the morning and afternoon. Coming down El Fuerte from Bressi Ranch Marl<etplace has now become a cluster when Pacific Ridge School is getting out because of one lane as parents line up on the right curb to try to get into the school. And then at the bottom of the hill the lane merges into a lane and a left turn lane, where if there is a box trucl<, you have to move over into the bil<e lane separation because there is no room. There is heavy traffic on that corridor and two lanes are needed especially because of the schools going in and out. Oh and by the way, because of the steep grade, I see one bycycle every two months ...... Rici< Evans CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 187 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: -----Original Message----- John Kim Wednesday, March 19, 2025 3:16 PM Lovelynne Magalued; City Clerk FW: El Fuerte From: lauri khaz <laurikhaz@hotmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 3:07 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Hello Mr Kim, All Receive -Agenda Item # JL For the Information of the: _ c;:1TY COUNCIL Date2:J//9/r:f5CA cc ........---- CM _ ACM_ DCM {3-) - As a resident who drives El Fuerte multiple times a day, I see very little bike traffic on the majority of that street -with the exception of El Fuerte and Gateway by the shopping centers. It would be nice to keep the lanes as they were before the current restriping. And add the green bike lanes or whatever needs to be done to have drivers pay better attention around the shopping centers. One HUGE factor which isn't addressed is the blind curve coming down El Fuerte and having a huge line of cars waiting to turn into Pacific Ridge School. People even block the lane to try and sneak in the line before the turn into the school. . It's very dangerous!!! In the morning, these PRS drivers whip illegal U-turns regularly on El Fuerte so they can bypass the long line on Poinsettia to make their left hand turn into El Fuerte. It happens every day!!! Dangerous and frustrating! Thanks for bringing attention to this matter. Kindly, Lauri Khaz CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 188 of 212 Tammy Cloud-McMinn From: Sent: To: Subject: Council Internet Email Tuesday, March 18, 2025 3:23 PM City Clerk FW: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project From: Michael <michaelseggen@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 2:58 PM To: John Kim <john.kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project Good Afternoon, I am a homeowner living in the Rancho Carillo Benecia neighborhood on Pointsettia, just East of El Fuerte street, and use the area in the El Fuerte Vehicle Lane Elimination/Narrowing Project multiple times daily. My concern is the plan to create a giant bike lane while eliminating an entire vehicle lane. I am sending this email to show my support of option 3, to restore the striping to the way it was before, including two vehicle through-lanes in each direction and the old 11-foot lane widths for the entire length of the street. Adding a giant bike lane impedes the flow of traffic up and down the hills, not just a peak school and church times, but also general commuting hours and/or meal time hours -adding unnecessary traffic buildup in areas that already have good traffic flow. Thanks, Michael Eggen CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i 1 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 189 of 212 .. 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 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 190 of 212 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 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 191 of 212 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 cycies • 2/3 of hour green • 2/3 of 1,800 cars/hour= 1,200 3/18/2025 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 192 of 212 Monday morning, 8:00 to school start at 8:30 350 & extra 1 0 minutes afterwards m 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 s 200 15 ! 150 100 50 0 3/18/2025 Traffic Count at El Fuerte & Pacific Ridge Northbound. morning ..I 8:00-8:10 8:10-8:20 8:20-8:;IJ 8:30-8:40 Time-- -[Bari Cars left lllffling irm school (lD-mirue sei,nen:) -[Bar] Cars going Sb'aighl (10- mllUa s,grw,r) -[LineJ Cumulative Cin left bming irm school -(UneJ CllmLllmtve cars going Sb'aighl Left turn bay overflowed 3 times All 3 times, median used No blockage= no gridlock '!. 4 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 193 of 212 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 3/18/2025 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. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 194 of 212 Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer March 18, 2025 Options to Revise Striping Plans on Slurry Seal Project May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 195 of 212 { City of Carlsbad 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 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 196 of 212 { City of Carlsbad 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 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 197 of 212 { City of Carlsbad 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 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 198 of 212 6 Originally approved stripingMay 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 199 of 212 7 Option 1Originally approved striping May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 200 of 212 EL FUERTE AND FARADAY AVE 8 ITEM 11: STRIPING PLANS 8 •Industrial area May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 201 of 212 ( City of Carlsbad 9 Option 2Originally approved striping May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 202 of 212 10 Option 3Originally approved striping May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 203 of 212 11 Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 204 of 212 NEXT STEPS 1.Revise the striping plans based on the City Council decision 2.Issue a construction change order ITEM 11: STRIPING PLANS 12 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 205 of 212 { City of Carlsbad 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 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 206 of 212 { City of Carlsbad The City Council also sits as the Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board, Public Financing Authority Board, Community Development Commission and Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency. When considering items presented to the Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board, each member receives an additional $100 per meeting (max $300/month). When considering items presented to the Community Development Commission each member receives an additional $75 per meeting (max $150/month). Council Chamber 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 Welcome to Your City Council Meeting We welcome your interest and involvement in the city’s legislative process. This agenda includes information about topics coming before the City Council and the action recommended by city staff. You can read about each topic in the staff reports, which are available on the city website and in the Office of the City Clerk. The City Clerk is also available to answer any questions you have about City Council meeting procedures. How to Watch In Person On TV Online City Council Chamber 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Watch the city’s cable channel Spectrum 24 and AT&T U-verse 99 Watch the livestream at carlsbadca.gov/watch How to Participate If you would like to provide comments to the City Council, please: •Fill out a speaker request form, located in the foyer. •Submit the form to the City Clerk before the item begins. •When it’s your turn, the City Clerk will call your name and invite you to the podium. •For non-agenda public comment, speakers must confine their remarks to matters within the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction. •For public comment on agenda items, speakers must confine their remarks to the question or matter under consideration. •Speakers have three minutes, unless the presiding officer (usually the Mayor) changes that time. •You may not give your time to another person, but can create a group. A group must select a single speaker as long as three other members of your group are present. All forms must be submitted to the City Clerk before the item begins and will only be accepted for items listed on the agenda (not for general public comment at the beginning of the meeting). Group representatives have 10 minutes unless that time is changed by the presiding officer or the City Council. •Failure to comply with the rules for public participation is disruptive conduct. Continuing disruptive conduct after being asked by the presiding official to cease may result in removal from the meeting. Reasonable Accommodations Reasonable Accommodations Persons with a disability may request an agenda packet in appropriate alternative formats as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids will be provided to effectively allow participation in the meeting. Please contact the City Manager’s Office at 442-339-2821 (voice), 711 (free relay service for TTY users), 760-720-9461 (fax) or manager@carlsbadca.gov by noon on the Monday before the meeting to make arrangements. City staff will respond to requests by noon on Tuesday, the day of the meeting, and will seek to resolve requests before the start of the meeting in order to maximize accessibility. More information about City Council meeting procedures can be found at the end of this agenda and in the Carlsbad Municipal Code chapter 1.20. March 18, 2025, 5 p.m. Exhibit 2 May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 207 of 212 CITY COUNCIL Agenda ~ Spectrum 24 ~ AT&T U-verse 99 March 18, 2025 Page 2 CALL TO ORDER: 5 p.m. ROLL CALL: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONCURRENT MEETINGS: None. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Acosta led the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the Special Meeting held Feb. 25, 2025 Minutes of the Special Meeting held March 4, 2025 ACTION: Minutes approved as presented – 5/0. PUBLIC REPORT OF ANY ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Cindie McMahon announced that there was no reportable action. PUBLIC COMMENT: The Brown Act allows any member of the public to comment on items not on the agenda, provided remarks are confined to matters within the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction. Please treat others with courtesy, civility, and respect. Members of the public may participate in the meeting by submitting comments as provided on the front page of this agenda. The City Council will receive comments as requested up to a total of 15 minutes in the beginning of the meeting. All other non-agenda public comments will be heard at the end of the meeting. In conformance with the Brown Act, no action can occur on these items. CONSENT CALENDAR: The items listed under Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion as listed below. There will be no separate discussion on these items prior to the time the Council votes on the motion unless members of the Council, the City Manager, or the public request specific items be discussed and/or removed from the Consent Calendar for separate action. 1. REPORT ON CITY INVESTMENTS AS OF JAN. 31, 2025 – Accept and file Report on City Investments as of Jan. 31, 2025. (Staff contact: Christian Peacox, City Treasurer and Zach Korach, Administrative Services) ACTION: City Council received the report. 2. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CARLSBAD POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION AND ASSOCIATION’S SALARY SCHEDULE AND UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PLAN AND SALARY SCHEDULE – Adoption of a resolution approving a memorandum of understanding between the City of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Police Management Association and the Association’s Salary Schedule and approving revisions to the Unrepresented Employees Compensation and Benefits Plan and Salary Schedule. (Staff contact: Debbie Porter and Judy von Kalinowski, Administrative Services) ACTION: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-062 – 5/0. May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 208 of 212 March 18, 2025 Page 3 3. FISCAL YEAR 2024 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT – Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to accept the fiscal year 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds and appropriate $16,089 to the Public Safety Grants Special Revenue Fund. (Staff contact: Amanda Simpson, Police) ACTION: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-063 – 5/0. 4. GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024 Adoption of a resolution accepting the General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report for Calendar Year 2024 and finding that it satisfies state reporting requirements. (Staff contact: Robert Efird, Community Services) ACTION: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-064 – 5/0. 5. FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 HOUSING TRUST FUND ANNUAL REPORT – Adoption of a resolution approving the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Housing Trust Fund Annual Report. (Staff contact: Mandy Mills, Community Services) ACTION: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-065 – 5/0. BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBER APPOINTMENTS: None. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION: 6. ORDINANCE AMENDING CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD A CITYWIDE CODE OF CONDUCT CHAPTER – Introduction of an ordinance amending Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 2.16 related to the Board of Library Trustees and the citywide code of conduct and adding Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 11.33 – Citywide Code of Conduct for Public Facilities, Services, Programs and Events. (Staff contact: Kyle Lancaster, Community Services) City Manager’s Recommendation: Introduce the ordinance. ACTION: Introduced Ordinance No. CS-488 – 5/0. ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION: 7. ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8 OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS RELATED TO PEOPLE LIVING IN VEHICLES – Adoption of an ordinance amending Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 8.36, Section 8.36.020 to address quality of life concerns related to homelessness and people living in vehicles. (Staff contact: Faviola Medina, City Manager) City Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt Ordinance No. CS-487. ACTION: Adopted Ordinance No. CS-487. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 8. CITY EMPLOYEE VACANCIES, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS – Receive a presentation on the status of the city’s employee vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts. (Staff contact: Judy von Kalinowski, Administrative Services) May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 209 of 212 March 18, 2025 Page 4 City Manager’s Recommendation: Take public input, close the public hearing and receive the presentation. ACTION: City Council received the presentation. DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER REPORTS: 9. 2025 HAZARD REDUCTION PROGRAM – Adoption of a resolution declaring weeds, rubbish, and refuse upon private property in the City of Carlsbad as public nuisances under the terms of the city’s Hazard Reduction Program and scheduling a public hearing on the topic for April 15, 2025. (Staff contact: Darcy Davidson, Fire) City Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt the resolution. ACTION: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-066 – 5/0. 10. FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATE – Receive an operational update report from the Fire Department. (Staff contact: Michael Calderwood and Nick Ordille, Fire) City Manager’s Recommendation: Receive the report. ACTION: City Council received the update. 11. OPTIONS TO REVISE THE STRIPING PLANS ON THE 2023 SLURRY SEAL PROJECT – 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). (Staff contact: Tom Frank, Public Works) City Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt the resolution. ACTION: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-067 (Option No. 2) – 5/0. Minute motion by Mayor Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, directing staff to return to the City Council in the future when there is a desire to make changes to a street from two lanes to one lane, to highlight in more detail future lane reduction design proposals when Council hears the item, and to enhance public outreach on these projects – 5/0. 12. LEASHED AND UNLEASHED DOGS IN THE CITY AND WHERE ENFORCEMENT OCCURS – Receive an informational report on leashed and unleashed dogs in the city and where enforcement occurs and provide any desired direction to staff. (Staff contact: Kyle Lancaster, Community Services) City Manager’s Recommendation: Receive the report and provide direction to staff. ACTION: Council received the report. May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 210 of 212 March 18, 2025 Page 5 Minute motion by Mayor Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, directing staff to return with changes to enforcement to not allow dogs in the playground areas, sports fields or organized programs and special events in the parks, dogs must be leashed and owners must clean up after their dogs, and to include a cost analysis – 5/0. Minute motion by Council Member Burkholder, seconded by Mayor Blackburn, directing staff to investigate spaces in the City of Carlsbad for the potential of dog parks citywide – 5/0. COUNCIL COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS: This portion of the agenda is for the City Council Members to make brief announcements, brief reports of their activities and requests for future agenda items. City Council Regional Assignments (Revised 01/14/2025) Keith Blackburn Mayor Buena Vista Lagoon JPC Chamber of Commerce Liaison (alternate) Clean Energy Alliance JPA (alternate) Economic Development Subcommittee Encina Joint Powers JAC Encina Wastewater Authority Board of Directors SANDAG Board of Directors (2nd alternate) SANDAG Shoreline Preservation Work Group (alternate) Priya Bhat-Patel Mayor Pro Tem – District 3 City/School Committee Clean Energy Alliance JPA Economic Development Subcommittee League of California Cities – SD Division (alternate) North County Transit District SANDAG Board of Directors (1st alternate) SANDAG Shoreline Preservation Work Group Melanie Burkholder Council Member – District 1 City Council Legislative Subcommittee Encina Joint Powers JAC (alternate) Encina Wastewater Authority Board of Directors (alternate) North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority (alternate) Teresa Acosta Council Member – District 4 City Council Legislative Subcommittee City/School Committee League of California Cities – SD Division San Diego County Water Authority Kevin Shin Council Member – District 2 Buena Vista Lagoon JPC Chamber of Commerce Liaison Encina Joint Powers JAC Encina Wastewater Authority Board of Directors North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority North County Transit District (alternate) SANDAG Board of Directors PUBLIC COMMENT: Continuation of the Public Comments May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 211 of 212 March 18, 2025 Page 6 This portion of the agenda is set aside for continuation of public comments, if necessary, due to exceeding the total time allotted in the first public comments section. In conformance with the Brown Act, no Council action can occur on these items. ANNOUNCEMENTS: This section of the Agenda is designated for announcements to advise the community regarding events that Members of the City Council have been invited to, and may participate in. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: CITY CLERK COMMENTS: ADJOURNMENT: 8:01 p.m. City Council Meeting Procedures (continued from page 1) Written Materials Written materials related to the agenda that are submitted to the City Council after the agenda packet has been published will be available for review prior to the meeting during normal business hours at the City Clerk’s office, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive and on the city website. To review these materials during the meeting, please see the City Clerk. Visual Materials Visual materials, such as pictures, charts, maps or slides, are allowed for comments on agenda items, not general public comment. Please contact the City Manager’s Office at 442-339-2820 or manager@carlsbadca.gov to make arrangements in advance. All materials must be received by the City Manager’s Office no later than noon the day before the meeting. The time spent presenting visual materials is included in the maximum time limit provided to speakers. All materials exhibited to the City Council during the meeting are part of the public record. Please note that video presentations are not allowed. Decorum All participants are expected to conduct themselves with mutual respect. Loud, boisterous and unruly behavior can interfere with the ability of the City Council to conduct the people’s business. That’s why it is illegal to disrupt a City Council meeting. Following a warning from the presiding officer, those engaging in disruptive behavior are subject to law enforcement action. May 5, 2025 Item #2 Page 212 of 212 From:Steve Linke To:Traffic Subject:Public comment on 5/5/2025 Item #2 (El Fuerte Striping) Date:Friday, May 2, 2025 2:14:58 PM Traffic Commissioners: When Carlsbad's General Plan was being updated in 2015, I proposed language that the City Council needs to approve all road diets (vehicle lane eliminations) and any other streetchanges that would reduce vehicle capacity below "level of service" D, even for streets that would no longer be prioritized for vehicle travel. This was intended to have the City Counciltake responsibility for these changes (not just done at a staff level) should issues arise. After much lobbying, this language was eventually included in General Plan Policy 3-P.15, which isrelevant for this item. In January 2023, when I was still on the commission, I expressed support for the road diet on El Fuerte Street for the northernmost segment between Loker Avenue and Faraday Avenue.That was based on a traffic count within that segment that indicated one lane in each direction was sufficient, as well as the lack of any major intersections. However, in June 2023 (after I left the commission) staff came back with an expanded roaddiet on El Fuerte south of Loker Avenue down to Rancho Pancho. I do not believe that any traffic counts were available in that section (only the single count in the northernmostsegment), nor were the entrances to Pacific Ridge School and Bressi Ranch evaluated for potential unintended consequences. This led to a lot of vehicle chaos in those areas, and Iencourage you to watch the 3/18/2025 City Council meeting and read all of the public comments from that meeting in your staff report. In the original 5/14/2024 staff report to the City Council for approval of this project, it wasstated: "[S]taff are confident that there will be no significant change to traffic delays along this segment of El Fuerte Street with the proposed reconfiguration." They went on to say that theiranalysis was a "conservative" estimate. That was obviously not the case. Going forward, when such projects are presented to the commission, I encourage you toinsist that staff first conduct comprehensive field observations of existing peak trafficalong the entire street, including intersections, rather than relying solely on a single or afew daily traffic counts at limited locations, which do not necessarily reflect all real-world conditions. Further, your staff report for this item claims that the City Council expressed general support for the concept of narrowing travel lanes, and that there has been no increase in trafficcollisions, and that the design has performed well. That is a creative interpretation of what was actually stated. Mayor Blackburn said that he took a drive on Cassia Road and has been on Poinsettia Lanenear Paseo Del Norte several times, and that he did not see anybody come across the center line or heard of any accidents there. And he said he liked the fact that the narrowed lanes at thePoinsettia intersection allowed creation of a wider right-turn area in the bike lane, so that cars did not have to wait as long to turn. Councilmember Shin added that the lanes should never gonarrower than 10 feet, or you'll potentially cause accidents due to the presence of commercial vehicles. There were no additional comments on this topic. So, this was not some sort of citywide endorsement for the narrowed lanes, nor does anybodyhave any actual data on traffic collisions, nor is there any evidence that traffic has slowed down (I have seen no evidence of that). Until things have been in place for a few years andreliable before-after studies are conducted, nobody can reach these conclusions, which many never be available, because only the more significant collisions that lead to police reports getrecorded. Best regards, Steve LinkeCarlsbad, CA CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer May 5, 2025 Update on El Fuerte Street Restriping Plan Modifications { City of Carlsbad RECOMMENDED ACTION Receive an update on the City Council’s decision regarding the El Fuerte Street Striping Plans. ITEM 2: EL FUERTE STRIPING PLANS 2 { City of Carlsbad WHAT WE’RE DOING AND WHY 3 ITEM 2: EL FUERTE 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 { City of Carlsbad EXAMPLE – STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE 4 ITEM 2: EL FUERTE STRIPING PLANS 4 2 wide car lanes + narrow bike lane 2 appropriate car lanes + bike lane/3rd turning lane 5 Originally approved striping 6 Option 1Originally approved striping EL FUERTE AND FARADAY AVE 7 ITEM 2: EL FUERTE STRIPING PLANS 7 •Industrial area ( City of Carlsbad 8 Option 2Originally approved striping 9 Option 3Originally approved striping 10 Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 10 CITY COUNCIL DECISION 1.Adopted Option 2: Maintain two vehicle lanes in each direction on El Fuerte between Rancho Pancho and Faraday Avenue 2.Concerns: Potential for increased traffic congestion on El Fuerte particularly near Pacific Ridge School 3.City Council expressed general support for the concept of narrowing travel lanes and the current striping guidelines established during the East West Corridors projects ITEM 2: EL FUERTE STRIPING PLANS 11 { City of Carlsbad CITY COUNCIL MINUTE MOTION In addition to approving the striping revision, the City Council adopted the following minute motion: •Minute motion by Mayor Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, directing staff to return to the City Council in the future when there is a desire to make changes to a street from two lanes to one lane, to highlight in more detail future lane reduction design proposals when Council hears the item, and to enhance public outreach on these projects – passed 5/0. ITEM 2: EL FUERTE STRIPING PLANS 12 { City of Carlsbad NEXT STEPS 1.Revise the striping plans based on the City Council decision 2.Issue a construction change order ITEM 2: EL FUERTE STRIPING PLANS 13 { City of Carlsbad