HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-07; Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission; MinutesTRAFFIC SAFETY & MOBILITY COMMISSION Council Chamber
Ml• nutes 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
July 7, 2025, 4 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: 4:02p.m.
ROLL CALL: Coelho, Penseyres, Proulx, Newlands, Kohl, Nicholes.
Absent: Schuck.
INVOCATION: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Coelho led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes of Regular Meeting held on June 2, 2025.
Motion by Commissioner Kohl, seconded by Commissioner Nicholes, to approve the minutes of
the Regular Meeting held on June 2, 2025, with an amendment to Page 3, Item #3, of the minutes
to correct the word "projected" to "protected." Motion carried, 5/1/l(Proulx -Abstain; Schuck
-Absent).
PRESENTATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
David McGee expressed concerns regarding safety in the Barrio and suggested updating the
zoning.
Jackie McGee spoke in support of the Tyler Street Sidewalk Improvement Project. She expressed
concerns regarding speeding in the Village and Barrio.
CONSENT CALENDAR: None.
PUBLIC HEARING: None.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
1. TYLER STREET SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Support staff's recommendation to the
City Council to approve the Tyler Street Sidewalk Improvement Project. (Staff Contact:
Nathan Schmidt, Public Works Department)
Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Nathan Schmidt reviewed a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
The Commission received the PowerPoint presentation by Transportation Planning &
Mobility Manager Schmidt.
July 7, 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Regular Meeting Page 2
In response to Commissioner Nicholes' inquiry regarding previous and current costs,
Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt responded that there was
originally $900,000 budgeted and current costs are estimated at around $400,000 to
$500,000. He further explained that additional engineering design is needed to refine the
actual cost.
In response to Commissioner Nicholes regarding whether the need for the project has
changed since it was last brought to the Commission, Transportation Planning & Mobility
Manager Schmidt responded that staff's recommendation provides a compromise to
address the primary need of a safer and more comfortable walking surface for Tyler
Street.
In response to Commissioner Kohl's inquiry regarding when the speed study was done
and if it would make sense to revisit for a new study, Transportation Planning & Mobility
Manager Schmidt explained that the study was done in 2023 and that the speeds should
not have changed since then since no changes were made to the roadway design. He
further explained that more recent speed studies were done on the parallel routes and
showed higher speeds.
In response to Vice-Chair Penseyres' inquiry regarding what route seniors take to get to
the Senior Center, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt responded that
seniors typically take Tyler Street as a direct connection to the Village or the Coastal Rail
Trail.
In response to Commissioner Kohl's inquiry regarding whether staff could evaluate the
speeding on Roosevelt Street and add additional speed limit signs, Transportation
Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt confirmed that staff could. Public Works Deputy
City Manager Paz Gomez explained that the previous speed studies performed support
that there is a need to address speeding in the area.
Vice-Chair Penseyres commented that his motion at the July 7, 2025, Commission
meeting should have been to request staff to fix the cross slopes of the sidewalks.
Motion by Commissioner Proulx, seconded by Vice-Chair Penseyres to support staff's
recommendation to the City Council to approve the Tyler Street Sidewalk Improvement
Project. Motion carried, 6/0/1 (Schuck-Absent).
2. 2024 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION MONITORING REPORT: Receive a presentation and provide
feedback on the 2024 Draft Active Transportation Monitoring Program report. (Staff Contact:
Nathan Schmidt, Public Works Department)
Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Nathan Schmidt reviewed a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
July 7, 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Regular Meeting Page 3
The Commission received the PowerPoint presentation by Transportation Planning &
Mobility Manager Schmidt.
Commissioner Schuck joined the meeting at 4:46 p.m.
Commissioner Nicholes commented that a 15-hour time period on a single day in the
month of September for data collection is not sufficient.
In response to Commissioner Nicholes' inquiry regarding what is limiting resources from
longer data collection periods, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt
explained that although the data is captured and recorded via camera, the videos still
need to be reviewed manually for bicycle and pedestrian counts. He further explained
that current technology does not allow for fully automated data collection with the same
accuracy of manual counts which leads to increased costs to review all the video footage.
In response to Commissioner Nicholes' inquiry regarding whether vehicle counts are
performed manually, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt explained
that vehicle counts are performed using pneumatic tubes.
In response to Commissioner Nicholes' inquiry regarding whether vehicle counts could
be collected via the intersection cameras, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager
Schmidt responded that staff could look into the feasibility since the technology should
be advanced enough to count vehicles.
In response to Commissioner Nicholes' inquiry regarding the availability and storage of
the collected data, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt responded that
the raw data is publicly available, but video files would need to be requested since they
are too large to be stored.
In response to Commissioner Kohl's inquiry regarding whether current intersection
detectors have the same capability as previous detectors to collect vehicle counts,
Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt responded that he would have to
confirm with the Traffic Signal Division.
In response to Commissioner Proulx's inquiry regarding potential attributes to the
decline in transit ridership and bicyclists, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager
Schmidt explained that the decline of transit ridership is a nationwide post-pandemic
trend.
In response to Vice-Chair Penseyres' inquiry regarding whether the pneumatic tubes are
able to count bicyclists, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt responded
that the tubes are not sensitive enough to count bikes accurately or differentiate
between bikes and e-bikes.
July 7, 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Regular Meeting Page 4
In response to Vice-Chair Penseyres' inquiry regarding count increases since the previous
year, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt responded that he would be
able to provide more information at a later date.
Vice-Chair Penseyres commented that bicycles with more than one rider and children in
strollers should be counted individually and data should be collected as close to 24 hours
per day.
In response to Chair Coe I ho's inquiry about how the data is used, Transportation Planning
& Mobility Manager Schmidt explained that it helps the Commission better understand
travel patterns across the city and serves as a resource for reviewing individual projects.
He added that staff also use the data to roadway improvement plans based on the
number of travelers by mode and support grant applications and fulfill reporting
requirements.
In response to Commissioner Schuck's inquiry regarding how or why new locations are
added to the data collection, Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt
explained that the new locations were not brought to the Commission for approval but
were included due to grant application requirements.
Commissioner Nicholes commented that it would be helpful to have trend plots when
there is hour-by-hour data collected.
3. SEMIANNUAL TRANSPORTATION REPORT: Receive the Semiannual Transportation Report.
(Staff Contact: Tom Frank, Public Works Department)
Transportation Director/City Engineer Tom Frank reviewed a PowerPoint presentation
(on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
The Commission received the PowerPoint presentation by Transportation Director/City
Engineer Frank.
In response to Commissioner Proulx's inquiry to confirm if the traffic circles on Kelly Drive
were only temporary, Transportation Director/City Engineer Frank confirmed that the
traffic circles on Kelly Drive at the intersections of Hillside Drive and Park drive were
interim traffic circles to address the speeding concerns. He further explained that the
temporary domes have since been removed and staff are in the process of establishing
all-way stops at the intersections.
Motion by Commissioner Proulx, seconded by Commissioner Nicholes, to appoint
Commissioner Schuck to represent and Commissioner Kohl to be the backup
representative at the July 29, 2025, City Council Meeting. Motion carried, 7 /0.
In response to Public Work Deputy City Manager Gomez's request to receive the
Commission's feedback regarding how often they receive the Semiannual
July 7, 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Regular Meeting Page 5
Transportation Report, Vice-Chair Penseyres and Commissioners Schuck, Newlands, and
Proulx responded that they prefer to receive it semiannually, and Commissioner Kohl
responded that he prefers it annually.
COMMISSION COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS: In response
to Commissioner Nicholes' inquiry regarding whether the commercial vehicle parking concerns
that were posed at the July 7, 2025, Commission meeting were addressed, Transportation
Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt responded that staff are currently working with the Police
Department and the Chamber of Commerce to develop a solution.
Vice-Chair Penseyres expressed interest in making a Minute Motion to reaffirm the Commission's
support for the Barrio Traffic Circles Project as originally recommended. In response,
Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt explained that the appropriate process
would be to agendize the item to allow for both Commission and public comment, especially
given that some of the current commissioners were not part of the original review. However,
since the project is already scheduled for the July 29, 2025, City Council meeting, there would
not be sufficient time to hold a special Commission meeting beforehand.
In response to Commissioner Kohl's inquiry regarding a definitive answer on the Commission's
ability to make Minute Motions and any limitations, Public Works Deputy City Manager Gomez
responded that staff would be able to receive a definitive answer from the City Attorney's Office.
In response to Vice-Chair Penseyres' inquiry regarding whether the Commission could hold a
special meeting before the July 29, 2025, City Council meeting, Transportation Director/City
Engineer explained that there is insufficient time and staff capacity to hold a special meeting
before the scheduled City Council meeting.
Based on this discussion Vice-Chair Penseyres withdrew his request for a Minute Motion.
Vice-Chair Penseyres requested that staff provide an informational session on roundabouts and
traffic circles at a future meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: This section of the Agenda is designated for announcements to advise the
community regarding events that Members of the Commission have been invited to, and may
participate in. No announcements were made.
STAFF COMMENTS: Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt spoke about several
upcoming City Council items.
Transportation Director/City Engineer Frank spoke about the 63% increase in bicycle use on
Poinsettia Lane east of Paseo Del Norte.
In response to Commissioner Kohl's inquiry regarding how to submit a request for speed
cameras, Transportation Director/City Engineer Frank responded that staff would look into it.
July 7, 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Regular Meeting Page 6
ADJOURNMENT: 5:55 p.m.
Secretary