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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-04-03; City Council; 5182-4; Coastal Bike Route,..,.--- -" c -. , CITY OF CARLSBAD x I I' Initial : AGENDA BILL NO. Dept. Hd. DATE : Apri I 3, 1979 C. Atty. C. Mgr. 5 5 182 - SUPP I emen+ #4 DEPARTMENT: Engineering Subject: COASTAL BI KE ROUTE * Statement of the Matter The City Council, on March 20, 1979, as a non-agenda item, tentatively indi- cated their preference to modify the radius of curb returns proposed in con- junction with the Coastal Bike Route project from a 20-foot radius to a 15- foot radius. They further instructed staff to prepare a report and return the matter to Council for fGrther consideration. Attached is a memorandum prepared by the Transportation Engineer. The net result is that the City will still need to obtain right-of-way if we are to construct the sidewalks and to include wheelchair ramps required by State law. Decreasing the radius will not significantly impact the available space for sidewalk. It will in- crease it from 24 feet from the corner to 4 feet from the corner as indi- cated on the sketch attached to the Transportation Engineer's memorandum. The change in radius will require a reduction in speed of those cars enter- ing the side streets from Carlsbad Boulevard with the increased probability of rear-end collision accidents. The diminished radius may also require the removal of a parking space on the side street that we had hoped to preserve to meet the needs of beach parking. This latter would be necessary to in- sure proper sight distance for the driver making the turn onto the side street. It is my op nion that the City, if it acts to decrease this radius, would significantly ncrease its exposure to liability in any resulting traffic accidents. consider it my professional responsibility to strongly urge the Council not to make this change. Exhibit Memorandum from Transportation Engineer dated March 22, 1979 Recommendation That the City Council concur with the design as presented from the consult- ing engineer and approved by the City Engineer. Council Action: 4-3-79 Council concurred with design as presented from the consulting engineer and. approved by the City Engineer. MEMORANDUM TO : Pub1 ic Works Administrator FROM : Transportation E,ngi neer DATE : March 22, 1979 SUBJECT: CURB RETURNS - COASTAL BIKE ROUTE According to the "Standard Specifications - City of Carlsbad", the mini- mum radii for a corner cutoff shall be 20 feet, which would facilitate a 30-foot curb return. In order to minimize the amount of additional right- of-way needed for the curb returns and the wheelchair ramps, it was de- cided by staff and the consultant that a minimum 20-foot curb return was acceptable. An additional 5 feet could be credited because of the 5-fOOt bike lane. i . _. . By reducing the curb returns to 15-foot radii, an additional I& feet can be gained on the corners (see sketch). However, accident potential is in- creased since vehicles, especially longer ones, are more likely to go over the curb returns, and northbound motorists turning right from Carlsbad Boulevard would have to slow down more than necessary, thereby increasing the potential for rear-end accidents. The el imination of parking on the side streets wi I I have to be inve&i- gated on an individual basis as problems arise, but the 20-foot radius will provide better sight distance at each intersection with a lesser rad i us. In my opinion, the City will be far more vulnerable to liability if curb returns less than 20-feet are constructed. Kent A. Whitson, P.E. ** Transportation Eng i neer KAW: VEB i .. . _. .. .. .. .. .. .. .-