HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-10-02; City Council; 6019; Speed Limits on Carlsbad BoulevardCITY OF CARLSBAD
Initial:
AGENDA BILL NO. Dept. Head
DATE:—._ October 2, 1979 _ C• Atty
C. Mlgr. 4_2 7
DEPARTMENT: _Public Works _
SUBJECT: SPEED LIMITS ON CARL'SBAD BOULEVARD
STATEMENT OF THE MATTER
In the September 10 meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission, the
Commission recommended lowering the posted speed limits on Carlsbad
Boulevard north of Manzano Road to 35 miles per hour. This action
was based on the recommendation of Kent Whitson, the City's traffic
consultant, to provide a uniform speed limit on Carlsbad Boulevard.
'Although the speed zone survey indicates that the 85th percentile
speed is actually 45 mph, the traffic engineer has recommended a
lower speed limit based on the following unusual conditions:
1) Traffic volumes on the two-lane road exceed 15,000
vehicles per day.
2) The travel lanes are less than the 12 feet normally
required for higher speeds.
3) The beach activities which generate parking and
pedestrian conflicts are becoming more intense.
EXHIBITS
1. Memorandum from traffic consultant dated September 18, 1979.
2. Ordinance No.�3
RECOMMENDATION
If Council concurs, your action is to introduce Ordinance No.a/! S--
Council Action:
10-2-79 Council introduced Ordinance 3115, amending the Municipal Code
to revise the posted speed limit on Carlsbad Boulevard.
10-16-79 Council adopted Ordinance 3115.
MEMORANDUM .
TO: City Engineer
FROM: Consulting Transportation Engineer
DATE: September 18, 1979
SUBJECT: RECOMMENDED 45 M.P.H. ZONE TO 35 M.P.H.
According to the CalTrans Traffic Manual (and standard practice), "speed
limits should be established preferably at or near the 85 percentile
speed.
"Only when roadside development results in traffic conflict; and unusual
conditions which are not readily apparent to drivers, are speed limits
somewhat below the 85 percentile warranted."
I feel that the reduced speed limit would fall into the above category,
partly for the following reasons:
1. the traffic volumes have increased from about 9,000 to about 15,000
vehicles per day;
2. the demand for good beach areas has been extremely high in this area;
3. pedestrian activity is increasing, especially with all the parking
along the east side of Carlsbad Boulevard; and
4. even when the parking is removed for the upcoming bike lanes, the
striping of the bike lanes will reduce the effective width of travel
lanes.
I recommend that once all the bicycle lanes have been incorporated and
had a chance to function that a radar and accident survey be made to mea-
sure any improvements.
t.tr�.,
Kent A. Whitson, P.E. °y
Consulting Transportation Engineer
KAW:VEB
ORDINANCE NO. 3115
1 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 10,
2 CHAPTER 10.44 OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE
BY THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 10.44.030 TO
3 REVISE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT ON CARLSBAD
BOULEVARD
4
5 The City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, hereby
6 ordains as follows:
7 SECTION 1: That Title 10, Chapter 10.44 of the Carlsbad
8 Municipal Code is amended by the amendment of Section 10.44.030
9 to read as follows:
10 "10.44.030 Carlsbad Boulevard. (a) Upon Carlsbad Boulevard
between the north boundary of the City and 1000 feet south of
11 Manzano Drive the prima facie speed limit shall be thirty-five
miles per hour.
12 (b) Upon Carlsbad Boulevard between 1000 feet south of the
13 southerly boundary of the right-of-way of Manzano Drive and the
south boundary of the City, the prima facie speed limit shall be
14 forty-five miles per hour."
151 EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty
16 days after its adoption, and the City Clerk shall certify to the
17 adoption of this ordinance and cause it to be published at least
18 once in the Carlsbad Journal within fifteen days after its adoption.
19 INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a regular meeting of the City
20 Council held the 2nd day of October , 1979 and thereafter
21 PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of said City Council
22 held the LUday of October , 1979 by the following vote, to wit:
23 AYES: Councilmen Packard, Skotnicki, Anear, Lewis and
NOES: Councilwoman Casler
None /'
24 ABSENT: None
25-RONALD C. PACKARD, Mayor
ATTEST:
26
27'
ALETHA L. RAUTENKRANZ, City Cl
28 (SEAL)