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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-05-25; City Council; 6442-1; Median Design Standard for Prime & Major Roadways1 DEPT.- r'- 4. ' c CIT'. >JF CARLSBAD - AGEND, SILL lcin MOR.& TITLE: Median Design Standard for Prime and DEPT.HD= HTG.5/25/83 . Major Roadways lClTY Am!& ZTEM EXPLANATION: On December 2, 1980, Council approved the banded median 'concept, 70% textured concrete, 30% landscape. Because the major cost of installing raised medians is to be borne by developers, they have suggested the City explore other alternatives. study further: Council directed staff to specifically A. The existing median concept. B. Striping and reflector bumps. C. Combination of A and B. Staff prepared an indepth report analyzing each of the alternatives for approximately 44 miles of roadways throughout Carlsbad. The primary function of prime and major arterials is to move large volumes of vehicles efficiently andely throughout the city. To improve and preserve safety and capacity, taking into consideration economics as well as aesthetics, continuous raised medians should be installed. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Continuous raised medians are recommended for the following reasons: They would be consistent with the General Plan and the scenic highway concept. They provide an insulation area between opposing streams of traffic. Controls crossing traffic. Future increases in the traffic volume will re>quire adequate means of continuous separation. Continuous raised medians increase the capacity of a roadway by reducing conflict points. As the city grows, it will be very important for through traffic to use arterials and not impact neighborhood streets. Installation costs may be high, but on-going maintenance and possible liability issues are reduced. The line or painted concept is unsightly, where the raised partially landscaped medians are aesthetically pleasing. Generally, the public gets confused with the line or painted median and does not understand their meaning. They can provide refuge for pedestrians. -1- .” c T c FISCAL IMPACT: ALT. A B C (44 Miles) INSTALLATION 1982 MAINTENANCE COST CITY $8,539,440 1,814,440 3,247,296 $68,544 18,480 39,690 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: On March 15, 1982, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted three to one (3 to 1) to recommend Alternative A and that painted medians may be used as an interim measure until raised medians are all constructed. TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION: On April 5, 1982, the Traffic Safety Commission unanimously recommended Alternative A. PLANNING COMMISSION: On April 14, 1982, the Planning Commission voted three to two (3 to 2) to recommend that Engineering and Traffic Safety Commission identify where a combination of Alternatives A and C are really needed on the designated streets. The major intent is to reduce the amount of median requirements from approximately 44 miles to an unknown figure. In considering where the medians should be located, sqfety, aesthetics, and cost relationships are to be paramount. EXHIBITS : A. Parks and Recreation Staff Report. B. Memorandum from Engineering Department. -2- 2 T M E M 0 RAN D U H F I 1 A, TO : David Bradstreet, Parks and Recreation Director FROM : Bob Wilkinson, Park Planner--, DATE : I4arch 8, 1982 SUBJECT: Median Islands for Arterial Roadway BACKGROUND The recommendation made by the Parks and Recreation Commission on median islands at their November 17, 1980 meeting was presented to the City Council along with staff's report. The recommendation was to adopt Alternative "B" median desigr;, a continuous raised island with planting pockets. This design was to replace any existing striped asphalt median when adjacent development takes place. This development would construct the islands and then the City would assume the maintenance. At their December 2, 1980 meeting, Council approved the recommendations presented by staff. Since that time, various developers have continued to argue the issue of raised islands, persuading the City to waive this require- ment in some instances. Because of this, staff has been directed to bring this issue up for further review. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends Al*ernative "A", a continuoils raised median island, approximately seventy percent (70%) textured concrete and thirty percent (30% 1 planting area. FISCAL IMPACT The following costs are in 1982 dollars for a full system which will be built in segments as the City grows, until build-out of the Ci-ty, approxj-mate year 2 0 30. Maintenance (Yearly) = $ 68,544 Construction = ,$8,539,440 ALTERNATIVES A) A continuous 18 foot wide raised median island. The surface of - the island would be approximately 70% textured, colored concrete arid 30% planting area. This alternative is the same as Alterna- tive r'B" which the Commission previously approved but has minor design modificati.ons to the planting areas. See Attachment "A" for schematic design. ~ Cost: Figures for build-out in 1982 dollars. Yearly Maintenance = $ 6Ef,544 Construction = $8,539,440 0' -1- EXHIBIT A J t 1 il) An asphalt surface median with nut1 ine striping, reflector bumps and diagonal. hash lines with written identification as an gency lane". See Attachment "€3" for specific .design. Cost: Figures for build-out in '1982 dollars. Yearly Maintenance = $ 18,480 Construction = $1,814,440 C) This alternative combines the medians in "A" and "B". Using raised islands at boTh sides of each intersection, it extends the raised portion behind the left hand turn lane. These islands will then control traffic at intersection and provide some planting space to enhance the streetscape of the City. The remainder of the roadway would be treated as per Alternative "B'l, a striped asphalt street surface ; see Attachments 'IC-1" and "C-2" for schematic design. Cost: Figures for build-cut in 1982 dollars. Yearly Maintenance = $ 39,690 Construction $3,247,296 DISCUSSION The primary purpose of raised median islands is to physically separate the two directions of traffic. The objectives of this separation are to increase the efficiency of the road as a high volume traffic carrier by reducing and controlling points of left -turn intersections and to create a buffer between automobiles. These cbjn_ctiTV72~ ::ill bezome more inprtctnt as the City's populdLLon gr'ows and the road system starts to carry the volumes they have been engineered for. Consider El Camino Rea.1 at Highway 78 as an example. If the arterial road system is built wifhout raised median islands, the result could be: 1) The construction of spot islands at intersections and other key areas where problems have occurred; This work would most :Likely be performed and paid for by the City. The City may have a continual maintenance problem on El Camino Real's existing asphalt median because it was not constructed to withstand heavy traffic weight. (The median at the Palomar Transfer Station is an example 1. 2) The construction of on-going maintenance has been addressed in staff's reconmendation of Alternative "A". This solution has reduced the planting area to 30% of the. total full weight island and drought tolerant plant material will be used exclusiveiy in the form of low' mounding shrubs and smaller scale trees. The final consideration is how this roadway standard and its proposed treatment wiIll affect the charkcter of the City. . The importance cif -2- 1 PSiis is described in'*he following excerpt froii rl taff's on-going , streetscape study: i "Streetscayes create a large part of the image projected by a city. An efficient, well laid-our street system is, of course, mandatory but beyond these street improvements is the setting which the road moves through. The visual character or ambiance of these areas greatly affects the enduring impression created while traveling through the city. Plantings and other land- scape features in and adjacent to the road, create a visual foreground adding to the city's psrceivable image". If Alternative "A" is again adopted, the design of the textured concrete and character of the planting will be selected to help create individual landscape themes for each of the main arterial routes in our City. REW : kas Attachments (12) I -3- F+ MEDIAN ISLXJDS -> MARCH 1982 ALTERNATIVE "A" - PRIME ARTERIAL ROADS Q UANT I TI E S Total Miles - 20 Intersections (3 2600 feet - 40 Number of Islands - 40 Square footage per island (minus the 250 foot left hand turn land = tongue both ends) Full Island = 35,700 square feet 70% Textured Concrete Landscape = 24,990 sqilare feet 30% Landscape Planting = 10,710 square feet MAINTENANCE (1982 Dollars) Planting Only - .08C/square foot/year One Island - .08 x 10,710 square foot = $856.80/year Buildout - $856.80 x 40 = $34,272/year CONSTRUCTION (1982 Dollars) Hardscape @ $3.80/square foot Landscape (3 $l.lO/square. foot $3.80 x 24,990 square feet = $ 34,962 $1.10 x 10,710 square feet = $ 11,781 $106,743 Individual Island' Cost = $ 106 ,~743 Buildout (40 Islands) = $4,269,720 MAJOR ARTERIAL ROADS QUANTITIES Miles - 24 Intersections @ 1200 square feet - 105 Number of Islands - 105 Square footages (minus the 200 foot left hand turn land both ends) Island = 13,600 square feet 70% Textured Concrete = 9,520 square feet 30% Planting = 4,080 square feet -5- 7 ,.. ,. ." ." . .- . .-. . I , MAINTENANCE (p12 Dollars) Planting Only -.08$ square foot/year One Island - 4,080 square feet x .08< = $326.40/year Buildout - $326.40 x 105 Islands = $34,272/year CONSTRUCTION (1982 Dollars) Hardscape E! $3.80/square foot Landscape @ $l.lO/square foot $3.80 x 9,520 square feet = $36,176 $1.10 x 4,080 square feet $ 4,488 $40,664 Individual Island Cost - $ 40,664 Buildout' (105 Islands) - $4,269,720 TOTAL COST - 1982 DOLLARS MAINTENANCE Prime - $ 34,272 Major - $ 34,272 Total - $ 68,544 CONSTRUCTION Prime - $ 4,269,720 Major - $ 4,269,720 Total - $ 8,539,440 -6- I -7- t W 2 e- - MEDIAN ISLANDS MARCH 1982 ALTERNATIVE " B" PRIME ARTERIAL ROADS QUANTITIES Total Miles - 20 Intersections @ 2600 linear feet - 40 Square footage (minus the 250 foot left hand turn lane islands) 2100 x 18 = 37,800 square feet MAINTENANCE .11C per linear foot of full width (18') island One segment - 2100 linear feet @ .11C = $236.00 Buildout - $213.00 x 40 = $9,240 a year CONSTRUCTION (1982 Dollars) Base, asphalt striping, reflector bumps @ ^.6OC/square foot One segment - 37,000 square feet (3 .6OC = 22,680 Buildout - $22,680 x 40 = $907,200 MAJOR ARTERIAL ROADS - OUANTITIES Total Miles - 24 Intersection @ 1200' - 105 Square footage (minus the two 200 foot left hand turn lane islands) 800 linear feet x 18 = 14,400 square feet MAINTENANCE (1982 Dollars) .11C per linear foot .of full width (18') island One segment - 800 linear feet @ .11C Buildout - 800 x 105 -= 84,000 linear feet 84,000 linear feet @ .11C = $9,240 a year CONSTRUCTION (1982 Dollars) Base, asphalt, striping, reflector bumps @ .60i/square foot One segment - 14,000 square feet @ .6OC = $8,640 Buildout - $8,640 x 105 = $907,200 -8- TOTAL COST (1gP Dollars) MAINTENANCE - CONSTRUCTION Prime - $ 907,200 Major - s 907,200 Total - $1,814,400 -9- c . . . .- ..” . -. . .. . . . . . . . .,.. ~ ALTERNATIVE "C" + -\ 1IEDIkTu' ISLANDS MARCH 1982 PRIME ARTERIAL ROADS QUANTITIES Total Miles - 20 Intersection @ 2600 feet - 40 Number of Islands - 80 Square footage per island (minus the 250t left hand turn lane tongue) - Full Island 300 feet - 5,100 square feet Hardscape (54%) - 2,760 square feet Landscape (46%) - 2,340 square feet Non-raised asphalt/striped island; 1500 linear feet - 27,000 square feet MAINTENANCE (1982 Dollars) Planting (3 .08C/square foot/year One Island .8C x 2,340 square feet = $187.20/year x 80 = $14,976 Striping 1500 linear feet @ .11C per linear foot = $165 x 40 = $6,600 Buildout - $14,076 t $6,600 = $21,576 CONSTRUCTION Raised Island 3.00 linear feet (full width) Hardscape @ $3.80/square foot Landscape @ $l.lO/square foot Asphalt and Striping @ .6Ci/square foot $3.80 x 2,760 square feet = $10,488 (One Island) $1.10 x 2,340 square feet = $ 2,574 (One Island) .6OC x 27,000 square feet = $16,200 Treatment between two intersections - 2600 feet Two islands and asphalt = $42,324 Buildout 1+0 segments - $1,692,960 MAJOR ARTERIAL ROADS '- Raised left hand turn lane island plus and additional one hundred (100) foot full width island with one 60 foot planter, then six hundred and twenty (620) linear feet of asphalt non-raised median - 12 - - n ‘QUANTITIES * Miles - 24 Intersection @ 1200 feet - 105 Number of Islands - 210 Full Island - 90 feet long - 1530 square feet Hardscape (47.5%) - 878 square feet Landscape (42.5%) - 652 square feet Square footage per island (minus 200 foot left turn lane island) Non-raised asphalt striped island; 620 linear feet - 11,160 square feet MAINTENANCE Planting @ .08+/square foot/year One Island - .08+ x 652 square feet = $52.16/year Buildout - $52.16 x 210 $10,953 Striping - 620 linear feet @ .11 per linear foot = $68.20 x 105 = $7,161 $10,953 -t $7,161 = $18,114 CONSTRUCTION Raised Island - 90 linear feet (full width) Hardscape @ $3.80/square foot Landscape @ $l.lO/square foot Asphalt and striping @ .60C/square foot $3.80 x 878 square feet - $3,336.40 (One Island) $1.10 x 652 square feet - $ 717.20 (One Island) b .60+ x 11,160 square feet - $6,696.00 Treatment between two intersections - 1200 linear feet Two islands and asphalt center section = $14,803.20 Buildout - 105 sections (210 Islands) - $1,554,336 TOTAL COST (1982 Dollars) MAINTENANCE Prime - $21,576 Major - $18,114 Total - $39,690 CONSTRUCTION Prime - $1,692,960 Major - $1,554,336 Total - $3,247,296 - 13 - I sr .. . - __ _. ,_. , .-. .”__ ... . . . -. ,...... MEDIAN ISLANDS March, 1932 Arterial r.oads in Carsbad which are to have raised median islands as per City Engineering Standard GS-1. Prime Arterial - 126' Right of Wav El Camino Real$; Palomar Alirport Road:': Melrose Avenue Maior Arterial - 102' Right of Wav Poinsettia Lane Cannon Road";:?: College Bou1evardf:f: Rancho Santa Fe Road": La Costa Rou.levard (poption) Carlsbad Boulevard:': $;List in the scenic highway element to the general plan as eligible for state scenic highway designation. $;:';Recommend consideration as scenic routes when constructed. - 14 - . 7112 City lllana3er has requested that staff incorporate a median dzsign into the recently Staff has responded to this request by developing two design a1 ter- adopted C i ty Standards. nates. sides for maintenance and safety purposes. scapinq separated by 50 feet of textured concrete. also cmtain the two-foot concrete strips along each side. AlterKate A consists of full landscaping with a two-foot concrete strip, along the Alternate 8 consists of 2@-foot bands of land- The !!lter-na-te B Sandscape areas will The Engi neer4ng Department is reconniending the adoption of F.l ter-ni.,te A, while th? Parks Sta-F-f feels the l'ssues to 53 cocsidered in naki-ng The fo11 ol,lriticf tIk1d Recreation D2partment is recommending A1 ternate B. your comiliiss-ion for thcir recon!merldation. C\ dcc-i s.i 011 on the matter arc safety, ecoriom-ics, aesthet-i cs and t'ilV i rsnxntaf . is a brief discussion of each of these issues as they relate to the two alternates. The isst'-? is king presented to - Safe*- __- The primary safety'considerations are the provision of adequate sight distance at inter- sect'ions and keening obstructions away from the roadway. Roth a1 termtes are aboQt equal in this regard. Each terniinates the landscaping sufficiently away fi,o!n the .intersection to pro- vide adequate sight distance.. Each will contain trees which co:ild seY;ve as obstructions Fur out--of-contro'l. vehicles. tiowever, both designs are located in 2 raised n,.tdic?n with all trees situated at least seven feet off the roadway to reduce the lfkeli'hoocl of this occurrcncc ECC!ilGi!ii cs -_- i The economic considerations should take into acccant both initis1 cost and long-term rtiainte::arict? cost. Alternative A with the full landscaping will initially cost the least to devcfop. t-ial savings in the overall Eaintpnance cost to the City. Char-t Ci for a eetiiler! breakclo?!n .32 these estirnatcd costs. attefitp tecl to redrrse maintenance cost by r,equ-iring native and othei- drought-tolerant plantirrgs 2nd by util-izing lc:~ flow bubS1e.i- or drip irrigation systems. A less evident econonic inipclct Ss the effect attrzctively landsczped med-ians wuld have on .drai;:i::ig c:ddit.iotial shoppers into the City thereby -increasing the City's econonic base. kt.5 theti cs a matter of pcrsonal prcfcrence. . colored textured cnncrete). the less aesthet-ic wi 11 b? the appearacc?, bttt no% everyon? v;oL!ld ilgrec !:.ith 'that: stai;ei!ieilt. a thz~ tic approach t.ci the median landscaping: pl3r1t-S ;i!Oflg the El Caning Reti1 Scenic Route; Cali fornja coastal ;:lo;;g C2rlsS;ld [30tr]cuai-d; and i.lr.tl.i tert-atlciltl a1 ong Rancho .Sar-ita Fe. Such 1 sndscapc clcIsigtis co~il d becoi'ip a utlicpp and d.i stiricti vc asse 1; to fhc City . i-iowever, Al tcrnative 8 Iiijth the greater anoririt of concrete will pi.;;vide cl substan- Please refa- to tlle attached For. both altc:bnatzs, staff has .__-- Aesthetics is a difficult consideration to objectively discuss. Aesthztics is g3nzrally It could be assumd that the ~31-e concrete used (even Bpyond ,.the ii?i tial acstiict.ic considcv.atii2n, the cit.y COU~~':P!J;-SU~ for ex;Iri!ple, Spanisi: and C~I-ifornia r!at.it:c - . "I A f-ectio!i. 1s it solely the' ,iulation density of the coricr -crJ\:er-ed urbal1 jcingles that .,.&;@s [;iity dyzllers eino.tiona1 ly detadl2d and ct-iln? rates Soar. or is it that past Ci.ty ?Ian- th rt;Iture on a daily Staff can't answr that question, but it is a fact that plants do play a signifi- Etct c:~ly do plants provide i-ws didu' t recognize the iniportance of the huisan need for con.tact, basis? cant role in sustaining the ecology of the local environrwnt. refugt. arid forage for insects and wildlife, they also help control the local at~~osphcric environiiient by reducing the heating effect of the roxhay pavement, hy releasing oxygen and by iil tcring out atmospheric pollutants, including that of autonabile exhaust. 1 andscaped median can a1 so reduce 1 oca1 noise 'I eve1 s . Alternative A maximizes these bweficial environmental and corn;wnity effects while Al-ternative B on'ly .minimally does so. A we'll- As additional background, LE have .incliided a few statements froa the City of Carlsbsd's General P1 an elements that. concern 1 andscape planting: .. Scenic Highway Eleillent, Section .3c, Pages 12-13 - "...there applicable cstabl ish regulations and guide1 ines regarding.. .preservation and re- storation of plant materials.. ." Traffic Circulation Element, Paragraph 14, Page 7 - "D2sign roads to enhance scenic areas ; encourage roadside and nedian 1 andscapi ny . 'I Traffic Circulation Element, Section 4, Paragraph 3, Pzge 30 - "4 divided arterial provides an outstanding opportunity io iaprove the appearance of the street and of the commLrnity by attractively 1 and- scaping the dividing iwdian." Open Spce and Conservation Element, Section 11. of Goals and Pol icics, SubsectjirJn 47, Page 7 - 'I.. .to conserve and encourage th2 use of all forins of vegetation nceckd to.. . (b) protect air water r2soilrces and (c) prctect and enhance vis231 resources." ,? In conclusim, Enyineering stzff feels that although the rmintaiance cost of th2 fully landscaped medi;tn alternative r.roiJ1d be higher, the long terin benefit. of the City wocld be kttcr served if Ajternate A is chosen. nrately 35 miles of nedian ares. 011 ten separate arterial roadways. will be over 403,093 people traveling along one or a portion of these routes. these travelers kii;i judge what kind of conimunity Carlsbad is by this contact alone. The decision of which nedian a1 ternative to choose -is, therefore, not art incor1sequmtia-l one. It will have,a d<rect effect on the health, well being and econwic vitality of the conmnit_v as a vhole. !Alhen fully built out, the City will have zpprcxi- 011 any given day, there Plany of DAH : 7 5 cc: Ci ty 1.lanagc.r f'issis tant City ~lanagcr/Developm-:!n t City Engincczr Principal Civi 1 Etigi tieclr Parks 2 F!ccr.eal:ion D i rec toi. - 18 - .I z 0 -i 0 0 . ...* ,.-,..," b . -4 6. 0 *. 0 0 + 19. - Y .. -! TO : tes Eva.ns e-- ? .. c FROII : Kent \+lh i t son DAY E : June 15, 1981 -- SUBJECT: SAFETY AtJD CAPACITY I-IERITS OF RAISED t4EDlAilS - __ - -z - ~ The necessity of raised medians is 'closely related to the functional classificaticn of a raadway. Arterials. The more important functions of raised medians are as follows: 1.' Medians provide an insulating area betseen dpposing streams of moving traffic. bledians provide protection and control of cross and turning traffic. Carlsbad's standaids require raised medians only on llajor and Priz:e 2. 3. In some cases, medians provide a refuge for pedestrians (this might be most appropriate along a beach area where there is considerable pedestrian activity). Setting the aesthetic val'ue of A) medians aside, this report.wi11 address strictly: the safety, and B) capacity merits of raised ncdians. A. Using local examples, it cc?n be seen that raised nedians have had a very Elm Avenue, between scriotis inpact in minimizing or reduciny accidents. Interstate 5 and Harding Street has'had nine accidents during the past year, while €1 Camino Real between State Freetray 78 and I4arron Road has had only five. are alnost 30,000 vehicles per day co7:pared to Elm Avenue's 16,009 vehicles per dzy. median is nearly four tines higher than the street with the median. Another example is: -Denny's Restsursnt on Palomar Airport Road between Interstate 5 and Pasco del Rorte has virtually eliminated the accidents at that point (none reported since the median was installed); and, there has been no increase in the number of accidents per year at the adjacent interscction of Palmar . Airport Road and Paseo del Norte. Since, howver, the traffic volumes have - dramatically increased at this intersection, the acciden't rate has actually decreased (accident rates arc a function of both traffic volumes and the number of accidents). Yet, the traffic v01u;;es on this section of El Canino Real Therefore, the accident rate" for the street without a' raised .. The raised median that was constructed i;) front of By looking at the City's accident records, one can see that accidents have also been ininimizcd along Other' street segments that have raised median I dividers: El Can~lno Real between S:.,allow Lane and Alga Road, Alga Road between AI icante Road and El Fucrtc Strcct. Even the ra i sed median on Pasco del Nortc (whose maclwny classification is- less than J Major Arterial) has been effective in minimizing sccidcnt's: -. c - 20 - 2.L -2- SAFETY AND CAPACITY HERITS OF RAISED MEDIANS June 15, 1931 B. The second major benefit from raiscd medians is increasing the capacity of a roadway. This is done by greatly reducing the pDints of conflict -- - (or interruption of continuous flow) to the through traffic on the major -. . . roadmy. This objective is further accomglished by directing the locally . - generated traffic to c.01 lector streets, which thereby can access the major arterials at well-spaced signalized intersections. All of this is an 'attempt to get through traffic to use the'arterials and not impact neighborhood streets, Also,-as traffic .stcadi ly increases over the years, it will be very important to get as much capacity ou't of the limited number of arterials as possible. *Regarding eiiiergency vehicles, the additional time it would take to go to the nearest median opening could be more than made up by the inproved travel times on the.artcriais with higher capacity. Also, direct access to local properties is discouraged frorn major arterials, if proper design is utilized. All of these design concerns are necessary to maximize efficiency and minimize accidents on the City's major arterials. C: Larry Dossey .. . .. .. .. . _. .. .. .. - 21 -. 23 . ... .. .* - .-1"5;.' .P-- 1 ,.:. i ; x-d .h ; -.< % --w . ~3jy.q- ENGINEERING CO~~PANY 1 PLA~mIx cC:~:wwrS . * 3088 Pi0 PIC0 Dz. S\JITE 202 CARLSEAD, CA '3200.8 .I : I &&..>.A L . Ah0 CIVIC EZtlNEiffS P.O.BOX112~ PHONE AREACODE714 9 729-4937 1 .. .* --.- .. - .. . . ' October 30, 1980. .- . - _- . ._ - - , .- .-. . / .. -. - .. . .- .. .. .. - le. Les Evans . .. 3-200 Elm Avenue .. . Carlsbad: CA 92008 . .. . . .. CITY ENGINEER ClTY OF CARLS3.U - .. .. .. . . . RE:: CWSBAD STANDARDS [MISED NEDIANS Ol$ XAJOR THCROU.GHFAXES] 3 .. .. .. .. e. .. -. - , .. . .Dear Les: . . . .. .. - A questjon 'h& come lip recently' at the City Council relative the installation of raised medians on the prixe and major zrterials within the City of Carlsbad, The concern-of some 05 the Council mm-tbcrs ar_d the staff wer2 the. increased cast for iiistallation of n;&dian irnprovsttents and the perpetual. maintenance a116 upkeep:, Because of the ever incrsasing cojncer-n to "hold thc line" on expen- diture of public money for capitol improvenexts an2 mtaintenancz, 1 would usgcjest that you consider the follo:.ri~g. .E1 Camino Real is a scenic corridor I believe should maintain . and develope with'the scenic corridor character, I would thbk that FJhere existing rcedians area, . that they should bo, enhanced and maintained with public money. Where possible, those existing medj,ans shoulc? be planted with drought resistance and lo;q main- '. .tenance type planting. In addition to the planting, in areas that-are hard to maintain, you may want to consider SOEZ kin2 of hard surface that there is virtually no rmjmtcnance Oil, In areas along El Camino Real that are yet.to be developd, I v;ould suggest that raised medians only be us2d at intersections for S think the planting in the new medians where acccptzble should be kept to a mininun and again, some kind of hard surface be used . in the narrower ends of the left turn pocket and raised media^^ areas. I would suggest that all. the remaining streets within the City of C'arrlsbad that would fall in the prime arterial and Ip.ajor arterial * catcgories[l26 foot right. of wcy, and 102 foot right of way) s:loul.d bc constructcd between curbs 2nd the rncdians should be p~i~~t-cd ;lccord- incj to curxcnt traffic engineering standai-ds, I oould tl.link the .- .. e? . .. .. t'raffic control, and that all other areas contain painted n,e&ians, ._ - 22 - . .. .. ,. . City Engineer should retain the option,.or the aSility,to require adeveloperto put in medians to discaurage leir't turfis zcross the painted medims into driveway areas or areas that are restricted gested along the new secti0r.s of El Canino Real, -_ I -@ -- * to left turns, This probably would only occur :.;>ere existing de- ~- __ - velopiaent is and not in newly develossd areis. to consider putting in raised medians only zt intersections as scg- "or? nay also wane - - .- - There are some dafinite advzntages, I feel, for eliminating the -:..xaised medians other than the obvious cost savings, Quite often, if a raised median is installed aloq a curve6 road that does I- have .super el-evation, you do have the problem of drainage ~CCWL- lating along-the curb line adjacent eo the hiGh spsed lane. 1 :-the.end of the curve, if the water is not picked up in a stom drain, it will cross back zgain over the travel lanes and can case .= :a serious traffic problem. In either case, the installation of . ::.=a storm drs-in is probably necessary 2nd doss zgak add to aclaitional ~ - -cost aE street improvements - I ~ -1 'think a vxy important factor to consider is that if you--have any I - and also kz~e the raised mzdizns, there is no aecessibx,-, area, t7ith th.7 p3.intd : median5, the fire trucks and ernerger,cy vehicles can easily travel. if traffic is stopped in both directions. -:- provic?es an energency area for stalltd vehiclzs if the trazfic is -- kt -- -_ _. -- I c- 1 kind of najor accidents, or events that wodd block traffic up, . - - within the travel lanss for ernersency vehicles. The painted mediim alsa L- heavy and the car in trouble cannot get over to the right hand side of the road, T- There are ping to be areas within -- traGt a'raised nedian opposike his project end v:;.here he. ~;DUM i32 willing to ;3lant attrxtive plantins, proviiie irrigation syster.s, . '-- and provi53 noney for the naintenancs of thDs-2 areas, -- think that a standard could be written to allo-~ that subject to - the City Engineers approval- - -- *- -- City where tievelosers may -- - *- I would .. - I Ir.;ould ask that yoc consider I my recownerdations for requiring medains in only certain areas withirr the City and to delete the requirement for. medians on the remaining major and priiac arterials, X vould bc happy to discuss this with you at your convenience, , _- ' . Sincerely, RCL: TC 3088 PI0 PIC0 02- SUlTE.202 - CARLSBAD, CA 32008 P.O.BOXlf29 * PHONE 0 AREACODE714 0 729-4937 Mayor Ron Packard City of Carlsbad 1200 Elm Avenue Carlsbad, CP. 32008 RE: CARLSS-rlD STANDARDS FARES Dear Mayor Packard: .. -. . . . .. -_ Dscember 29, 1380 . .. FOR RAISED XZDIIANS 013 EL9JOR THOROUGH- .. .. Recently the City of Carlsbad has adopted the standard for raLs& meeians for the major thoroughfares within th2 City- section an2 a 50 foot stam2ed concr.ete section, This section Teas Recreatior, Conqission, . I appeared at the Parks and Recreation moeting 2nd also addressd _.. - . - - __ .- _-_..- - . . . . . . . .a letter ..to the City Enginsee, 1%- L~S EVZRS, 'saggesting that . Carlsbad aSo~?t a standard eliminatizg raised medians and only using the= in areas necesszry for trafzic control, originally thz cocncil w5s concernez abut tltz cost for the i.nstzl--- lation s-nd azintenance of raised rneC5ans and. dkected the Plaltnhg Comnissior, and staff to prmride the3 with a recoTh-endatidn, ' 110:~- ever, at the Parks ah3 Recreation Cozzi~issZon meeting; Lt was 05- v.ious thzt th-2 Cor;;.r,ission was concerzed mainly with aesthetics 3rd appearances ;szd not as concerned wLth cost as x had thou.gli'i, Tbesc. st~~rd- . . ards consist basically of two raised curbs, a 20 foot. %andscape . the alterfizte "B" as recormsnded by the stafE and the Parks a.116. .. A. --.--.-e . .. ' . . . Zit the City C:3zfi<=il meeting discussLorr also centzred prGnari1.y OR aesthetics ZEC? the maintenance cost xere, in my opLx-~Lon, z secon- dzry conc=.r.n. :;o one will argue with the Council thak beautifully - landscaped ndians are not aestheticzlly pkasihs and more a'itrac- ~ tive then 2 fu?ly paved street with the painted medians, I Your City - Enginsex hzts in2icated that from a trazfic standpoint, he feels thcrc is no b-:nZirt Sxcm a raised rnzzian versus a painted 1ttedi.an- *I do feel tf~:!t fron a maintenance stzndpoint, the pai-ntred rneciiarls arc o'uv.i.our;ly 1.css of a burden and e:.:?ense on the Cit-.y arid they also do pxovidc cln area for emergency or stalles vehicles to get- out. of the flow of traf.fic 5.11 the trz-Je1 lanes, -. . - 24 - 3: do have me further suggestion for you to consider, however, fixst- of all I wauld like to point out that if you feel X am beating a de& horse here, pleas2 isnore this letter completely-. -_ -- . e __ - 1 did a quick estimate on the cost of inproving 2 xaj-sed medj-an as defined in alternate "B" versus fully pzved median wLth . _e -- striping. a 70 foot secti.on to bs $49 per running foot, with pavemint aver a select. base rllns about $15 per foot, you can sec., there is a $34 difference p2r running foo? for the initial installation cost, 'I. understand that *,his would be €or by the developer and not the City, hszt if you nuLtiply the $34 per foot times the 31 miles of r;;edians thzt your staff has indicated needs to be constructed, you are tdking a cost of approximately five and a half million dollzrs, AS we all know. this cost is passed on to the people that CZOEI? to our CLty to - work. and to live- The significant szvings is in the perpztual. maintenance that is required, I do believe that your staEf has __ underestixatec the maintenance cost of the nediz?is reflected by the alternate "B" . To still pro-Jidc pleasing street scenes along OUT rnzjor thorough- fares, I haw the following Suggestion, Khy not, on all the major %.rterials, rczuirc ths adjacent &v2log&nt- to 2xt in a-1 addition- al 10 feet cf ladscapin5. This 10 feet could 5s added to the landsca2lng reqtlired withln the rig'rzt or' way, -6 not j..nt&-Zere with any S-~ilding setback areas, Your standzr2ls could bs u_ocjradcd from the rec;::lar standards, irrigation systexs could he instelled and the neinteaance wazlC Secomc a pstrt 02 th2 2Cjacen-l. ctevel.op-. rnents recuizex?ents. cclrridors sild not be burdzned with the extreize cost for maintenhnce- It would alsa provide benefiks Tor the adjacent dsvelopment, in that it WOEIC provide screening fro2 the major streets, and en- hance the frorits of the asjacent developxent, This system would be used in lieu of providing the raised iaedizns as is. c:urreni--ly the City stclndari?. ngain,, 3: k;~i~id like you to reconsid2r your previous approv;ils of the rnzdizn i??rovm!ents. Fihere medLans are required for tK-af:ric control, scc5 zs at intersections and areas w'nzre C~OSCJ t1-ac~j.c is a pzohlcrr., t-kz stzndard for alternate *'E" czn be used, you nay zlso ~~ir;t to i-nclude special 1~rG.scclpc m~,diz?ns at sccnjc arcas or entrances to the city- The alternate "B" median improvensnts averages, over - - The paved median, As This way,' the City would hzve the scsthetic - 25 - -. r ('(4 E Ron Fackard + zmber 23, 1980 Je Three Th li ank you for your consideration in this matter, If 5 ou would ke, I would be happy to discuss this with you or your staCC- -- Sincerely, - - __ -- -a - , . Robert c, Laciwig RCL:rc cc: Mrs, Xary 'Casler, Vice Mayor f4.r. Claude Lewis, Councilmember * Mr. Girard Anear, Councilmemhr Mrs. Ann' Kulchin, Councilmember , . ., . , . . . .. - .. - .I - 26 - -. r .- " . . . . . . - . -- I . . . . . .. . . M .e ' .(I - MEMORANDUM - MARCH 15, 1982 TO : PARKS E RECREATION DIRECTOR FROM : 22 CITY ENGINEER SUBJECT: PAINTED MEDIANS I suggest that Alternative I'B" in your staff report be revised as follows: a). Only install raised reflectors on the outside of the painted island (see attached Detail 29 from CALTRANS Manua 1 ) . b) Change the angle of the diagonal markings so that it discourages motorists from turning into the island (the markings should be white). Do not stencil "Emergency Lane". C) LE :mint - 27 - EXHIBIT B *. . - r. ? (t.23 MARKINGS Traffic Manual 2q1 " A - a Figure 6-6 MEDIAN ISLANDS DETIIlL 28 POLICY .c. 1- 3" . _.- . - - Double le& edgeline pattern for use on ail- paved sections of strests and highways (noP maIIy used on local streets and highwap). - - - 3" e- -->c: \ i / Double left edgeline patfsrn with pavemsnt makers for use on albpaved sections ot strssts and highways (see Nota 1). ! ,/ 1'' I -----.---/ -----_- / LEGEND Alternate to Detail 29. For usa at problem locations where it is difficult to place and maintain lines because o? moisturn, sand, etc. 7 9.. Directions of Travel 0 Non-Reflective Yellow Marker -+ 4" Yeliow D Two-Way Yellow Reflective Marker - 28 - 3a E .. .~.. ... I . . . . ... . I . .- . . . ,-. , .,, . _. . -. . " ._ -.-. .**e -- .----- -.-..-. I-..-.*. .I ,_ .^..___ -. . . . - . _.