The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1985-12-17; City Council; 8449; La Costa AV improvementsCITY*-IF CARLSBAD - AGENDA -ILL 4B# fv'f 9 TITLE: IIITG. 12/17/85 IMPROVEMENTS TO LA COSTA AVENUE IEPT. WEST OF EL CAMINO REAL TO 1-5 DEPT. HD. CITY All'Y CITY MGR.L~P/ RECOMMENDED ACTION: I request the City Council to direct the City Manager to bring a report to Council within 30 days estimating the costs of improvements to La Costa Avenue west of El Camino Real to Interstate 5. ITEM EXPLANATION: Estimate should include: 1. Modernizing and widening the intersection and signal at La Costa Avenue and El Cawino Real. 2. Widening the roadway to 4 lanes. 3. Widening the bridge over 1-5 and improving the on and off-ramps. This report should also include: 1. Methods and costs of financing 2. Estimate of time until completion FISCAL IMPACT: 1985-86 CIP appropriates $320,000 for design and construction of La Costa Avenue and El Camino Real intersection improvements. Wildan Engineering has contract to do preliminary design and cost estimates. DECEMBER 17, 1985 TO: CITY MANAGER FROM: City Engineer LA COSTA AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS The City Council is considering improvement of La Costa Avenue between El Camino Real and 1-5. Wi 11 dan Associates , consul ting ci vi 1 engineers , have prepared cost estimates for four projects for improving La Costa Avenue. They are: Phase I - Interim Improvements a. La Costa Avenue Q El Camino Real $990,000 b. La Costa Avenue 0 1-5 $575 , 000 Total Estimated Interim Project Cost $1,565,000 Phase I1 - Major Improvements a. Widen Bridge @ 1-5 $2,100,000 b. Widen La Costa Avenue $4,300,000 Total Estimated Major Improvements $6,400,000 TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST $7,965,000 It is estimated that construction could commence on the interim El Camino Real/La Costa Avenue Project on or about April 15, 1986, rain permitting; and on the interim I-5/La Costa Avenue Project about July, 1986. We have also estimated construction could commence on or about May, 1987 on the Phase I1 major improvements. Attached is Wi 11 dan Associates ' 1 etter dated December 16, 1985 depicting the above in more detail. DED: cl e Attachments cc: Principal Civil Engineer, Municipal Projects December 16, 1985 Mr. Donald E. Donovan CITY OF CARLSBAD 1200 Elm Avenue Carlsbad, CA. 92008 Dear Gene: The Carlsbad City Council has grown increasingly concerned about the current and future traffic congestion along La Costa Avenue. Over the past few months, they have awarded contracts to prepare an alignment study for the ultimate improvement of La Costa Avenue, as well as for the final design for intersection improvements and widening of La Costa Avenue immediately west of El Camino Real. Despite these ongoing efforts, based on the estimated 6,000 approved, but unconstructed, dwelling units in La Costa, the City Council is considering a plan to complete the widening of La Costa Avenue for the entire length from El Camino Real to Interstate 5, including the reconstruction of the freeway interchange. This is based, in part, on the current "F" level of service at the intersection of El Camino Real and La Costa Avenue during the evening peak hours, in which it is not uncommon for vehicles to wait through three or more signal cycles before they are able to clear the intersection. Addi- tionally, traffic waiting at the freeway off-ramps, at times, backs up to'the through lanes, which is an extremely undesirable situation. It is clear from these conditions that improvements must be made in the near future to either La Costa Avenue and its interchange with Interstate 5, or provisions must be made for an alternative east/west connection to the freeway, such as the extension of Olivenhain Road to Leucadia Boulevard. This latter connection, however, is outside of the City of Carlsbad's jurisdiction, and due to the current agricultural operations along that alignment, it is unlikely that that extension will be completed in the near future. You have, therefore, re- quested this letter to identify the costs for a complete reconstruction of La Costa Avenue from El Camino Real to Interstate 5, as well as, available alternatives and their cost implications. Travel forecasts for this portion of La Costa Avenue, made in connection with Hunt Property Incorporated's (HPI) proposed Pacific Rim Master Plan, indicate that La Costa Avenue should be widened to six lanes, plus dual left turn lanes, at El Camino Real. This six lane configuration should be carried westerly, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 feet along the Green Valley portion of HPl's property. At that point, due to the lack of future access, it will be possible to reduce the width of the roadway to four lanes, with a reduced c 3633 CAMINO DEL RIO SOUTH SUITE 207 SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA 92108 (619) 281-9211 December 16, 1985 Letter to Mr. Gene Donovan CITY OF CARLSBAD Page Two median. This narrowed four lane configuration could erly to a point approximately 1,000 to 1,500 feet from Doint, the road should widen to six lanes to carry then be carried west- Interstate 5. At that traffic to the freeway interchange. The interchange needs to be reconstructed to accommodate a minimum of two through lanes in each direction, plus two left turn lanes and re la ted bicycle and pedestrian faci lit ie s . Since La Costa Avenue currently runs along the south shore of Batiquitos Lagoon and abuts steep slopes south of the roadway, construction of the widened roadway will result in substantial amounts of cutting into the hillside. This area is clearly extremely sensitive from an environmental standpoint, therefore, it is recommended that the roadway be constructed to minimum design standards, reducing the right-of-way as much as practical to accommodate the traffic while still minimizing the potential impacts onto the environment. Based on the preliminary information from the ongoing align- ment study, a reduced right-of-way width is proposed in this area. The street cross-sections for the various lane configurations are shown on the attached figures. A construction project of this magnitude will involve not only a considerable design period, but also require permits from various agencies, including CALTRANS for the freeway interchange, and the State Department of Fish and Game, and U.S. Corps of Engineers for any encroachments into the wet- lands area of Batiquitos Lagoon. Additionally, right-of-way will need to be acquired along the entire length of La Costa Avenue. This process, if started immediately, is anticipated to take approximately 12 to 15 months, indicating the complete widening project could be under construction during the Spring of 1987. Detailed time schedules are included for your review. As noted, there is currently considerable congestion at both the freeway interchange and at El Camino Real. The City Council has previously author- ized a design project to widen La Costa Avenue immediately west of El Camino Real. If this project were expanded to include the widening of El Camino Real immediately north and south of the intersection to prime arterial standards, the current level of service IIF" o peration could be dramatically improved to level of service 'IB". Since this project is substantially smaller than the overall widening project, the design and permitting process can be accomplished much sooner. It is anticipated that it could be under con- struction as soon as weather permits this Spring, approximately mid-April. A similar interim project is also possible at the freeway interchange, which could help to alleviate some of the current congestion. By signalizing the two freeway ramps and widening La Costa Avenue from two to four lanes for approximately 1,000 feet east of 1-5, substantial congestion relief could be realized. Again, due to the reduced scope of this project, it is likely that this interim project could be accomplished during the Spring of 1986 as well. This second interim project, however, will involve CALTRANS approvals, December 16, 1985 Letter to Mr. Gene Donovan CITY OF CARLSBAD Page Three which might extend the design phase into the Spring with construction to occur during the Summer of 1986. We are attempting to resolve the extent of CALTRANSI involvement and will advise you as soon as possible. Both interim projects could be designed and constructed so that they would be integrated readily into the overall widening project. It should also be clear that these interim projects will provide only temporary relief, that once the approved dwelling units are occupied, it will certainly be necessary for La Costa Avenue and the freeway interchange to be widened as proposed. We have completed preliminary construction cost estimates for each of these projects in today's dollars. These costs, including design, construction and construction management, are summarized below with a detailed cost breakf down to be submitted under separate cover. Interim La Costa/El Camino Intersection Improvements - $ 991,000 Interim Freeway Interchange I m proveme nt s - $ 575,000 Reconstruction La Costa - El Camino Real to 1-5 - $4,334,000 Widen Freeway Interchange - $2,055,000 No specific sources of funding have been identified for the projects. The interim projects could possibly be funded by City Gas Tax or general funds in order to expedite their construction. The two larger projects, however, will probably require other funding sources. Some of the other sources might include an Assessment District, Developer Exactions, Certificates of Participation combined with benefit fees or some combination of the above. It is our understanding that the ongoing La Costa Area Traffic Fee Study is reviewing similar options and should provide needed input into this area. December 16, 1985 Letter to Mr. Gene Donovan CITY OF CARLSBAD Page Four Willdan Associates is available to provide whatever assistance you need in realizing the completion of these projects. Our staff is rapidly completing the alignment study, which is expected to be available the first week of January. Yours truly, WI LLDAN ASSOCIATES Division Manager RMS: SI Attachments P 85-170 JN 6841 - .J IO IO 17 12 I 15 12 15 "I 110 r- IO I 15 4 I I l5 I It I I' 12 -1 If 't I I jll LANE CONFIGURATION LA COSTA 81 El CAMINO io L - 17 FIGURE I LA COSTA AVE. c ...... -. - .. e-*-: .- :- - . _. . :.. ........... .... .. .. .. . - .. - 5 BIKE 12 12 64/80* 8 12 - -- 12 .... .c 5 BIKE ..... ... .... .. .5* ..... ........... .. *. . % ;' *.. .... .. .* . I - - -- #k EXPANDS TO 70186 W/ 4 FT. MEDIAN AND 10 FOOT LEK TURN LANE AT SAXONY RD. I LANE CONFIGURATION I FIGURE 2 LA COSTA BETWEEN 1-5 8 ELCAMINOIW ~~~~ 1. 1 - 12 - I2 ' I I k- I5 LANE CONFIGURATION LA COSTA AVE/L-5 INTERCHANGE VI'----- 5 .. .... : ' .:. . '. ;.:. 'r . . .. .> * y , , . :. e I5 FIGURE 3 7mc 0 cis p;. -7 13- JC CD co c 0 ucl I .... VI > C 0 0 < u C 0 U '5m> I- nau zo> 0 ucr 0 uc, I In L 01 $5 $% II L + 0 c C 0 cr u m .- t m .- E n c, C Q: C .- E W In al 53 v) E 2 'c E