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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-06-16; City Council; 11744; Tamarack Ave. (I-5 to Jefferson) raised medianr *: a 5 .rl ? FI a d a 2 a a m -rl (d k 3 u 2 -rl u. daJ rbco ac arb krl (06 G& rd5 a 4u ow u sa, u4 hu w *li -d E3 -OH 2% ow 5 u4 :g mrd ,.c rd uu au a, uc urd a *rl &-d Fla .rl a, uu 43 ord hl 1 Z \ 0 F 0 a : 2 3 0 0 $2 ua m \D Fl a * qy. .I/ CW OF CARLSBAD - AGE A BILL L.& - AB # (4 y& TITLE: WISED MEDIAN ON TAMAWJLE FROM DEPT. I CITY A MTG, 6/16/92 DEPT. ENG CITY MI RECOMMENDED ACTION: THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 5 SOUTHBOUND RAMP TO JEFFERSON STREET Consider removing from the design plans the raised median proposed for construc on Tamarack Avenue between the Interstate Highway 5 southbound ramp and Jeffe Street. ITEM EXPLANATION: Design plans for the widening of Tamarack Avenue between Jefferson Street Carlsbad Boulevard are being completed, with the project expected to be advertise( bids within thirty (30) days. Construction is scheduled to begin in October 1992. One of the features of the project is the construction of a raised median on Tama Avenue from the 1-5 southbound ramp to a point 200 feet westerly of Linmar L Eucalyptus trees on Tamarack Avenue located westerly of Jefferson Street wil incorporated into the median. The segment of Tamarack Avenue near the Jeffe Street intersection and where the raised medians are proposed will be a four- roadway. Two traffic lanes (one in each direction) will be constructed westerly of Lir Lane for the remainder of Tamarack Avenue and continue to Carlsbad Boulevard. Opposition to the raised median proposed on Tamarack Avenue between thc southbound ramp and the signalized intersection at Jefferson Street has been expre: by three businesses on Tamarack Avenue that are located within those limits. primary objection stated by the business representatives is that the raised median eliminate left-turns from Tamarack Avenue into each business and, as a result, negati impact the economic viability of the business due to a loss of customers. Raised medians are constructed for a number of reasons, such as: to separate oppo flows of traffic, prohibit undesirable or unsafe turning movements, provide a pedesi refuge, for aesthetic reasons or to provide channelization at an intersection. In addition to traffic safety and roadway capacity enhancement on Tamarack Avenul a result of the subject raised median, eight queen palms will be installed in the mer between the 1-5 ramps and Jefferson Street. These palm trees will be removed from o Tamarack Avenue locations impacted by the road widening. At their meeting of April 6, 1992, the Traffic Safety Commission, by a 4-1 \I recommended that the raised median between 1-5 and Jefferson Street be eliminatec its place, they recommended that a painted median be installed that would permit turns from Tamarack Avenue into the businesses. The Commission questioned the n for the raised median, expressed concern about the economic consequences to businesses and were concerned that the short distance from the off-ramp to Jeffer Street would not provide sufficient queuing length for westbound vehicles turr southbound onto Jefferson Street. Impacts from gasoline delivery trucks to the ser stations also was a concern of the Traffic Safety Commission due to homes being loa along Tamarack Avenue and the need for the delivery trucks to use Tamarack Ave from Carlsbad Boulevard if the raised median is constructed. 0 a Page 2 of Agenda Bill No. /!, 7 4y The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee (TSCC) recommended, by a 4-1 vote, to Traffic Safety Commission that the raised median not be deleted. The TSCC cited following reasons for not removing the raised median from the construction pli between the Interstate Highway 5 southbound off-ramp and Jefferson Street: Conflicting turning movements will be eliminated. Conflicts between bicycles and turning vehicles will be eliminated. Right angle collisions will be eliminated and traffic safety improved. Roadway capacity will be improved. If necessary, the raised median provides a pedestrian refuge. The median has aesthetic benefits. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Carlsbad Fire Department, a member of the TSCC, voted in opposition to the rai: median because gasoline delivery trucks would be required to use a route wh residences are located if the raised median were constructed. FISCAL IMPACT Deletion of the raised median proposed between the 1-5 southbound ramp and Jeffer: Street will result in a savings to the overall project construction cost of about $30,00 EXHIBITS: 1. Location map. 2. 3. Proposed median locations on Tamarack Avenue. Minutes from the April 6, 1992 Traffic Safety Commission meeting. L LOCATION MAP I I PI0 PIC0 DRIVE ;( 4g 5 I* ................ ....... ........ LINMAR LANE INTERSTATE '-\%::(-' ....... ....... ....... v*.,**, ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ......... ........ ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ........ ........ STREET ....... ...... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ........ ........ JEFFERSON ........ ........ ........ ........ 1 UI 3 z u > 4. I HIBISCUS CIRCLE AT. & S.F. RAILROAD Y 0 )IIIIII In1 Ill a'!p';;;;!:! aT I1 1 1 I' I I" ' 'I I ' . GARFIELD , [I 3 , STREET BOULEVARD CARLSBAD $$$$ ............. ....... ...... LEGEND LOCATION OF RAISED Y\" MEDIANS TAMARACK BEACH ....... ....... ...... 1 PRoJECT NAME TAMARACK AVENUE PROJECT# EXH INTERSTATE 5 TO CARLSBAD BOULEVARD 3203 . 1 * 206-040-01 STREET JEFFERSON I LlNMAR LANE Y 0 ......... *-*-.-.-.* .*.-.'.+' ........... ............ .............. .............. ............... ................ .................. ................... ................... ................... ................... ................... ................... ................... ................. ................ *-.'.-..*'..*.. .............. .-.*.-.-.-.e. a a a 2 < .I- ...... ...... ........ ........ ......... ........ ......... .......... - ......... .................. ......... NOT TO SCALE ......... ........ ......... ........ ........ ....... ....... ...... ...... ..... .:.:.:.:.:.: PROJECT NO. EX1 3203 L t s .~ ~~ ~~ PROJECT NAME TAMARACK AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS e 0 April 6, 1992 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 e the queues on the streets rather tha n from the Committee wa ACTION: restrict ion rial period at the Poinsettia Lane/Avenida ing the hours of 7:OO a.m. to 6:OO p.m., M day. To be considered successful, the 1-5 offramps must be r and Rifkin Bob Johns three signs at that loca uly or August. n considers n Stachoviak inquired about the grace period, and Sg e Police would issue warnings from day one; and seve \ &he signs are installed they will issue citations. B. Tamarack Avenue - Request to remove the raised median between 1-5 and Jefferson Street from the design for road widening. Dan Clark, the Project Manager for the Tamarack Avenue widening, gave the staff report, using transparencies to show the proposed alignment and the different types of medians proposed. The Commission discussion focused on whether or not raised medians were needed in that area, and the effect that would have on the merchants in that area. There is not enough space to accommodate the turning desires, and would create more problems than if it were not a median. Chairman Stachoviak opened the meeting for public testimony at 3:58 p.m. Don Gallacher, Unocal Station, stated he would be affected by this median with a loss of business that could cause him to go bankrupt. The oil company would not go through the residential area in order to get ta his station. He said this is not the right spot for nine palm trees. Mr. Gallacher said he would prefer a painted island, if any change is made. He asked where the funding is coming from, and if this is only tc beautify the area, the funds should be spent elsewhere. d e 0. *. April 6, 1992 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 Jeff King, 3420 Monroe Street, representing Gerico's Restaurant, stated the restaurant has been in that location for six and a half years and has built up a local clientele. This proposed landscaped median is a big economic concern. Their restaurant has only one entrance, and his concern is the ability of the existing patrons west of Jefferson to be able to come to their place of business. This would be a major inconvenience, and 313 of their regular patrons have signed a petition against this median. He said he hoped the businesses there would not be destroyed just to plant palm trees. Lou Main, 372 Arroyo Vista, Fallbrook, representing Unocal 76, the supplier for the Unocal Station, stated his objection to the raised median. This would cause a heavy impact on the Station's business, and there would be no way to get the delivery truck into the Station. A painted median would not affect this, if left turns were allowed at that spot. This Station gets deliveries 120 times a year, and they cannot be made at one particular time all the time. The deliveries can be made at off-peak hours, but not through the residential area. Kevin Bagley, 111 Elm Street, Suite 400, San Diego, representing D. D. Wilson, owner of the property where the Unocal Station is located, stated this landscaped median could put the Station out of business. If that property is empty, it loses its value. He stated there is no good reason for the median, and a painted island would cost less. Chuck Jamison, 895 Tamarack Avenue, representing Don Gallacher, stated he concurred with the previous statements. Bailey Noble, 5470 Los Robles, representing Terramar Association, stated he was neither for or against this item, but was aware that all the alternate offramps will have increased traffic when the construction on Palomar Airport Road begins. Vada Canning, 815 Tamarack, stated she cannot turn in or out of her property at the present time. She said a short pocket will not contain all the cars wanting to turn there at peak traffic times. Chairman Stachoviak closed the item to public testimony at 4:18 p.m. Commissioner Fuller was concerned about the safety consideration. He said he would be in favor of a painted median if one would work. He felt the one shown tonight would not be safe and he would have to vote against a painted median unless he was shown one that would work. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Melideo, the Traffic Safety Commission opposed a raised median east of Jefferson and the 1-5 freeway on Tamarack. The Commission would like to see a well-designed painted median (or left-turn island) in that area that allows left turns and is acceptable to this Commission. AYES : Stachoviak, Blake, Melideo and Rifkin NOES : Fuller Bob Johnson stated that conditions will change when Tamarack is widened, and that area will need to be addressed, either with a raised median or a painted median which permits left turns into the businesses. It is limited because of the short distance there. Mr. Johnson stated that the City Council will make the final decision.