HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-02-09; City Council; 15052; Stop Sign Request - Hosp Way & Forest View Way- -\
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CITIZEN REQUEST TO ESTABLISH AN
JITG. 2109199 ALL-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF
HOSP WAY/FOREST VIEW WAY IEPT. ENG
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the request for installation of STOP signs on Hosp Way at the intersection of Forest View Way be denied.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
On January 12, 1999, Nancy Held Loucas attended the City Council meeting and requested under Public Comment that an ALL-WAY STOP be established on Hosp Way at the intersection of Forest View Way. She stated that on the evening of January 11, 1999, a driver on Hosp Way lost control of his vehicle and drove into her fence at the corner of Hosp Way/Cedarwood Way. Also on January 12, 1998 (sic), Mr. Loucas sent a fax letter to staff requesting that STOP signs be installed.
In early 1998, Ms. Loucas had also requested a STOP sign on Hosp Way at the intersection of Forest View Way. Staff conducted a STOP sign warrant analysis and informed Ms. Loucas that warrants were not met and staff could not recommend a STOP sign. She was informed that a STOP sign is not installed to control a speeding problem and the type of accidents she was concerned with were not correctable by a STOP sign. Staff informed her that the Police Department would continue patrolling Hosp Way for speeding violations and would place the radar trailer on Hosp Way to inform drivers of their speed.
In Fall 1998, staff investigated complaints about speeding on Hosp Way that were presented in a letter from Courtney E. Heineman, Manager of the Carlsbad-Woodridge Homeowners Association. The letter was also signed by Ms. Loucas and six other board members.
A number of solutions on Hosp Way to address the speeding concerns were implemented by sending work orders to the Carlsbad Streets Department. The October 9, 1998 letter from Jim Murray to Courtney Heineman outlined those solutions. Since 1989, staff has issued 22 separate work orders to improve traffic flow on Hosp Way and to advise drivers of the speed limit.
STOP signs are not recommended by staff as a means to control speeding. A STOP sign installed at an intersection is placed when there is a need to assign right-of-way to vehicles and/or pedestrians. Staff has not found the assignment of right-of-way at the Hosp Way/Forest View Way intersection necessary by installing STOP signs on Hosp Way.
Options for the City Council to consider are:
1. Deny the ALL-WAY STOP sign request at the Hosp Way/Forest View Way intersection.
2. Direct staff to prepare an ordinance to amend Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 10.28 to erect an ALL-WAY STOP at the Hosp Way/Forest View Way intersection.
3. Direct staff to continue to work with the Police Department on solutions to reducing speeds on Hosp Way.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Undetermined at this time. No impact if the STOP sign request is denied.
EXHIBITS:
:*
3:
Location Map. Letter from William Loucas dated January 12, 1998 (sic). Letter from Jim Murray to Courtney Heineman dated October 9, 1998.
TION M
NOT Td SCALE
‘ROJECT NAME HOSP WAY REQUESTED STOP SIGN LOCA T/O/V
‘N BY: SCOTT EVANS. CARLSBAD ENGINEERING DEPT.
EXHIBIT
I
January 12,1999 9:56 AM From: LOUCAS Fax #: 760-729-6313 Page 1 of 1
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CONTINLJE FROM PREUIOLJS PFlGE Ldl Exhibit 2
City of Carlsbad:
William Loucas
2832 Cedarwood Wav
-t I. Carl&ad, Cfl 92008
760-729-7675
- Public Works
City Council
Bud Lewis
Julie Nygaard
City Manager
Police Chief
Jim Murray
Bob Johnson
January 12,1998
To W horn It May Concern:
For about 8 years, my wife has been trying to work with the City Council and the Traffic Department to install
a stop sign at the intersection of Hosp and Forest View. We have suffered the trauma and expense of
countless accidents, both by being the first to arrive on the scene and by enduring serious damage to our
property, and almost to my own life. We have received several letters and phone calls explaining a variety of
excuses as to why a simple stop sign cannot be installed. The accidents continue.
Last night, we suffered through another accident when a car smashed a tree, our fence, our garden and
destroyed a landscaping job that was completed only 3 weeks ago at a cost of $1300. All of this is terrib1.e
but the worst part is the distress that my wife and son must endure time after time. Last night, I was
unfortunately away from home. Immediately after the accident, my wife jumped in the car to chase the
driver, who had run off. She was very upset, was unable to sleep or get up this morning. My son was also
upset last night because of the damage and because his mother was crying. Neighbors had to leave their
homes to console him while my wife worked out the details with the police.
As a citizen of Carlsbad for almost 14 years, I demand that you take a more serious, proactive approach to
this ongoing problem. I am tired of listening to the things that can’t be done. Put up a stop sign and protect
my family, m,y neighbors, and the residents of this town.
Bill Loucas
7
6 Exhibit 3
City of Carlsbad
October 9,1998
Mr. Courtney Heineman, Manager
CARLSBAD-WOODRIDGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
2879 Woodridge Circle
Cartsbad, CA 92008
HOSP WAY SPEEDING CONCERNS
The purpose of this letter is to respond to your letter of July 20, 1998 to Mayor Lewis regarding your concerns and request that something be done regarding speeding and vehicles loosing control in the curve on Hosp Way north of Forest View Way. Staff has completed the traffic study which investigated the speeding issue, the five year traffic collision history and a comprehensive study of the signing and striping of Hosp Way in the problem area.
Our review of the five year traffic collision history and speeding issue focused on the curvilinear central portion of Hosp Way between Avenida Magnifica(west) and Cedarwood Lane. During this time period there have been a total of nine reported traffic collisions on this section of Hosp Way, four of which were at the intersection of Forest View Way. Eight of these nine traffic
collisions found the westbound motorists on Hosp Way to be the party “at fault” for causing the collisions. The primary collision factors of these nine traffic collisions are as follows:
l Exceeding Safe Speed
l Wrong Side of Street
l Violated Right of Way
l Driving Under Influence
(5)
I:;
(1)
The largest grouping of traffic collisions on this section of Hosp Way were the four that occured
at the intersection of Forest View Way. This section of Hosp Way has a 300 ft. centerline minimum radius horizontal curve and roadway down grades to the west of approximately 8.8 %
through the intersection; The primary collision factors of these four traffic collisions are as
follows:
l Exceeding Safe Speed
l Violated Right of Way
l Driving Under Influence
The analysis of the five year collision history does indicate a trend of speed related collisions on this central portion of Hosp Way and in particular the westbound horizontal curve adjacent to the intersection of Forest View Way.
2075 Las Palmas Dr. l Carlsbad, CA 92009-l 576 - (760) 438-l 161 l FAX (760) 431-5769
October 9.1998
HOSP WAY SPEEDING CONCERNS Page 2
Staff also did a comprehensive study of the existing signing and striping on the entire length of Hosp Way, with a focus on the curvilinear central portion of this roadway where the largest grouping of the traffic collisions have occured. Based on analysis of the traffic collisions, the curvilinear character of the roadway and evaluation of the existing signing and striping, work orders have been issued to make the following changes:
l install a “WINDING ROAD” symbol sign with a 25 ADVISORY SPEED sign for westbound traffic on Hosp Way west of Avenida Magnifica(west)
l install CHEVRON ALIGNMENT symbol signs for westbound traffic through the horizontal curve between Pinecrest Way and Forest View Way
l freshen the existing DOUBLE YELLOW striping and install additional YELLOW REFLECTIVE MARKERS and YELLOW NON REFLECTIVE MARKERS on top of the
DOUBLE YELLOW median striping on the horizontal curve on Hosp Way between
Pinecrest Way and Forest View Way
l move the existing SIDE ROAD symbol sign and 25 ADVISORY SPEED sign (for Forest View Way) from the street light at the corner of Pinecrest Wy./Hosp Wy. to the west closer to Forest View Way
In addition, work orders have also been issued to install larger 30 MPH SPEED LIMIT signs on
Hosp Way and also to paint 30 LEGENDS on the pavement adjacent to the existing four
30 MPH SPEED LIMIT signs.
The above mentioned changes and additions to the signing and striping should help to remind motorists of the speed limit on this roadway, increase motorists awareness of the series of horizontal curves and 25 ADVISORY SPEED in the central portion of Hosp Way, and in particular heighten motorists awareness of the westbound curve between Pinecrest Way and Forest View Way. In addition, the REFLECTIVE and NON REFLECTIVE YELLOW MARKERS that are being added on the curve between Pinecrest Way and Forest View Way will create a “rumble” that can be felt and heard by any vehicle that starts to cross onto the painted DOUBLE YELLOW median which will help to keep westbound motorists within their lane through the curve.
Hopefully, these improvements will help to encourage motorists to slow down through the series of curves in the central portion of Hosp Way. We must remember that STOP signs are only installed when warranted and are to assign the right of way at an intersection, not to try and control vehicular speeds.
Thank you for your concern regarding traffic safety. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss this further, please give me a call at 438-l 161, extension 4338.
Sincerely,
Associate Engineer
Traffic Operations Section
c: City Manager Public Works Director Traffic Engineer
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