HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-08-15; City Council; 18703; PRESENTATION: TRUCK TRAFFIC ON EL FUERTE STCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL 13
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DEPT. CM
ll^t/VE PRESiEWArOW REGARDING
TRUCK TRAFFIC ON EL FUERTE
STREET
DEPT. HEAD U/—
CITYATTY. /^
CITYMGR. (/o—^
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive presentation regarding truck traffic on El Fuerte Street.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
The City Council provides an opportunity for citizens and organizations to have an item placed
on a City Council Agenda by submitting a letter to the City Manager. Attached is a letter from
George and Mary Sarnecky requesting that the City Council receive a presentation regarding
truck traffic on El Fuerte Street.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Unknown at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
None
EXHIBITS:
1. Letter to Ray Patchett, City Manager, from George and Mary Sarnecky, residents of
Carlsbad, dated August 1, 2006
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Joe Garuba, City Manager's Office (760) 434-2820
jgaru@ci.carlsbad.ca.us
FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY,
COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED
DENIED
D
CONTINUED TO PATE SPECIFIC D
CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN D
' • O
' Report >
Drs. George J. and Mary T. Samecky
U.S. Army (retired)
(760) 438-3626
2856 Cacatua Street Carlsbad, CA 92009
gsarneckyrgadelphia.net msarneckvra-adelpliia.net
August 1,2006
Ray Patchett
City Manager
City of Carlsbad
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Dear Mr Patchett:
We are writing you as representatives of about 200 citizens who reside in the vicinity of
the El Fuerte Street corridor, primarily between Poinsettia Lane and Alga Road. As a
group, we have joined together and pledged to do what we can to address safety concerns
and improve quality of life issues that have arisen as a result of the increased heavy
construction truck traffic on El Fuerte Street.
Our purpose in communicating with you is to ask that you place our issue, the increased
heavy construction truck traffic on El Fuerte Street, on the agenda of the next City
Council meeting scheduled for August 15, 2006. Should that agenda already be full, can
you please then place it on the agenda of next scheduled City Council meeting.
Our thanks to you for providing us with this service!
V
George J. Samecky Mary T. Samecky
/ -',y
///*.'•'
\::, CRy Manager's Offiw^, Ci^ of Carlsbad\'^
Ray Patchett - Truck Issue on CC agenda August 15 All Receive Pa9e 1
For the Information of the:
CITY COUNCIL
From: Bob Johnson
To: Chris Boyd; Don Rawson; Glenn Pruim; Lisa Hildabrand; Ray
Hammann; Tom Zoll
Date: 08/10/2006 1:20:16 PM
Subject: Truck Issue on CC agenda August 15
This morning I met with Farrah Douglas, a resident of Rancho Carrillo. She was reasonable and was
trying to obtain a better understanding of the issues. Farrah said that she and a number of the residents
from Rancho Carrillo will be speaking on August 15. They are upset that the El Fuerte residents have the
item on the agenda to ask Council to remove trucks from El Fuerte Street and place the trucks on
Melrose Drive. I explained the current and future haul route permits expected to be issued and that the
large mass grading in the area for all projects was essentially over and that fewer trucks could be
expected in the future, although trucks with approved haul route permits will still be using the roads over
the next several years.
They will bring up a number of issues, including asking for more police enforcement. I explained that PD
has been out working Melrose Drive , however, what they believe are the facts and what the officers find in
the field are different. They will ask for solutions such as adding more traffic signals, adding more signs,
re-route trucks off Melrose, lower the speed limit, etc., all with the location of the elementary school being
the reason. I told her they have been complaining all summer even when school wasn't in session.
It is unfortunate, but we will have two neighborhoods opposing each other at the City Council meeting over
an emotional issue, each wanting the other to bear the brunt of truck haul routes. The PD has a strategy
in place when Melrose Drive opens north of Palomar Airport Road, but I expect the complaints about
trucks on Melrose Drive to intensify after the opening of the road. Carrillo Elementary School and La
Costa Meadows Elementary School open on August 14.
All Receive
For the Information of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Asst. CMJ^CA
DateBffCit
Carlsbad City Council Meeting - June 27, 2006
Verbatim Text on Council Agenda Item No. 10:
Vehicle Weight Rating on Melrose Drive
Skip Hammond, City Engineeer and Bob Johnson Deputy City Engineer gave the staff report.
Johnson: "This is a continued item as the City Manager indicated and staff is here to answer
any questions you may have. We don't have a formal presentation tonight but we are available
to answer the questions that you may have."
Mavor: "I would like to remind the audience we've closed off any additional information. I think
this Council is fully aware of the concerns of the citizens in that area. We have received a
number of emails and we've read through those and understand exactly their duplication almost
of those we've had before, and understand their concerns.
On this situation everyone is not going to be content nor pleased because this is a compromised
situation that we have to look through. I would like to remind folks again when Melrose was first
put through, before you were ever in that area, this was to be a major artery - a major circulation
pattern. This Council has bought off on a portion of it being not included as a truck route. That's
quite a compromise because we've never done that before. But I have problems with it right
now but because of the location of the school. We've done a little research on the school
situation and Mr. Hall will be reporting on that as well. We do need get in touch with the school
superintendent and the board over there to help us out on this because there's a problem there
as we see it and the problem really stimulates from the location the school board actually
selected. Because they had two other sites they could have selected, but instead they selected
this one and Mr. Hall can get into that."
The truck issues on Melrose Drive and El Fuerte street before we get started - I'll have to say El
Fuerte, there is no way in the world I can support putting truck traffic on that two lane road that
was not built for truck access whatsoever. And that's something this Council will have to look at
very closely. This has to be a common issue of understanding what have you. The street is just
not geared for handling that kind of traffic.\AUG 1 4 2005
CITY OF CARLSBAD
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Any questions of staff before we get into it? We do have the Deputy City Engineer's report on
transportation on El Fuerte and the rest of it. Any other concerns?"
Kulchin: I have read the emails we have gotten. I've got at stack about that thick. It's a difficult
problem. I'm trying to be fair to everybody. I have friends that live off El Fuerte and friends that
live off of Melrose and you're trying to the best thing and as a former teacher I understand and I
know the principal down there. It's been a little bit of a balance. I want to make sure I
understand.
(To S. Hammond) "Melrose, to the north of Palomar Airport Road - that would be a truck
route?"
Hammond: "That's correct. When it opens up it."
Kulchin: (To S. Hammond) "Melrose, taking south of Palomar Airport Road all the way to Alga.
That is a haul route?"
Hammond: "It would be designated as a non-truck route."
Kulchin: "But you could haul on that."
Hammond: "You could haul on it with local deliveries and with a haul route permit. A haul route
permit would be going to a destination in Carlsbad."
Kulchin: "To get a haul permit you would have to go each time you wanted to haul something
on that road is that correct?"
Hammond: "That's correct."
Kulchin: "Our City Attorney was saying it would be difficult, but one of the speakers last week
talked about having something designated that they could put on a truck that was doing some
hauling that it had a permit. Do you have any comments about that?
Something that would not be permanent."
Hammond: "That's something we could look into. Right now they have to have a haul route
permit in their cab. Perhaps we could have something that would be a bright color they maybe
could have in their window or something like that. We could look into that, but currently they just
have to have the permit in the cab."
Kulchin: "I guess if the suggestion would be that way if they saw something coming down they
would know this vehicle had a haul permit to go down on that road."
Hammond: "We could certainly explore that."
Kulchin: (referring to the map) "The truck routes are the major ones we can see in the dark, El
Camino Real, Palomar Airport Road, Rancho Santa Fe Road. Then the truck route starts at the
end Melrose and Alga. Is that correct?"
Hammond: (a/so referring to the map) "The roads in red are the ones designated as truck
routes."
Kulchin: "Then Rancho Santa Fe connects with Melrose."
Hammond: "Yes, that's atthe City of San Marcos boundaries."
Packard: "I want to correct one thing because I think somebody might get the wrong perception
of what Mrs. Kulchin was asking. She asked if any vehicle would have to have a haul permit.
That's only if somebody is doing major hauling. For example, if somebody went to Sears and
bought a washer and dryer and asked to have it delivered in their delivery trucks which very
easily could be over 7 tons, they wouldn't have to have a haul permit to deliver it to a house on
Carrillo Way would they?"
Hammond: "No they would not. That would be considered a local delivery and would be
exempt."
Packard: "But see, that would be an example of a truck not without a haul permit, but
authorized under City policies to travel on Melrose even through that section of the road?"
Hammond: "Yes, that's correct. When we issue haul permits it's a very limited type of thing.
But there are a lot of other trucks that can haul legally without a haul route permit. And that's a
good example."
Packard: "Some people, if they don't see a bright sticker in a visor might think that truck has no
legal right to be on the road and that's not the case. There are plenty of large vehicles like
service delivery trucks that would still meet the criteria of being allowed through that area."
Kulchin: "I appreciate that Dr. Packard. If somebody sees Sears on a truck, they know they are
not hauling concrete."
Packard: "But let's say your neighbor's building a pool in their back yard and need to have
some gunnite delivered to their pool. They wouldn't have to have a haul permit either when it's
a very small project like that. Are they required to have a haul permit?"
Hammond: "No, that's correct. As Mr. Johnson explained before, a truck can legally haul
materials on a non-designated truck route if they're making a local delivery. If they're going
down Palomar Airport Road and they need to go down a local street to make the delivery and
met the classification of over 7 tons, they would be able to do it legally without a haul route
permit."
Packard: "The point I want to make is there are plenty of circumstances where truck drivers will
be legally entitled to be on that road that would not require a permit. I want to make sure that
was clear in people's mind."
Johnson: "To further add to Dr. Packard's question, it's real important that it be pointed out
using the Sears truck as an example: Let's say that Sears truck is coming from San Diego to
Carlsbad. Once the vehicle, over 7 tons gvwr, leaves the freeway for instance, it should be on a
truck route. For instance, Palomar Airport Road east to Melrose, and then it could go down
Melrose to the local home. What it cannot do because it is over 7 tons gvwr and would not be on
a truck route; if it took a route for instance, Poinsettia Lane, to Aviara Parkway to Alga Road to
Melrose to Carrillo Way. That would not be allowed by the truck route ordinance. That vehicle
must stay on the truck route as long as it can until it get close to its destination. Then it can
deviate and go to the local street. By virtue of it being a local delivery it still cannot meander
through the local street system to get to that destination."
Packard: "Thank you for clarifying that."
Mayor: "I'd like to go back on this visual permit. I think the points Mrs. Kulchin and the folks
have made are very valid. One lady made the statement there should be some kind of signage.
I would like for us to explore the idea of having a large sign that's very bright on each side of the
cab so that when they do go through there, the folks know this is a legalized truck. Trying to
see something in the windshield is pretty difficult sometimes. But if it's very visible on the
outside of the truck, on each one of the doors the folks can pick it up pretty easily. This would
be provided by the City and they would have to turn those in of course after they complete their
hauling process.
The school is really what's worrying all of us. I'd like Mr. Hall to use his notes as to what has
happened here. This is going to take coordination between the San Marcos School Board and
ourselves. They're talking about having two different times when they alternate the schools. This
is going to create a problem for us as far as getting these things on track. I'm really concerned
about having only one time sequence when the parents drop their children off in the morning
and pick them up in the evening."
Hall: "Part of how our city works is the City Council governs the land use, governs the city and
how the city functions. But in the City of Carlsbad I think there are actually four different school
districts. Each of the school districts governs how they work in their facilities. I think the
concern is where this school is located and how the traffic and safety interfaces with Melrose
and the citizens of Carlsbad. We went back to the early 90s and when we were developing
Carrillo Ranch, there were actually three different school sites the developer gave the school
district to choose. The reason they chose the one where it's at today is because that site for the
same price had more acreage. When that went before the school board there was quite a bit of
discussion at that point as to the safety or the future safety of locating a school there. For the
City of Carlsbad that was the primary access to Carrillo Ranch. That's where the old trail led into
Carrillo Ranch. Because of the choice the San Marcos School District made, we actually had to
redesign the entrance to Carrillo Ranch and that's why it goes around and in the way it does
today. But at more than one school board meeting there was this issue of safety and location
discussed. It was the school board that made the choice to locate this site where it is today.
With that said, we still have to be good neighbors we still have to work together. It's very
difficult to when trying to put a major arterial and a school so close together. It takes a lot of
cooperation on today's citizens to make that work. The Mayor brought up some points. In
addressing those it's not going to be something we're going to be able to mandate but
something we're going to have to negotiate. We're two different bodies and we're charged with
two different tasks if you will in the community. It will be up to the Council on how we negotiate
that. There was a lot of energy and a lot of thought and negotiation on where that school site
was ultimately placed. It was the San Marcos School District that made the final choice."
Mayor: "The safety of the children is what we're more concerned with than anything else. If we
could get the times setup as to when the school starts in the morning and when it gets out it
would be a lot easier on the city as far having the police officers and the regulars out there to
make sure that folks do obey the law. If they change the timing on this say the school starts at
9:00 am, then later on halfway through the year they change it to 9:30 or 10:00 am, that makes
it very difficult for our organization to do what we should be doing to protect those children. It is
going to be an ongoing process we're going to have to monitor all the time.
I think the Council has done a good job as far as trying to meet the needs of the community and
trying to work through this difficult situation.
I do not want to see any trucks on El Fuerte at all because of the way it's constructed and
because it definitely goes into neighborhood zones. I think that is really bad. Everything has to
stay on the major arteries when they're doing the traffic circulation in my opinion."
Packard: "It sounds like we need to have a meeting with the San Marcos School District and
our city/school committee to push forward this issue and come to a resolution. We haven't met
for a while because there hasn't' been a need for a meeting, but it sounds like we've got an
issue now that needs to be resolved."
Hall: "Just to speak to the point about whether there should be a decal or some sort of placard
placed on the vehicle when they require a haul permit. Mr. Hammond, when people are
hauling, when does it become necessary to have a haul permit? If I was bringing in one load of
asphalt, in a 10 wheeler truck would it take a haul permit?"
Hammond: "No, that example would not require a haul route permit. Usually we classify a
significant haul; if you look at the permit its 90 yards or more, but typically if there's an operation
that runs 2-3 trucks or more we require a haul route permit. It would be going to a specific site in
Carlsbad. It would not be any type of cut-through traffic only for a construction site. It's only for
the construction site."
Hall: "I guess the point I'm trying to make and I'm trying to be brief about this, I think our traffic
safety officers, our policemen, and I think our engineering know and understand what a vehicle
looks like that needs a haul permit. They're very big, they're hauling a lot of weight ancJ they
usually if they're not going down a hill, they're moving rather slowly. It's very obvious when you
see these trucks pulling this kind of weight you know and understand they have to be going from
point A to point A, and they're designed to haul large volumes of material. So I don't know, it
might perhaps benefit the citizen but I don't know if it would benefit our law enforcement officers
or engineers as to whether or not they had a placard on the side. Our men are well enough
trained to know and understand what those vehicles are."
Mayor: For me and Mrs. Kulchin I concur with you. Our people know what it is, but our citizens
are the ones that get uptight about this and rightly so. It would be for their benefit more than
anything else. Our police officers and inspectors know the difference. It is really for the citizens
in that area. If they see a truck that looks like shouldn't be there, they can inform the inspectors
or the police and do something about it. Because I think this was a concern we had before
where folks were picking up on trucks that actually were legal and some of them were not legal.
Really it's a visual concept for the citizenry."
Siqafoose: We were given a list of recommendations by staff that would address some of these
issues. I just don't know what we're going to do with this tonight - if we're going to talk about
those or how would we handle those?"
Kulchin: "I want to say I agree. Thank you for making that clear. The symbol onthe truck is not
for the police, it's for our citizens and I think this is a problem. This is the third or fourth time
we've been talking about this. This is a definite problem now and I appreciate staff looking into it
seeing what we can do to mitigate the problem. Also I received a letter from a parent, not a
parent a resident - an older parent living there in terms of doing markings, letting the people
know maybe on the street or something like that, whatever we can do to alert them that there is
a school here. To slow down and do what everybody has to do. I think this is a problem and we
need to work on it and we just cannot kind of let it go."
Mayor: "Ms Sigafoose I believe you're talking about the document Truck Issues on Melrose and
El Fuerte street is that correct?"
Siqafoose: Yes."
Mayor: "On El Fuerte -1 don't know how the rest of Council feels about it but we shouldn't be
commenting on that. I know I made my statement on that and I stand by it. I would not want to
see any trucks at all in this category on El Fuerte because it's simply not designed for it."
Siqafoose: "I agree, (referring to the recommendations) There were some other issues on El
Fuerte that would maybe mitigate it for the pedestrians."
Mayor: "Mr. Johnson would you go over those please?"
Johnson: "Yes Mayor Lewis and members of the City Council, I certainly can go over those
comments or recommendations. The memo that you are referring to is the June 26, 2006 memo
from me to the City Manager. Before I go over those recommendations or suggestions or
comments, staff needs to be real clear on a direction that Council would appears to be a
direction that you're giving to staff about trucks, haul route trucks on El Fuerte Street. What I'm
hearing is that you do not want a haul route on El Fuerte Street. Certainly whatever direction
you give, staff's going to implement. But it has to be real clear to us if that truly is your direction,
if that's what I'm hearing."
City Manager: "Mayor, we just distributed that memo yesterday or early this morning. What we
can do is go back and as we review the work with the city/school committee, we can review
these and adopt these into the pros and cons as to the possible limitations of those items and
bring that back to Council at the appropriate time. That way you don't get caught in, 'What do
you mean by no trucks on El Fuerte?' Because there are going to be some trucks on El Fuerte,
and that's trucks that bring loads and things like that."
Packard: One of the concerns I have and I appreciate your asking that question about the haul
permits is: My understanding is, there is currently a development project right adjacent to El
Fuerte that needs access to be able to move materials. It's right adjacent to El Fuerte. I would
not be in favor of an absolute ban on haul permits, but directing staff to use discretion like they
have been doing to the best of their ability in minimizing haul routes on El Fuerte. If there's
going to be a construction project there, they've got to have a haul permit I would think."
Mayor: "I understand that. My concern is in the past when people were squawking and rightly
they have a right to squawk on Melrose. They're pushing those trucks off on El Fuerte."
Packard: "I agree on that point."
Mayor: "That's something I don't think we can allow to happen because of what's happened in
the past. But you're right if there's construction area going on in that area, then we've got to
allow the trucks to get in and out. But I'm talking about where you completely reroute those
trucks into existing neighborhoods that the streets can't handle it."
Packard: "I would agree with you on that point. But I think staff is asking for clarification
because they heard you say no hauling period on El Fuerte."
Mayor: "I need to be corrected. The point that Mr. Patchett made I think is really valid."
Mayor: "Any questions about Mr. Patchett's comments?"
City Manager: "When we return with some recommended actions based on that report we will
also give the citizens a time to see the report."
Packard: "Would it be more appropriate to direct that report particularly on El Fuerte, route that
through the Traffic Safety Commission? Is that the right venue for that? I don't know if that's the
best venue for it to go."
Hall: "I think it needs to come back to us."
•'\
543 Encinitas Boulevard, Suite 111, Encinitas, CA 92024 Phone: 760/804-5969
Fax: 760/804-5949
March 19,2004
Mr. Robert Johnson, Traffic Engineer
City of Carlsbad
1635 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad, CA 92008
RE: REQUESTED STOP SIGNS WITHIN RANCHO CARRILLO
Dear Mr. Johnson,
The Board of Directors has been compiling a list of homeowner traffic concerns/complaints within
the Rancho Carrillo Master Association. Based upon those complaints, and the findings of our traffic
committee, we would like to request stop signs at certain intersections within our community as follows.
El Fuerte and Rancho Pancho: Cars and, currently, trucks coming from the south down El Fuerte are
obstructed from view from cars exiting Rancho Pancho onto El Fuerte. The obstruction is because El
Fuerte is curving with the wall and landscaping not providing adequate visual alert of oncoming vehicles to
cars turning left (south) from Rancho Pancho onto El Fuerte. We propose a stop sign on El Fuerte north
bound at Rancho Pancho with a sign, an adequate distance south of the Stop sign, to alert north
bound drivers that there is a Stop sign coming, as it will not be visible until they are very near the
sign.
Paseo Palero at Paseo Milagro: The route from Melrose via Paseo Corto, Paseo Palero, Paseo Milagro
and Paseo Monona is a busy path through Rancho Carrillo. Cars coming up Pasel Palero make a right turn
onto Paseo Milagro. There is a community mail box on the north side of Paseo Milagro just east of Paseo
Palero so residents often cross the street in that area. There have been a series of incidents where the
adults, children and cars backing out have almost been hit by cars coming around the comer too fast. We
propose a stop sign on Paseo Palero at Paseo Milagro. This would require cars turning right to stop
before they proceed and give both drivers and pedestrians additional time to be aware of each other.
Rancho Bravado at Paseo Valindo: These two streets have become a shortcut route through Rancho
Carrillo to avoid the Melrose/Palomar Airport Road intersection from both Melrose and from Palomar Airport
Road. Drivers heading east on Rancho Bravado turn left onto Paseo Valindo without a stop, often faster
than they should, and sometimes cutting across the left turn lane for those coming south on Paseo Valindo.
It is often difficult to turn left from Paseo Valindo to Rancho Bravado because of the traffic coming east on
Rancho Bravado. We have also had two accidents at this intersection, one car ended up going through the
block wall at the north east comer and ended up in a homeowners rear yard. We propose a 3 way stop at
this intersection. It would also be a good idea to post a 25 MPH sign on Rancho Bravado east of Melrose
and west of Paseo Valindo.
March 19,2004
Traffic Request
Page Two
Paseo Hermos and Paseo Acampo: Paseo Acampo is a high traffic street with cars parked on both sides
much of the time. It is often difficult to see and turn onto Paseo Acampo from Paseo Hermos, We
propose a stop signs on Paseo Acampo north and south bound at Paseo Hermosa.
We thank you in advance for you attention in this matter and for helping Rancho Carrillo to pro-actively
protect the membership and stop issues before they occur. If you have any further questions, please do
not hesitate to contact me. If you would like, we can arrange a meeting or have a community
representative attend any necessary proceedings in this matter.
Sincerely,
AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD
Vicki S. MacHale, CMCA, CCAM
Senior Community Manager
The Prescott Companies
City of Carlsbad
Public Works Engineering
July 28, 2004
Vicki MacHale
RANCHO CARRILLO MASTER ASSOCIATION
c/o The Prescott Companies
543 Encinitas Boulevard, Suite 111
Encinitas, CA 92024
RANCHO CARRILLO STOP SIGN REQUESTS
The purpose of this letter is to follow up to the concerns and requests of the Board of Directors of
the Rancho Carrillo Master Association that STOP signs be installed at four intersections in
Rancho Carrillo. Specifically, the Board requested that a STOP sign and a "STOP AHEAD" sign be
installed on southbound El Fuerte Street at Rancho Pancho, a STOP sign on Paseo Palero at
Paseo Milagro, an All-Way STOP at Rancho Bravado/Paseo Valindo, and an All-Way STOP at
Paseo Acampo/Paseo Hermosa. In addition, the Board requested that the speed limit on Rancho
Bravado be lowered to "25" miles per hour. Currently, STOP signs exist on Rancho Pancho at El
Fuerte Street, on Paseo Valindo at Rancho Bravado, and on Paseo Hermosa at Paseo Acampo.
Staff has completed the traffic studies necessary to conduct STOP or All-Way STOP warrant
analyses at these four intersections. The traffic studies included a review of current traffic
volumes, traffic collision history for the past two years, and a review of intersection
geometries/corner sight visibility. In addition, peak hour delay studies, peak hour turning
movement counts and parking monitoring was conducted at specific intersections as required.
The procedures for STOP and All-Way STOP warrant analysis are taken directly from the Manual
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) 2003 Edition as amended by the MUTCD 2003
California Supplement.
Based on the results of the warrant analysis, an All Way STOP is not warranted or justified at the
intersection of El Fuerte Street/Rancho Pancho. As mentioned earlier, a STOP sign currently
exists on Rancho Pancho at this intersection. A STOP sign is typically only installed on the lesser
volume minor street leg (Rancho Pancho) of an intersection to assign the right of way. This
intersection does not meet the minimum traffic volume and side street delay requirements needed
to justify stopping all vehicles on the major street (El Fuerte St.).
A review of the traffic collision history finds that there have been no reported traffic collisions at this
intersection in the past two years. An "accident problem" is typically indicated by five or more
reported traffic collisions within a 12-month period of a type susceptible to correction by an All Way
STOP (right angle collisions). The installation of STOP signs on a street with a low collision
history can actually increase the potential for some types of collisions (rear end). I have included a
copy of a handout titled STOP SIGNS, which has some good general information for your use.
Staff also measured the existing corner sight visibility from Rancho Pancho looking southerly on El
Fuerte Street. After stopping at the STOP limit line on Rancho Pancho, a motorist can move
forward with their front bumper at the projection of the easterly curb line on El Fuerte Street. From
this location, a motorist can see approximately 450 feet southerly on El Fuerte Street, which meets
1635 Faraday Avenue • Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 • (760) 602-272O • FAX (760) 6O2-8562
July 28, 2004
RANCHO CARRILLO STOP SIGN REQUESTS
Page 2
the minimum corner sight visibility requirement for a secondary arterial roadway. Further sight
visibility to the south is limited due to the horizontal curvature of El Fuerte Street. Staff has issued
a work order to install "SIDE ROAD" symbol sign for southbound traffic on El Fuerte Street in
advance of Rancho Pancho to inform motorists they are approaching a side street intersection.
Based on the results of field measurements, a STOP sign is not warranted or justified on Paseo
Palero at Paseo Milagro. At a T intersection such as Paseo Palero/Paseo Milagro, normal
application of the "right-of-way rule" requires motorists on Paseo Palero (terminating roadway) to
yield the right of way to motorists on Paseo Milagro (through roadway). A STOP sign would only
be considered if the "safe approach speed to the intersection" is less than 10 mph. Staff
measured the "safe approach speed to the intersection" on Paseo Palero and found it to be
greater than 10 mph, therefore, a STOP sign is not warranted. Residents crossing Paseo Milagro
to and from the community mailbox should cross at the intersection of Paseo Palero, where there
is an unmarked crosswalk and they would be most visible. A review of the traffic collision history
finds that there have been no reported traffic collisions during the past two years at this location.
Based on the results of the warrant analysis, an All Way STOP is not warranted or justified at the
intersection of Rancho Bravado/Paseo Valindo. All Way STOP installations are typically only
installed at an intersection when the traffic volumes on the intersecting streets are approximately
equal and sufficiently high enough to warrant the need to STOP traffic in all directions. A STOP
sign is typically only installed on the terminating roadway/stem of the'T' (Paseo Valindo) to assign
the right of way. This intersection does not meet the minimum traffic volume and side street delay
requirements needed to justify stopping all vehicles on the major street (Rancho Bravado). STOP
signs are used to assign the right of way at an intersection not to try and control vehicle speeds.
There are documented cases where STOP signs have introduced collisions at an intersection
when they were installed but not warranted. A review of the traffic collision history finds that there
have been no reported traffic collisions at this intersection in the past two years.
Regarding your concerns that Rancho Bravado and Paseo Valindo are being used as a "shortcut"
between Palomar Airport Road and Melrose Drive, staff conducted peak hour vehicle description
surveys to determine the amount of "cut-through" traffic. During the morning peak hour (7:45 am
to 8:45 am) staff found that a total of 66 vehicles (42%) "cut-through" from Palomar Airport Road
though to Melrose Drive. During this same time period, a total of 56 vehicles (51%) "cut-through"
from Melrose Drive to Palomar Airport Road. During the evening peak hour (5:15 pm to 6:15 pm)
staff found that a total of 16 vehicles (11%) "cut-through" from Palomar Airport Road to Melrose
Drive. During the same time period, a total of 27 vehicles (13%) "cut-through" from Melrose Drive
to Palomar Airport Road. The numbers show that there isn't a large volume of vehicles "cutting-
through", and that largest volume of "cut-through" occurs in the morning peak hour. Some "cut-
through" is to be expected on Rancho Bravado and Paseo Valindo, which are a "through"
connection between Palomar Airport Road and Melrose Drive.
Currently, westbound Palomar Airport Road between Business Park Way to Melrose Drive, is not
fully improved with only two westbound lanes. This does restrict/limit westbound traffic flow on
Palomar Airport Road during the morning peak hour, making the "through" connection/"shortcut"
on Paseo Valindo and Rancho Bravado between Palomar Airport Road and Melrose Drive
attractive to some motorists. This situation will be changing in the near future. The developer is
ready to start construction of the ultimate full improvements on the north side of Palomar Airport
Road which includes the third westbound lane, bicycle lane, curb and gutter, sidewalks and street
July 28, 2004
RANCHO CARRILLO STOP SIGN REQUESTS
Page 3
lights. These improvements should be complete this fall in October or November, will eliminate the
existing westbound restriction and should
help to keep "through" traffic on Palomar Airport Road and Melrose Drive instead of looking for
alternate "short-cut" routes.
You also requested that the speed limit on Rancho Bravado be lowered to 25 mph. Staff cannot
support this request. Rancho Bravado currently has a 35 mph posted speed limit. Speed limits
are established per the requirements of the California Vehicle Code (CVC). The CVC requires
agencies to prepare an Engineering and Traffic Survey document to establish a legal enforceable
speed limit. Agencies are required to base posted speed limits on roadway conditions and the
prevailing speed (85th percentile). The 85th percentile is the speed that 85 percent of the motorists
surveyed were traveling at or below. The 85th percentile speed for Rancho Bravado is 39 mph
east of Paseo Acampo. The posted speed limit is required to be no more than 5 mph below the
85th percentile speed unless there are extenuating conditions not readily apparent (as stated on
the Engineering and Traffic Survey) that justify a lower posting. Rancho Bravado is appropriately
posted 35 mph per the Engineering and Traffic Survey. I have included a copy of a handout titled
SPEED ZONES and a copy of the Engineering and Traffic Survey for Rancho Bravado for your
use.
You also requested an All Way STOP at the intersection of Paseo Acampo/Paseo Hermosa.
Based on the warrant analysis, an All Way STOP is not warranted or justified at this intersection.
A STOP sign is typically only installed on the lesser volume minor street (Paseo Hermosa) of an
intersection to assign the right of way. This intersection does not meet the minimum traffic volume
and side street delay requirements needed to justify stopping all vehicles on the major street
(Paseo Acampo). A review of the traffic collision history finds that there have been no reported
traffic collisions in the past two years at this intersection.
Staff monitored the parking on Paseo Acampo and painted 30 feet of RED curb south of and
adjacent to Paseo Hermosa. This should help increase the visibility for motorists turning from
Paseo Hermosa onto Paseo Acampo.
Thank you for yoiir concerns regarding traffic safety and for your patience while staff completed
the numerous studies, field measurements and warrant analyses. If you have any questions, or
want to discuss this further, please give me a call at (760) 602-2734.
JIM MURRAY
Associate Engineer
Transportation Division
c: Deputy City Engineer, Transportation
TRAFFIC
ir™ STOP SIGNS
PROGRAM
SERIES
WHY DONT THEY PUT IN MORE STOP SIGNS?
A stop sign is one of our most valuable and effective control devices when used at the
^P.aTand under the right conditions. ,t is intended to he.p dnvers and pedestnans at
an intersection decide who has the right-of-way.
as a speed control device.
A school crossing may look dangerous for children to use. causing parents to demand a
ex™ An inon which previously was not busy now looks like a ma,or
U !S..v isnT- H jus. looks like it. It doesn't even .ook safer and ,, usually ,sn t.
Most drivers are reasonable and prudent with no intention of maliciously violating traffic
er, when an unreasonable restriction « imposed. ,1 may result ,n
n, In such cases, *e s»p sign can create a false sense of secunty ,n a
an atti«ide of coniemp, in a motorist. These mo attitudes can and often
do conflict with tragic results.
traffic must wait to enter, and the availability of safe crossmg opportun.t.es.
CITY OF CARLSBAD
ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY
STREET:
LIMITS:
Rancho Bravado
Melrose Drive to Paseo Monona
fin r-y.;: •'.-A*
A. Prevailing Speed Data:
Date of Speed Survey
Location of Speed Survey
85th Percentile
10 MPH Pace
Percent in Pace
Posted Speed Limit
Direction: Eastbound/Westbound
7/03/02
250' e/o Paseo Acampo
39 MPH
30 to 40, 31 to 41 MPH
83%
35 MPH
B. Accident History:
(7/01/00 to 6/30/02)
Speed-Related Accidents
Total Accidents
Acc./Million Veh. Miles
None
None
N/A
C. Traffic Factors:
Average Daily Traffic
Traffic Controls
Pedestrian/Bicycle Traffic
Bicycle Lanes
On-Street Parking
2,600 - West of Paseo Valindo (8/07/02); 4,000 - East of Melrose Drive (8/07/02)
Traffic Signal at Melrose Drive
Low
Bicycle Lane on Each Side West of Paseo Valindo
Parking Prohibited on Each Side West of Paseo Valindo
D. Roadway Factors:
Street Classification
Design Speed
Length of Segment
Roadway Width
Number of Lanes
Vertical Alignment
Horizontal Alignment
Sidewalks
Driveways
Street Lighting
Unclassified
N/A
0.64 Miles
40 to 48 Feet (Curb-to-Curb)
One Lane Each Direction
Grades Vary from 1.00% to 6.11 %
Curvilinear
Sidewalk on Each Side
None
Street Lights on Each Side
E. Adjacent Land Uses:Single-Family Residential
F. Remarks/Conditions Not Readily Apparent: Intersection Ahead warning signs have been posted at several locations advising
drivers of approaching intersections.
G. Traffic Engineer's Recommendation (Explanation): This speed zone satisfies the conditions of Section 627 of the California
Vehicle Code and has been prepared and evaluated in accordance with the CALTRANS Traffic Manual with respect to design
and prevailing speeds, accident history, pedestrian activity, driveway spacing, stopping sight distance, and roadway and traffic
conditions. A speed limit posting of 35 MPH is found to be appropriate and justified.
H. Approvals^. V .V1'1 ^-,
i^'£i;V • *, ,*«,.-;• v •"&. •, .,''•-?^r^am*n.»3S?sreGT.Rfecerjificati'dh of^existing;sp'eed zone, per:S]ection3'22357,22358rana|4p80gi6ttlfC^ili]
^ ^'y ,A-^*"* ." _ — * *-* '"^ •" J *-** %Ty *•*««' ^^*^*-*'"'1^Jf* '/*^ ^**^-— ^ kt
'//y»w4isy;;ra»j,v.
NOTE: Appropriate speed survey(s) is /are attached hereto and made a part hereof
CARLSBAD AVENUES
Let's talk about
SPEED ZONES
The California Vehicle Code is based on the premise that,
on the whole, most people drive responsibly. Happily, local,
regional and national statistics support that assumption
in terms of the speed at which motorists generally drive on any
given road. Accordingly, the City of Carlsbad sets realistic speed
limits in the upper half of the normal pace of traffic to achieve
voluntary public compliance and to maintain unambiguous
enforcement of the law.
Carlsbad conforms to California's Basic Speed Law,
which slates, "No person shall drive a vehicle upon a
highway [road] at a speed greater than is reasonable
or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility,
the traffic on, and the surface and width of the
highway, and in no event at a speed which
endangers the safety of persons or properly."
The rationale behind setting spood limits
Here's a riddle: What, depending upon location, can be 40,45,
50, or even 55? The answer is the speed limit on various arterials
(major streets) in Carlsbad.
At first glance, some speed limits may appear
confusing or even arbitrary. Signs say 55 on
Palomar Airport Road and on most portions of
El Camino Real; 45 on La Costa Avenue
east of El Camino Real; 50 on Alga Road;
40 in some places and 45 in others on
Aviara Parkway.
What's up with all the different
speed zones? Actually, it's a matter of
getting down to the basic premise of
setting realistic speed limits for each
zone, based on a specific engineering
and traffic survey conducted on that
designated (portion of) road. The
engineering and traffic survey, which is required by the California
Vehicle Code, takes many elements into account, such as:
Alga Road 50 mph speed zone.
Collisions.
Roadway features.
Adjacent land uses.
Driveway locations.
Traffic volumes.
Pedestrian volumes.
Critical speed.
Some definitions
Critical Speed
The speed at which 85% of drivers
travel at or below.
Horizontal and vertical
road alignment.
Stopping sight distance.
Conditions not readily
apparent to the driver.
'SPEED!
ZONE(AHEAD)
Maximum Speed Limit
In California, the maximum speed limit is 55 mph.
Absolute Limit
Selected freeways in California may be posted to
permit a maximum of 65 or 70 mph. This is an
absolute limit that may not be legally exceeded under
any circumstance.
Prlma Facie Speed Limit
This Latin phrase means "on the face of it," A prima facie limit is
deemed reasonable and prudent under normal conditions. The prima
facie limit is 15 mph in alleys, blind intersections and blind railroad
crossings; 25 mph in business and residential districts. There also is
a part-time prima facie limit of 25 mph in posted school zones when
children are going to or from school.
Drivers may exceed a prima facie limit if it is safe to do so. If cited,
however, they must prove they were driving in a reasonable and
prudent manner according to existing conditions.
Speed Trap
A roadway section that has a prima facie speed limit not justified by
an engineering and traffic survey but nevertheless uses radar
enforcement is known as a speed trap. Speed trap citations do not
generally hold up in court.
The Carlsbad Police Department rigorously enforces all
Six motor enforcement officers are charged with the
responsibility of enforcing speed limits. The survey-based realistic
speed limits established by the City's traffic engineering staff make it
easier for the Police Department to enforce the law using radar. The
posted speed limits on arterials provide motorists, police and the traffic
courts with clear guidelines for reasonable and safe speeds while
facilitating efficient traffic flow under normal driving conditions.
Informed Involvement Is Our Goal.
AVENUES publications are created by the City of Carlsbad to communicate why things are the way they are today ... and to explain now you can help direct their progress In the future.
10
Johonson: "I'm not sure under what context again absolutely no trucks on El Fuerte or limited
haul routes on El Fuerte. Personally, I believe this is a situation we need clear direction from
the City Council. I think the Traffic Safety Commission would be in the same dilemma that staff
is."
City Manager: "Why don't you let us bring back some recommended actions and then one of
them may be to send it back to the Commission with some boundaries on the question being
sent to them."
Sigafoose: "I just want the citizens to know that we do have these recommendations and it is
something that staff's working on and to understand and consider issues for both the people on
El Fuerte and the people on Melrose.
Mayor: "Can we get the situation out to folks as well Mr. Johnson so they can have access to it
as soon as possible? "
Johnson: "Certainly we can do that Mayor Lewis. Those that are interested. It is a public
document and we can make that available. Mayor, one thing that did come up in briefings some
several weeks ago, the City Attorney asked that staff work on a truck route ordinance. That is
something we are working on. We will do the research that other cities have in the way of truck
routes. A couple of items came up in briefings such as progressive penalties to the truck
operators that are violating haul routes. Certainly an item like putting some kind of modification
on the side of the vehicle could be part of a truck route ordinance. There may need to be a
deposit so we get the magnetic signs or whatever we may be giving to them, or perhaps they
have to manufacture the notification. There's a number of issues that we can put into the truck
route ordinance to give some teeth in what we're trying to accomplish from the discussion that is
ongoing right now with Council. We did something similar in 1999 with an oversized load
ordinance. We brought that to Council and again that has given us quite a bit of direction and
teeth in what we were trying to accomplish with the oversize load trucks and we can do the
same with the haul routes."
Mayor: "Do we have any kind of a time frame that we may be able to work on this Mr.
Patchett?"
10
11
City Manager: "I really don't and we will work on it."
Packard: "I think, and I mentioned this last week, one of the primary issues seems to be the
enforcement of the speed and the time is what causes a lot of concern for most people. That the
vehicles that get over-speed and have difficulty if not impossibility, of stopping in appropriate
distances when the traffic signals change. My perception is it's an enforcement issue that we
can direct tonight if we want to. Direct stepped up enforcement of the speed and the timing
issues to begin some immediate support and action on Melrose and El Fuerte and all the streets
in that area where there's a concern going on. I would be supportive of that."
Mayor: "I totally concur with that, but we have enforcement problems all over the City of
Carlsbad. Why don't we leave it to the Police Chief to work out some kind of situation that ties
in with the traffic folks and we see what they come back with. When they come back with their
workload for us. Is that agreeable?
Kulchin: "Yes."
Carlsbad Truck Routes
Circulation Plan