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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-03; City Council; 18951; La Costa Avenue Road Diet program studyCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL^g^7 AB# 18,951 MTG. 4/03/07 DEPT. ENG STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A ROAD DIET PROGRAM ON A PORTION OF LA COSTA AVENUE /*? DEPT. HEAD'^pJ' CITYATTY. ^^g CITYMGR. ^i^X RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2007-072 appropriating funds and authorizing staff to solicit proposals from qualified consulting traffic engineers to explore the feasibility of a road diet/arterial road traffic calming program on a portion of La Costa Avenue. ITEM EXPLANATION: At the City Council meeting of October 17, 2006, a group of residents living on La Costa Avenue expressed concerns regarding speed and safety. The City Council directed staff to meet with the spokespersons for the group, called the La Costa Avenue Safety Project Committee, and explore options to address the issues. The Committee expressed a desire and commitment to work with staff to resolve their concerns. Staff has met twice with three representatives of the committee. Increased emphasis on the 3 E's - Enforcement, Engineering, Education - has resulted in additional police enforcement and installation of traffic control devices. Speed monitoring via deployment of the Speed Sentry, a radar based vehicle speed feedback sign, has been used to obtain speed data and to inform drivers of their speed. An awareness campaign to remind drivers of the need to drive the speed limit via the mailing of postcards to targeted residences is also being pursued. As an arterial road traffic calming measure, the residents have expressed interest in having La Costa Avenue striped with one traffic lane in each direction at appropriate locations. If this option is not feasible, other types of traffic calming measures would be requested. The subject portion of La Costa Avenue is the 2.1 mile segment from 1,000 feet east of El Camino Real to its intersection with Rancho Santa Fe Road. It is designated as a secondary arterial in the Circulation Element of the General Plan. The cross-section varies between three traffic lanes and four traffic lanes, and includes varying segments having a combination of parking along the curb, bicycle lanes, and a two-way left-turn lane. Traffic volumes range between 11,000 and 16,200 vehicles per day and three intersections are controlled with a traffic signal. La Costa Avenue serves through movements from major locations in and outside the City with vehicle trips entering and leaving the area, yet it also has an emphasis on land access by virtue of the large number of residential driveways abutting the road. The reduction in the number of traffic lanes on an arterial roadway is referred to as a "road diet". Often the road diet is a conversion of a four-lane undivided road into one with three lanes (two through lanes plus a center turn lane). With the recognition of need for mobility on an arterial roadway, on some larger roads communities attempt to achieve a better balance between traffic impacts, vehicle movement, and livability. Thus, the road diet program is implemented to reduce vehicle speeds and the number of accidents, and to enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED DENIED CONTINUED WITHDRAWN AMENDED E/ D Dn D CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN RETURNED TO STAFF OTHER - SEE MINUTES D D D D Page 2 Conversion to a road diet must be considered on a case-by-case basis as its inappropriate use can result in a greater likelihood the traffic volumes will divert to alternative routes. With respect to La Costa Avenue, the alternate route for drivers would be Levante Street. Traffic flow, capacity, volumes, traffic operations and safety concerns, and potential diverted traffic all must be factored into the decision. Traffic studies have shown that road diets with average daily traffic volumes above 20,000 vehicles may result in some diverted traffic to nearby streets. Staff recommends that an arterial traffic calming program for La Costa Avenue be explored through examination of the feasibility of a road diet. Depending upon the road diet evaluation, other potential traffic calming techniques could also be explored, such as roundabouts, raised medians, entry statements, enhanced crosswalks, additional traffic signals, etc. The study approach will be multi-tiered so that at the conclusion of each study phase, a decision can be made to stop or to continue with examining other options. Public outreach through the community planning process will be included to augment the engineering expertise. The study would initially consist of a road diet operational analysis of La Costa Avenue (Phase One). The feasibility of reducing lanes would be examined in analysis categories of levels of service, safety, diverted trips, driver behavior, traffic operations, number of lanes, impacts on speed, and need for traffic controls. Depending upon the results of the Phase One analysis, Phase Two would consist of a combination of road diet and/or arterial road traffic calming strategies and their impact on the roadway and surrounding community. Staff proposes to return to the City Council after Phase Two for direction before potentially moving to Phase Three, which would be the development of a conceptual road diet/arterial road traffic calming plan, including construction cost estimates. Phase Three results would be presented to the City Council. With the City Council's agreement to authorize examination of a road diet/arterial road traffic calming program for La Costa Avenue, staff will request proposals from qualified traffic engineering consultants. The study will be pursued with community input and with the purpose of finding solutions that do not divert traffic from La Costa Avenue to Levante Street. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The project is a planning study with no environmental review required and is exempt under CEQA regulations. FISCAL IMPACT: The road diet/arterial traffic calming feasibility study is estimated to cost $100,000. This study is not budgeted and an appropriation from the City Council Contingency Account is requested. EXHIBITS: 1. Location Map. 2. Resolution No. 2007-072 appropriating funds and authorizing staff to solicit proposals from qualified consulting traffic engineers to explore the feasibility of a road diet/arterial road traffic calming program on a portion of La Costa Avenue. DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Robert T. Johnson, Jr., (760) 602-2752, biohn@ci.carlsbad.ca.us LOCATION MAP FAIRWAY LN SUBJECT ROAD SEGMENT NOT TO SCALE PROJECT NAME LA COSTA AVENUE EXHIBIT 1 DRAWN BY: SCOTT EVANS. CARLSBAD ENGINEERING DEPT. 3/19/07 C:\TRAmC\SPEED ZONE-LA COSTA AVE5.DWG 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2007-072 2 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF 3 CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A ROAD DIET/ARTERIAL ROAD 4 TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM ON LA COSTA AVENUE FROM 1,000 FEET EAST OF EL CAMINO REAL TO ITS INTERSECTION 5 WITH RANCHO SANTA FE ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS. 6 WHEREAS, the La Costa Avenue Safety Project Committee, a group of residents living 7 on La Costa Avenue, have expressed concerns with speed and safety to the City Council; and 8 WHEREAS, upon direction from the City Council, staff from the Engineering Department 9 and Police Department have met with the Committee spokespersons; and 10 WHEREAS, a collaborative effort between the Committee and staff has addressed 11 mitigation measures for La Costa Avenue to improve safety and potentially reduce speeds; and 12 WHEREAS, the Committee further desires that the City of Carlsbad examine the 13 feasibility of a road diet (lane reduction) program and/or arterial road traffic calming program be ^ studied for La Costa Avenue; and 15 WHEREAS, staff concurs and recommends that the La Costa Avenue road diet/arterial 16 road traffic calming feasibility study be initiated; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad hereby finds it necessary, desirable, 18 and in the public interest to initiate a road diet/arterial road traffic calming feasibility study for a 19 portion of La Costa Avenue to address speeding and safety concerns; and 20 WHEREAS, funding to prepare a road diet/arterial road traffic calming feasibility study 21 exists in the City Council Contingency Account. 22 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, 23 California, as follows: 24 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 25 2. That the Finance Director is authorized to appropriate $100,000 from the 26 City Council Contingency Account to the Engineering Department Professional Services Account 27 to fund the La Costa Avenue road diet/arterial road traffic calming feasibility report. 28 1 3. That staff is directed to obtain the services of a qualified traffic engineering 2 consultant pursuant to Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 3.28 to prepare the La Costa Avenue 3 road diet/arterial road traffic calming feasibility study to address the concerns of residents for 4 measures to reduce speed and improve safety. 5 4. That during the preparation of the feasibility study and at its conclusion, staff will 6 return to the City Council and provide updates and request direction on how to further proceed. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 3rd day of April, 2007, by the following vote AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard NOES: None ABSENT: None /IS.Mayor ATTEST: /l/v .ORRAINE M. WOOD, City Clerk1 (SEAL) All Receive-Agenda Item #_~L_(GEI For the Information of Hie: CITY CQUNCI^ /-" Asst CM_kSA_ixCC *2 2007 CITY OF CARLSBAD ctWtfffffffi»ftririi Asked Questions About Traffic minq? Traffic calming is the use of engineering and enforcement techniques to help cars automatically reduce their speeds. Traffic calming techniques are also used to reduce cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets, making it inconvenient for drivers to use those roads. The idea behind traffic calming is to force cars to slow down and to force traffic to roads that are designed to handle heavier traffic and greater speeds. What are the 3 E's? The three "Es, are traffic engineering, enforcement and education. Driver behavior is most affected when all three techniques are employed. What are some Traffic Calming measures? Traffic calming measures are divided into 2 groups: First, volume control measures are used to reduce the number of cars that cut through a neighborhood by blocking or slowing down drivers, forcing traffic onto the streets designed to handle greater volumes of traffic. Some examples of volume control measures include using barriers or diverters to close or change the alignment of roads. The second type is speed control measures, which is primarily achieved by changing the alignment of the road, or by narrowing it. Examples include speed bumps, roundabouts, center island narrowing. Many traffic calming measures use both techniques. What is a Road Diet? A road diet is a traffic calming technique that helps to slow drivers down by reducing the number of lanes. Road diets often convert four-lane undivided roads into three lanes - two lanes plus a center two-way left turn lane. Why is this being proposed for La Costa Avenue? Residents have expressed concern that drivers are going too fast. Although traffic enforcement and speed studies have not shown an increase, a road diet can help force drivers to slow down a bit, so that residents may experience less frustration in using the roads that border their neighborhoods. Neighborhood support will be important to ensure its effectiveness. How does the Citv inform people when a road is on a diet? The City will be sending postcards to the surrounding neighborhoods that use La Costa Avenue, asking them to slow down and drive carefully. Additionally, articles will be placed in the Community Service Guide and neighborhood publications. Frequently Asked Questions About Speed Limits What's the logic behind a particular speed limit? Speed limits are based on the presumption that, on the whole, most people drive responsibly and at a reasonable speed for the conditions present on any given road - a presumption supported by local, regional and national statistics. Accordingly, the City of Carlsbad sets realistic speed limits based on "critical speed" to achieve voluntary public compliance. Critical speed is the speed at which 85% of drivers travel at or below in a particular zone of a street. Setting speed limits based on critical speed also allows the police department to maintain consistent enforcement of the law, and to use radar. How are speed limits set? To determine speed limits for our city's streets, traffic engineers divide streets into zones and spend up to six months studying traffic patterns. An engineering traffic survey, required by the California Vehicle Code, is also done. The survey takes into consideration the different zones of a street and things like: • adjacent land uses • driveway locations • traffic and pedestrian volumes • 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 Once the engineering studies and traffic surveys are completed, and the critical speed is calculated, speed limits are set with consideration to unique elements in specific zones of the street. Whv is there no speed limit posted on new streets? To achieve the most uninfluenced outcome, new streets do not have a posted speed limit until after the engineering studies and traffic surveys are complete. Additionally, these studies are not completed until the majority of the new development (houses, shopping centers, etc.) is finished. Engineers must be able to consider all of the elements in a particular zone of a street to obtain the most accurate information When the speed limit isn't posted... In areas where the speed limit is never posted, like neighborhoods and business parks, the Prima Facie Speed Limit is the rule of the road. This Latin phrase means "on the face of it." A prima facie limit is the speed 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 school is in session. 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. Posted or not, drivers may not legally exceed the Maximum Speed Limit, which in California is 65 mph on a two-lane undivided highway or road. La Costa AvenueRoad Diet / Arterial RoadTraffic Calming Feasibility Study La Costa AvenueSafety Project Committee„Residents residing on La Costa Avenue„Addressed City Council October 17, 2006„Staff/PD has met twice with committee spokepersons La Costa AvenueSubject Road SegmentSUBJECTROADSEGMENT Implemented 3 E’s„Enforcement„Engineering„Education „Committee request„Stripe La Costa Avenue one lane bi-directional where appropriateStriping Change „Four lanes with parking„Three lanes with parking and bike lane„TWLT lane or left-turn laneCurrent Striping on La Costa Avenue Between Fairway Lane and Nueva Castilla WayLooking East Between Gibraltar Street and Romeria StreetLooking East At Romeria Street Looking East At Cadencia Street Looking East „Conversion of four-lane undivided road to three lanes (two traffic lanes and TWLT lane)„Used on arterial roadwaysRoad Diet „Retain a traffic engineering consultant„Feasibility study to investigate pros and cons„Investigate arterial road traffic calming if road diet is unfeasible„Diversion of traffic to Levante Street must not occurRoad Diet „Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 2007-072 appropriating funds for feasibility studyRecommendation La Costa AvenueSubject Road SegmentSUBJECTROADSEGMENT La Costa AvenueRoad Diet / Arterial RoadTraffic Calming Feasibility Study La Costa AvenueSafety Project Committee„Residents residing on La Costa Avenue„Addressed City Council October 17, 2006„Staff/PD has met twice with committee spokepersons La Costa AvenueSubject Road SegmentSUBJECTROADSEGMENT Implemented 3 E’s„Enforcement„Engineering„Education „Committee request„Stripe La Costa Avenue one lane bi-directional where appropriateStriping Change „Four lanes with parking„Three lanes with parking and bike lane„TWLT lane or left-turn laneCurrent Striping on La Costa Avenue Between Fairway Lane and Nueva Castilla WayLooking East Between Gibraltar Street and Romeria StreetLooking East At Romeria Street Looking East At Cadencia Street Looking East „Conversion of four-lane undivided road to three lanes (two traffic lanes and TWLT lane)„Used on arterial roadwaysRoad Diet „Retain a traffic engineering consultant„Feasibility study to investigate pros and cons„Investigate arterial road traffic calming if road diet is unfeasible„Diversion of traffic to Levante Street must not occurRoad Diet „Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 2007-072 appropriating funds for feasibility studyRecommendation La Costa AvenueSubject Road SegmentSUBJECTROADSEGMENT