HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-08; City Council; 20452; LA COSTA AVENUE ALTERNATIVESCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL 13
AB* 20,452
MTG. 02/08/11
DEPT. TRAN
LA COSTA AVENUE
ALTERNATIVES
DEPT. DIRECTOR fjj^
CITY ATTORNEY /^^^
CITY MANAGER (^^
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive an update on La Costa Avenue alternatives for roadway conditions.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
This informational report provides an update on the current road conditions on La Costa Avenue and
alternatives to address residents' concerns.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
None for this report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None for this report.
EXHIBITS:
1. La Costa Avenue Alternatives memo dated February 1, 2011.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Doug Bilse, (760) 602-7504, doug.bilse@carlsbadca.gov
FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY
COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED O
DENIED D
CONTINUED D
WITHDRAWN O
AMENDED D
CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC D
CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN D
RETURNED TO STAFF D
OTHER - SEE MINUTES D
Council received tbe presentation end returned
tbe item^to staff. See Minute? for details.
CITY OF
CARLSBAD
Memorandum
February 1, 2011
To: Lisa Hildabrand, City Manager
From: Doug Bilse, Traffic Signal Systems Engineer
Via: Skip Hammann, Transportation Director
Re: La Costa Avenue Alternatives
Background
Over the years, staff has been working with residents to address recurring traffic issues along La
Costa Avenue including vehicle speeds and driveway visibility. KOA Corporation was contracted
to assist staff develop the La Costa Avenue Road Diet / Arterial Road Traffic Calming Program
Project. A road diet would require the redesign of La Costa Avenue to one traffic lane in each
direction of travel and thereby allow the use of traditional traffic calming measures. Because
this section of La Costa Avenue is currently classified as a secondary arterial, staff concluded
that the City's General Plan must be updated and consideration must be given to the Growth
Management Program before a road diet can be implemented. Staff from the Transportation
and Community and Economic Development Departments will coordinate the La Costa Avenue
Traffic Calming Project and the General Plan Update including all required environmental
review.
Prior to the implementation and further consideration of a La Costa Road Diet and associated
traffic calming measures, staff has identified several interim safety improvements to address
vehicle speed and limited visibility from the residential driveways. These interim improvements
may not fully address the traffic issues presented by the residents, but they are expected to
have a significant improvement on driver safety.
Engineering studies to establish the speed limit have resulted in speed limits of 45 MPH or
higher. It is not anticipated that the speed limit can be reduced and be enforceable without
changing the character of the road. Road improvements are necessary to restrict traffic to one
lane in each direction to have the most effect on reducing average speeds.
Staff is in the process of working with KOA to prepare a revised scope of work for professional
services on recommendations for a long term solution to address the speeds on La Costa
Avenue. It is staff's opinion that a combination of a road diet and traffic calming measures will
reduce speeds that will be enforceable. Options on how to move forward with a road diet and
traffic calming will be available for the City Manager's consideration in the next several weeks.
Transportation Department
1635 Faraday Ave. I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2730 I 760-602-8562 fax I www.carlsbadca.gov
Ms. Hildabrand
February 1, 2011
Page 2
Recommended Actions
Due to the time needed to resolve the performance and design issues related to the proposed
La Costa Avenue road diet, at this time staff recommends the use of short-term interim safety
improvements. Following are interim improvements along La Costa Avenue addressing the
residents' traffic concerns:
1. Installing warning signs along areas with residential driveways. This effort has been
implemented and will be scheduled for installation.
2. Installing speed feedback signs to provide real-time information on vehicle speed. This
effort has been implemented. Portable feedback signs have been ordered and will be
replaced with permanent speed feedback devices when available.
3. Restricting left turn access and egress to residential units using a painted median will
change the character of the roadway. The plan and design will be submitted to the City
Council for consideration of approval pursuant to the design immunity provisions of
Government Code §830.6. Staff will prepare a plan illustrating the painted median for
Council approval at the next available public meeting.
4. Restricting parking near residential driveways to improve visibility requires an ordinance
introduced and adopted at public meetings and becomes effective 30 days thereafter
unless adopted as an urgency ordinance.
c: Gary Barberio, Community and Economic Development Director
Gary Morrison, Police Chief
Kevin Crawford, Fire Chief
John Kim, Traffic Division Manager (OCA)
Ms. Hildabrand
February 1, 2011
Page 3
LA COSTA AVENUE
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m '• '.I I •/,EXHIBIT A
La Costa Avenue Alternatives
By Doug Bilse, I.E.
Traffic Signal Systems Engineer
CITY OF
CARLSBAD
La Costa Avenue
Traffic Issues
Speeding
Sight Distance
Traffic Volume
CITY OF
CARLSBAD
Short Term Solution=
Signing and Striping
• Install warning signs along residential driveways
• Install Speed Feedback Signs at key locations
• Prohibit parking adjacent to residential driveways
• Prohibit left turn access/egress to residential
driveways (painted median)
CITY OF
CARLSBAD
Warning Signs
ENTERING
RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAYS
CITY OF
CARLSBAD
Speed Feedback Signs
YOUR
SPEED
Existing Signing and Striping Conditions
<jC C • CITY OF
CARLSBAD
Painted Median
Proposed Improvements
CARLSBAD
Next Steps for Short Term Solutions
Implement warning and speed feedback signs
Council direction on parking restrictions
Council direction on left turn restrictions
I T Y OF
CARLSBAD
~^^™
Long-Term Solution=
Complete Streets Design
• Safety and Livability
Traffic Calming Measures
Mini-roundabouts in lieu of proposed traffic signals
Road Diet
C I T V OF
CARLSBAD
Next Steps for Long-Term Solutions
Analyze Road Diet
• General Plan Issues
Growth Management Program Issues
Public Outreach
CITY OF
CARLSBAD
Recap
9 Install warning signs and speed feedback signs
• City Council input on proposed parking restrictions
• City Council input on proposed turning restrictions
• Staff to prepare signing and striping plan for
consideration at upcoming City Council meeting
• Staff to make presentation at upcoming City Council
meeting on proposed Road Diet/Traffic Calming Plan
CITY OF
CARLSBAD
Questions?
C I T Y O F
CARLSBAD