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Home My WebLink About2012-03-27; City Council; 20851; Introduce Ordinance to Establish All-Way Stop Controls at Lincoln Street-Pine Avenue, Garfield Street-Chestnut Avenue, and Garfield Street-Juniper AvenueCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# 20,851 INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH ALL-WAY STOP CONTROLS AT LINCOLN STREET/PINE AVENUE, GARFIELD STREET/CHESTNUT AVENUE AND GARFIELD STREET/JUNIPER AVENUE DEPT DIRECTOR^ MTG. 3/27/12 INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH ALL-WAY STOP CONTROLS AT LINCOLN STREET/PINE AVENUE, GARFIELD STREET/CHESTNUT AVENUE AND GARFIELD STREET/JUNIPER AVENUE CITY ATTORNEY DEPT. TRAN INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH ALL-WAY STOP CONTROLS AT LINCOLN STREET/PINE AVENUE, GARFIELD STREET/CHESTNUT AVENUE AND GARFIELD STREET/JUNIPER AVENUE CITY MANAGER 11/— RECOMMENDED ACTION: Introduce Ordinance No. CS-176 to require stops on Lincoln Street at its intersection with Pine Avenue, to require stops on Garfield Street at its intersection with Chestnut Avenue and to require stops on Garfield Street at its intersecfion with Juniper Avenue. ITEM EXPLANATION: Section 2B.07 of the California MUTCD recommends consideration of ALL-WAY STOP control when there is a "need to control vehicle/pedestrian conflicts near locations that generate high pedestrian volumes". Since the beach area can be considered a location that can generate high pedestrian volumes, staff believes that ALL-WAY STOP control may be justified at these locafions. Secfion 2B.07 of the California MUTCD also recommends consideration of ALL-WAY STOP control at locations "where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to reasonably negotiate the intersection unless the conflicting cross traffic is also required to stop". Sight distance at these three intersections is often restricted by parked cars. Since the demand for parking is very high in this area due to the proximity of the beach, prohibifion of parking to increase sight distance was not considered to be an effective solufion. Therefore, staff has recommended that ALL- WAY STOP control be established at these three intersections to provide improved traffic operations. The Traffic Safety Commission considered this matter at its meefing on November 7, 2011. By a 2-1 vote, the Traffic Safety Commission recommended that ALL-WAY STOP control be established at intersections of Lincoln Street and Pine Avenue, Garfield Street and Chestnut Avenue, and Garfield Street and Juniper Avenue. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) - minor alteration of existing facilifies, including streets, sidewalks, gutters, and similar facilifies involving negligible or no expansion. DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Bryan Jones, (760) 602-2431, Bryan.Jones(gcarisbadca.gov FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED A CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC • DENIED CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN • CONTINUED • RETURNED TO STAFF • WITHDRAWN • OTHER-SEE MINUTES • AMENDED • Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT: The installation of six STOP signs and STOP legends will cost approximately $5,000. Sufficient funds are available in the Streets Maintenance Division budget. EXHIBITS: 1. Locafion map. 2. Ordinance No. CS-176 to require stops on Lincoln Street at its intersection with Pine Avenue, to require stops on Garfield Street at its intersection with Chestnut Avenue, and to require stops on Garfield Street at its intersection with Juniper Avenue. 3. Traffic Safety Commission Minutes, dated November 7, 2011. LOCATION MAP LEGEND: I PROPOSED ALL-WAY STOP LOCATION I I EXISTING ALL-WAY STOP (S) EXISTING TRAFFIC SIGNAL Ui o o NOT TO SCALE PROPOSED ALL-WAY STOP LOCATIONS EXHIBIT 3 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 ORDINANCE NO. CS-176 _ AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 10, CHAPTER 10.28 OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE TO REQUIRE STOPS ON LINCOLN AVENUE AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH PINE AVENUE, TO REQUIRE STOPS ON GARFIELD STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH CHESTNUT AVENUE, AND TO REQUIRE STOPS ON GARFIELD STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH JUNIPER AVENUE. The City Council of the City of Carisbad, California, hereby ordains as follows: SECTION 1: That Title 10, Chapter 10.28 of the Carisbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Section 10.28.971 to read as follows: "10.28.971 - Lincoln Street. Drivers shall stop where the following described street intersects Lincoln Street: Pine Avenue." SECTION 2: That Tifie 10, Chapter 10.28 of the Carisbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Section 10.28.972 to read as follows: "10.28.971 - Garfield Street. Drivers shall stop where the following described street intersects Garfield Street: Chestnut Avenue Juniper Avenue." EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty (30) days after its adoption; and the City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and cause it to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Carisbad within fifteen (15) days after its adoption. /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// 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 INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a Regular Meeting of the Carisbad City Council on the 27* day of March 2012, and thereafter PASSED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meefing of the City Council of the City of Carisbad, California, on the day of , 2012, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: RONALD R. BALL, City Attorney MATT HALL, Mayor ATTEST: LORRAINE M. WOOD, City Cleric (SEAL) MINUTES MEETING OF: DATEOF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION November 7,2011 (Regular Meeting) 3:00 p.m. City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Chair Gallagher called the Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Staff Members Present: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 12,2011 ACTION: Chair Steve Gallagher Commissioner Guy Roney Commissioner Hope Wrisley Vice-Chair Gordon Cress Commissioner Jairo Valderrama Bryan Jones, Deputy Transportation Director John Kim, Associate Engineer Lt. Marc Reno, Carlsbad Police Department VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Commissioner Roney, and duly seconded by Commissioner Wrisley, to approve the minutes of the special meeting held on September 12,2011, as presented. 3-0-0 Gallagher, Roney, Wrisley None None There was no Traffic Safety Commission meeting held in October 2011. ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. b November 7,2011 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None. ITEM 6 - NEW BUSINESS: Chair Gallagher stated that since there was a citizen in attendance who wished to speak on Item 6B, staff would make their presentation on that issue first. ITEM 6B: To implement improvements for pedestrian safety on Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack Avenue. Bryan Jones, Deputy Transportation Director, stated pedestrian access across Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack Avenue has historically been an area of concem for residents and visitors. Although tiie intersections at Carlsbad Village Drive, Pine Avenue and Tamarack Avenue are signalized and offer signal-controlled pedestrian crossings, tiie approximately half-mile distance between Walnut Avenue and Redwood Avenue do not offer such amenities for pedestrians. Pedestrians wishing to cross the roadway on this portion ofCarlsbad Boulevard must negotiate two directions of travel and cross five vehicle lanes. Due to the speed of vehicles and tiie inattention of drivers distracted by the ocean view, yielding compliance to crossing pedestrians can be compromised. Pedestrians can have a difficult time judging adequate gaps in traffic to cross safety and delays or compromises in safety can result. Based on these concems, tiie City Council has asked staff to implement pedestrian safety enhancements on this portion ofCarlsbad Boulevard. Carlsbad Boulevard has two traffic lanes in each direction separated by a painted median or left-turn lane. Traffic signals control traffic on Carlsbad Boulevard at Carlsbad Village Drive, Pine Avenue and Tamarack Avenue. The other intersections are minor-street STOP controlled. There are four marked but uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks across Carlsbad Boulevard at Sycamore Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Juniper Avenue. Mr. Jones indicated staff has identified tiie following proposed improvements to the subject areas: (1) Installation of raised medians and marked pedestrian crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard at Oak Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cheny Avenue, and Hemlock Avenue. (2) Installation of high visibility marked pedestrian crosswalks at the signalized intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Pine Avenue. (3) Installation of pedestrian-activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and to augment marked crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard at Oak Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Hemlock Avenue. (4) Installation of pedestrian crossing signs on proposed raised median locations. (5) All-Way STOP control at tiie intersections of Lincoln Street/Pine Avenue, Garfield Street/Chestnut Avenue, and Garfield Street/Juniper Avenue. November 7,2011 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 (6) Removal of marked pedestrian crosswalk across Carlsbad Boulevard at Juniper Avenue (replaced by median/crosswalk at Hemlock Avenue). (7) Provision of ADA-compliant accessibility at all crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack. These proposed improvements will result in many safety enhancements. Raised medians vAW create a two-stage crossing for pedestrians by providing a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the roadway. Raised medians vydll completely eliminate conflicts between left-tuming vehicles and crossing pedestrians. The Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons will draw driver's attention to crossing pedestrians and increase compliance of yielding to pedestrians within crosswalks. The All-Way STOP installations vyithin the neighborhood east ofCarlsbad Boulevard will provide traffic calming by introducing friction along Garfield Street and Lincoln Street. This will balance the potential increase in vehicle demand due to the left-turn prohibitions caused by the raised medians. City staff does not expect any additional traffic volume on these streets from being diverted from Carlsbad Boulevard itself, but rather the re-routing of intemal neighborhood traffic that may have to use the adjacent street to make a westbound left tum from the neighborhood to southbound Carlsbad Boulevard. Mr. Jones stated based on these findings, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends approval of the proposed improvements to increase pedestrian safety on Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack Avenue. Public Testimony Chair Gallagher called for Public Testimony. Andrew Papson, 372 Pine Avenue, Apt IC, Carlsbad, stated he fully supports the proposed improvements. He bikes to work every day and has limited sight. He wrote to John Kim two months ago and is happy with the proposed All-Way STOP in his neighborhood. It will keep vehicles from speeding on Lincoln Street by his home. He urged the city to implement the changes before summer. Seeing no others wishing to testify. Chair Gallagher closed Public Testimony. DISCUSSION Commissioner Roney asked how long it would take to implement the plan once approved. Mr. Jones indicated tiie plan could be implemented by spring. Funds have already been budgeted for this project. November 7,2011 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 4 Chair Gallagher stated the report did not include vehicle counts and he didn't know how many people it would affect or the impact it would have on the neighborhood. Mr. Jones said this was not a traffic calming project. Staff has received calls regarding sight distance and speeding on Garfield Street. Chair Gallagher indicated that none ofthe All-Way STOP criteria have been looked at. He didn't know the collision rates. There appeared to be no other criteria or warrants. Mr. Kim stated he did not have traffic counts available. Mr. Jones indicated that the All-Way STOP criteria was not limited to vehicle volume, but included such factors as sight distance. There has been a paradigm shift in Califomia as it pertains to non- vehicular modes of transportation and it is important to make sure that all modes are accommodated. Chair Gallagher reminded staff that traffic calming has other tools in the toolbox to choose from. Mr. Jones stated STOP signs are more cost-effective tiian other measures such as speed humps to maintain. Sometimes cost is a factor in choosing the right tool. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Wrisley, and duly seconded by Commissioner Roney, to approve the proposed improvements for pedestrian safety on Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack Avenue. VOTE: 2-1-0 AYES: Roney, Wrisley NOES: Gallagher ABSTAIN: None ITEM 6A: Revise the prima facie speed limit upon La Costa Avenue from 1,000 feet east of El Camino Real to Rancho Santa Fe Road. Mr. Jones stated the subject portion of La Costa Avenue is posted at 45 miles per hour. Based on the recent installation of waming signs, speed feedback signs and the reduction of the number of westbound lanes on a portion of La Costa Avenue, staff determined that a re-evaluation of this speed zone was necessary. The Califomia Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) November 7,2011 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 5 recommends that speed limits should be re-evaluated after roadways have undergone a significant change in roadway characteristics. A valid and enforceable speed limit is needed to ensure traffic safety. Mr. Jones said the Califomia MUTCD requires tiiat the speed limit be established at the nearest 5 mile per hour increment of tiie 85* percentile and tiiat a 5 mile per hour reduction may be applied if the conditions and justification for the lower speed limit are documented in tiie Engineering and Traffic Survey and approved by a registered Civil or Traffic Engineer. Staff concluded tiiat tiie nearest 5 mile per hour increment ofthe 85* percentile speed is 45 miles per hour and that a 5 mile per hour reduction is justified based on the number of residential homes directly accessing La Costa Avenue and tiie limited sight distance available at some of the residential driveways. The Califomia Vehicle Code authorizes local authorities to establish a prima facie speed limit on tiie basis of the results of an Engineering and Traffic Survey. The Engineering and Traffic Survey considers such factors as the number of collisions that have occun-ed on the road segment, roadway features, adjacent land uses, driveway locations, traffic volumes, pedestrian volumes, critical speed, horizontal and vertical alignment, stopping sight distance, and conditions that may not be readily apparent to the driver. Mr. Jones indicated based upon tiie results of tiie Engineering and Traffic Survey, the Traffic Safety Cooixiinating Committee recommends revising the prima facie speed limit upon La Costa Avenue fi-om 1,000 feet east of El Camino Real to Rancho Santa Fe Road, from 45 to 40 miles per hour. DISCUSSION Commissioner Wrisley stated that she drove the subject roadway and found it conftising in that the roadway speed was posted at 35 miles per hour until you got past the shopping center, and tiien it increased to 45 miles per hour, and then back down to 35 miles per hour. She asked ifthe entire stretch of roadway could all be the same speed. Mr. Jones stated it would all become a uniform 40 miles per hour. The speed would increase fi-om 35 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour along the entire stretch of roadway. Residents like bike lanes and livability, and tiiey especially like tiie interim striping plan. Chair Gallagher asked if radar could be used for speed checks along the subject roadway. Lt. Reno stated yes and they could enforce the speed limit at 40 miles per hour. November 7,2011 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 6 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Roney, and duly seconded by Commissioner Wrisley, to revise the prima facie speed limit upon La Costa Avenue fix)m 1,000 feet east of El Camino Real to Rancho Santa Fe Road, fi-om 45 to 40 miles per hour. VOTE: 3-0-0 AYES: Gallagher, Roney, Wrisley NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Wrisley asked who was responsible for maintaining the vegetation on the parkway of Donna Drive. The overgrowth of it blocked sight distance. Mr. Jones said he would look into the matter. ITEMS: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Jones gave the Commissioners a brief summary of his background and qualifications before coming to Carlsbad. He invited them to express their ideas on how to improve and/or evolve their role as commissioners. He would Uke to receive their input, ideas, thoughts, issues, and how to present better. Chau" Gallagher asked if John Kim would be attending the TSC meetings in the fiiture. He feh that Mr. Kim had done an excellent job and was always very professional in his presentations and knowledge. Mr. Jones agreed that he was an mcredible and valued staflf member and that Mr. Kim would mdeed be attending future meetings. The next regular Traffic Safety Commission meeting is scheduled for December 5, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion. Chair Gallagher adjoumed the Regular Meeting of November 7, 2011 at 4:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted. Rutii Woodbeck Minutes Clerk ;(