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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-24; City Council; 20877; Introduce Ordinance to Establish All-Way Stop Control on Pio Pico at Intersection with Stratford LaneCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# 20,877 INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL ON PIO PICO DRIVE AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH STRATFORD LANE DEPT DIRECTOR MTG. 04/24/12 INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL ON PIO PICO DRIVE AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH STRATFORD LANE CITY ATTORNEY DEPT. TRAN INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL ON PIO PICO DRIVE AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH STRATFORD LANE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Introduce Ordinance No.. Stratford Lane. CS-181 to require stops on Pio Pico Drive at its intersection with ITEM EXPLANATION: The subject intersection is located in the northwest quadrant of the city close to City Hall. Due to the geometric configuration of the intersection and the presence of parked cars on the east side of Pio Pico Drive, sight distance from Stratford Lane is limited and access to Pio Pico Drive can be difficult. Between 2002 and 2012, staff has received nine separate complaints regarding the limited sight distance at the subject intersection. Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane are unclassified in the Circulation Element of the General Plan. Pio Pico Drive has a curb-to-curb width of 34 feet. Stratford Lane has a curb-to-curb width of 34 feet. Traffic control on Pio Pico Drive is provided by a STOP sign at Las Flores Drive and a traffic signal at Pio Pico Drive and Carisbad Village Drive. Staff conducted field measurements of existing sight distance at the subject intersection. The posted speed limit on this portion of Pio Pico Drive is 25 miles per hour and the minimum stopping sight distance required for 25 miles per hour is 150 feet. Sight distance from Stratford Lane looking to the north was measured to be 154 feet. Sight distance from Stratford Lane looking to the south was measured to be 130 feet, which is less than the minimum required. Section 2B.07 of the California MUTCD 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 safely negotiate the intersection unless the conflicting cross traffic is also required to stop." The Traffic Safety Commission considered this matter at its meeting on April 2, 2012. By a 2-1 vote, the Traffic Safety Commission recommended that ALL-WAY STOP control be established on Pio Pico Drive at its intersection with Stratford Lane. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) - minor alteration of existing facilities, including streets, sidewalks, gutters, and similar facilities involving negligible or no expansion. DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Bryan Jones, (760) 602-2431, bn/an.iones(S)carisbadca.gov FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. XT COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED W 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 two STOP signs and two STOP legends on Pio Pico Drive will cost approximately $2,000. Sufficient funds are available in the Streets Maintenance Division budget. EXHIBITS: 1. Location map. 2. Ordinance No. CS-181 to require stops on Pio Pico Drive at its intersection with Stratford Lane. 3. Redline/strikeout version 4. Traffic Safety Commission Minutes, dated April 2, 2012. 2 LOCATION MAP PROPOSED LOCATION PROPOSED LOCATION NOT TO SCALE PROJECT NAME PROPOSED ALL-WAY STOP AT PIO PICO DRIVE AND STRATFORD LANE EXHIBIT 1 PLOTTED BY: SCOTT EVANS PLOT DATE: 4/16/12 PATH: C:\TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT\TRAFF1C\ST0P SICNS\AU. WAY STOP - PIO PICO AND STRATFORD.DWG 3 ORDINANCE NO. CS-181 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF 3 CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 10, CHAPTER 10.28 OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE TO REQUIRE 4 STOPS ON PIO PICO DRIVE AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH STRATFORD LANE. 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 revision of Section 10.28.230 to read as follows: 5 6 7 g "10.28.230 - Pio Pico Drive. Drivers shall stop where the following 9 described streets intersect Pio Pico Drive: 10 Buena Vista Avenue; Chestnut Avenue; 11 Knowles Avenue; Laguna Drive; 12 Magnolia Avenue; Oak Avenue; 13 Palm Avenue; Pine Avenue; 14 Stratford Lane." 15 SECTION 2: That Title 10, Chapter 10.28 of the Carisbad Municipal Code is amended 1^ by the addition of Section 10.28.974 to read as follows: "10.28.974 - Stratford Lane. Drivers shall stop where the following described street intersects Stratford Lane: 18 Pio Pico Drive." 19 20 EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty (30) days after its adoption; and 21 the City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and cause it to be published at least once in 22 a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Carisbad within fifteen (15) days after its adoption. 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 INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a Regular Meeting of the Carisbad City Council on the 24th day of April 2012, and thereafter. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carisbad on the day of 2012 by the following vote to wit: AYES: Council Members. NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY RONALD R. BALL, City Attorney MATT HALL, Mayor ATTEST: LORRAINE M. WOOD, City Clerk (SEAL) 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 REDLINE/STRIKEOUT VERSION £ ^"H If^ T 3 ORDINANCE NO. 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 PIO PICO DRIVE AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH STRATFORD LANE. The City Council of the City of Carisbad, California, hereby ordains as follows: SECTION 1: That Title 10, Chapter 10.28 ofthe Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the revision of Section 10.28.230 to read as follows: "10.28.230 - Pio Pico Drive. Drivers shall stop where the following described streets intersect Pio Pico Drive: Buena Vista Avenue; Chestnut Avenue; Knowles Avenue; Laguna Drive; Magnolia Avenue; Oak Avenue; Palm Avenue; Pine Avenue; Stratford Lane." SECTION 2: That Title 10, Chapter 10.28 ofthe Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Section 10.28.974 to read as follows: "10.28.974 - Stratford Lane. Drivers shall stop where the following described street Intersects Stratford Lane: Pio Pico Drive." EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty (30) days after its adoption; and the City Cleri< 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 afler 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 ofthe Carisbad City Council on the _day of , 2012, and thereafter PASSED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting 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) 1 MEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: MINUTES TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION April 2,2012 (Regular Meeting) 3:00 p.m. City Council Chambers ITEM 1 - CALL TO ORDER Chair Gallagher called the Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. ITEM2-ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Chair Steve Gallagher Vice-Chair Gordon Cress Commissioner Guy Roney Commissioner Jairo Valderrama Commissioner Hope Wrisley Staff Members Present: John Kim, Associate Engineer, Transportation Department ITEM 3 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 5, 2012 ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Vice-Chair Cress, and duly seconded by Commissioner Roney, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on March 5, 2012, as presented. 3-0-0 Gallagher, Cress, Roney None None ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. April 2,2012 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None. ITEM 6 - NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A: Investigate the need to establish an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane. John Kim, Associate Engineer, stated the requested action was to investigate tiie need to establish an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane. The subject intersection is located in the northwest quadrant of the city. Due to the geometric configuration ofthe intersection and prevalence of parked cars on the east side of Pio Pico Drive, sight distance from Stratford Lane is limited and access to Pio Pico Drive can be difficuh. Staff conducted an analysis to establish an All-Way Stop at the subject intersection. The analysis is based on Section 2B.07 of the Califomia Manual on Uniform Traffic control Devices (MUTCD), which specifies the consideration of minimum traffic volumes, accident history, vehicle/pedestrian conflicts, sight distance restrictions and other criteria to determine whether or not an All-Way Stop is justified at a particular location. A 24-hour approach count was conducted on March 7,2012, and the results showed a low vehicle volume. There has only been one reported collision in the past five years at the subject intersection. Based on traffic volumes and collision history, the intersection of Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane did not meet the Califomia MUTCD volume criteria for All-Way Stop installation. Staff also conducted field measurements of the existing sight distance conditions at the subject intersection. The posted speed limit on this portion of Pio Pico Drive is 25 miles per hour and the minimum stopping sight distance required for 25 miles per hour is 150 feet. The resuhs ofthe sight distance evaluation looking to the north was 154 feet, which meets the minimum sight distance for 25 miles per hour, and looking south was 130 feet, which does not meet the minimum sight distance for 25 miles per hour. Section 2B.07 of the Califomia MUTCD allows consideration of an All-Way Stop at "locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting trafflc and is not able to reasonably safely negotiate the intersection unless the conflicting cross trafflc is also required to stop." Mr. Kim stated based on the findings of the report, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee (TSCC) recommended the installation of an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane be approved. April 2,2012 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 DISCUSSION Vice-Chair Cress stated he agreed that the critical speed along Pio Pico Drive is probably higher than 25 miles per hour. Based on that and the geometry of the roadway, he feh that an All-Way Stop is a good idea. Mr. Kim stated that Pio Pico Drive, south of Carlsbad Village Drive, is posted at 35 miles per hour, but the critical speeds are 38 miles per hour and 40 miles per hour. Commissioner Roney asked if the Buena Vista Elementary School still was still in operation. Mr. Kim stated it was still operating. Chair Gallagher stated he has historically had a problem when staff brings items to the Commission when the volumes are not close to being met for the specific guidelines. He feh the staff and the city are using the guideline to justify the All-Way Stop control and seems to be a liberal interpretation for him. He understands the need for parking, but if two parking spaces were removed he felt the required sight distance for that location would be met. Mr. Kim responded that perhaps 150 feet would be gained if two or three parking spaces were removed, but realistically the crkical speeds are most likely higher and he didn't feel they would be able to get the 250 feet required for a 35 miles per mile critical speed or more realistically, 300 feet for a 40 miles per hour critical speed. Chair Gallagher said it would be helpful to him if he knew what was going to be used for the guideline. In other words, the report states 25 miles per hour. He understands where Mr. Kim is coming from as far as a higher 85^*^ percentile speed is concemed, but it looks like that is what they are using to justify the All-Way Stop and the 25 miles per hour is based on the posted speed limit. He asked what the cause was of the one accident that was reported. Mr. Kim did not recollect what the specific cause of that accident was. Chair Gallagher stated there may not even be a right-of-way issue regarding the accident. It could have been a rear-ender or anything. 10 April 2,2012 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 4 Mr. Kim stated it was some form of right-angle collision. Staff does not count accidents that are not likely susceptible to correction as part of the analysis, such as rear end accidents. Chair Gallagher asked what the vote was from the TSCC on this item. Mr. Kim replied it was a imanimous vote. Chair Gallagher stated some of this could have been corrected with other options other than installing an All-Way Stop. It means we will be stopping over 1,800 vehicles per day which is totally inconsistent with driver expectations as far as he can see. Mr. Kim pointed out that the Commission as well as the TSCC did approve a Traffic Calming Program, which is going to bring these types of stop locations for approval. It was a strategy to implement Stop Signs at low volume locations similar to the subject intersection. Since this is not a residential location, staff cannot consider this as part of the Traffic Calming Program. There will, however, be quite a few low volume residential street intersections that staff will be proposing All- Way Stops on. The past emphasis on vehicular volumes is no longer the sole criteria. The use of the options given in Section 2B.07 of the Califomia MUTCD is appropriate and justified in this case. There is no language in the Califomia MUTCD stating that one criterion should weigh more than the others. It clearly states the options that can be used to evaluate stop signs from outside of the vehicular volumes, and staff is using those options rationally. ACTION: Motion by Vice-Chair Cress, and duly seconded by Commissioner Roney, to approve the installation of an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane. VOTE: 2-1-0 AYES: Cress, Roney NOES: Gallagher ABSTAIN: None ITEM 6B: Investigate the need to establish an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Adams Street and Highland Drive. John Kim stated the requested action was to investigate the need to establish an All-Way stop at the intersection of Adams Street and Highland Drive. The subject intersection is located in the northwest quadrant of the city. Due to the geometric configuration of the intersection and the hillside characteristics of the streets, sight distance from Highland Drive is limited, making access to and from Adams Street difficult for drivers. // April 2,2012 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 5 Staff conducted an analysis to establish an All-Way Stop at the subject intersection. A 24 hour approach count was conducted on November 15,2011, and the resuhs showed a low vehicle volume. There have been no reported collisions in the past five years at the subject intersection. Based on traffic volumes and collision history, the intersection of Adams Street and Highland Drive did not meet the Califomia MUTCD volume criteria for All-Way Stop installation. Staff also conducted field measurements of the existing sight distance condhions at the subject intersection. The posted speed limit on this portion of Adams Street is 25 miles per hour and the minimum stopping sight distance required for 25 miles per hour is 150 feet. The resuhs ofthe sight distance evaluation looking to the north was 284 feet, which meets the minimum sight distance for 25 miles per hour, and looking south was 141 feet, which does not meet the minimum sight distance for 25 miles per hour. Section 2B.07 ofthe Califomia MUTCD allows consideration of an All-Way Stop at "locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to reasonably safely negotiate the intersection unless the conflicting cross traffic is also required to stop." Based on the findings ofthe report, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended the installation of an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Adams Street and Highland Drive be approved. DISCUSSION Commissioner Roney asked if the requestor of this item was a resident in that immediate area. Mr. Kim stated the requestor lived on Highland Drive near Adams Street. Vice-Chair Cress stated going south on Highland Drive is part of his normal route and tuming right onto Adams Street from Highland Drive can be a little bit exciting sometimes when you are trying to edge out and look to the left to see if someone coming. That 141 sight distance sounds optimistic to him. He feels that installing an All-Way Stop at the subject intersection is a good idea. Chair Gallagher asked how much right-of-way was on the comer south of Highland Drive. Mr. Kim stated not much. One ofthe things that staff looked at was possibly reorienting the striping of the intersection so that it comes in more of a 90 degree angle than now. The right-of-way terminates in a point and there is not much you can do. Based on that, staff felt restriping the intersection without regrading and reconstmction was not feasible April 2,2012 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 6 Chair Gallagher stated he lived close to the subject intersection and he agrees that it is challenging. What bothers him is that there is no demonstrated issue of reported collisions, and you would think if there is a problem at this intersection it would present itself with reported collisions. There are only 73 cars per day coming off of Highland Drive. He asked if there are tuming counts at this intersection. Mr. Kim stated there were no tuming counts outside of the approach counts. Chair Gallagher looked at the subject intersection several times, and during that time there were four cars that came off of Highland Drive onto Adams Street, and three out of four tumed right. He felt this is probably the case in the majority of the cases. He has a concem of people tuming left, because that is more of a problem than tuming right. It bothers him that all these cars will be stopped for just 72 cars when just half of them or more are tuming to the right anyway. Mr. Kim indicated sight distance was restricted whether tuming right or left at that intersection and that is the bottom line. There is no provision in the Califomia MUTCD to say that a given deficiency must occur the majority of the time. The sight distance was measured and found to be deficient for 25 miles per hour, which is very conservative, and staff stands by that finding. Chair Gallagher stated he was not questioning the sight distance. He is questioning that for 9 feet, we are going to install an All-Way Stop. The safe stopping distance that is quoted is on a level surface and this is an uphill grade, so he would suggest that we don't even need 150 feet to stop going northbound on Adams Street. So, we're going to put in an All-Way Stop for 9 feet. Mr. Kim stated he respectfully disagreed. Again, this is a posted 25 mile per hour speed zone. Critical speeds are undetermined. Based on staffs experience at other streets posted at 25 miles per hour without a critical speed measurement, realistically speeds are probably going to be significantly higher than 25 miles per hour. Chair Gallagher said he would agree with Mr. Kim, except on Adams Street in this case is uphill and they have just come around a curve, and he didn't think drivers were going at the same speed as in Pio Pico Drive. To use a 35 or 40 mile per hour speed zone on this particular street, especially going northbound is extravagant in his opinion. Can anything be done with vegetation on that comer? Mr. Kim said it was essentially the geometry of the intersection both horizontally and vertically. As Chair Gallagher observed, the roadway goes down as you proceed south on Adams Street, and that 13, April 2,2012 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 7 contributes to the sight distance limitation, so it is not something that you can trim away to increase the sight distance. Chair Gallagher asked if there has been any thought about a right tum only. He suspects that a lot of people because ofthe left tum being uncomfortable tum right instead. Anyone who wants to tum left could use Hoover Street. Mr. Kim stated staff discussed a right tum only option, but the sight distance looking to the south was determined to be deficient, which applies to both left and right tums. Chair Gallagher asked when the sight distance was measured was it taken where the limh line is and then looking to the left versus if you're making a left tum, you are going to center yourself more towards the center of the intersection. Mr. Kim stated the standard methodology for determining sight distance at any intersection is 10 feet back from the prolongation of the edge of roadway. Chair Gallagher stated his point was is if you were making a right tum only, you would be a little bh further away from the edge of the center line and you would pick up a few more feet of sight distance if you are tuming right versus tuming left. Making a left is very challenging. It seems almost natural for him to make it a right tum only that would then allow most people who be going that way anyway. Mr. Kim mentioned there was an issue with pushing people further to the north to make that right tum, because you're forcing somebody to look even more to the rear which would be more difficult to do since you'd be craning your neck or relying on you mirrors. That is not a very comfortable or safe action for a driver to take. Chair Gallagher said that is what drivers are already doing and they didn't seem to be having a problem. Mr. Kim respectfully disagreed with the complaints staff has received, observations that staff has made personally, and observations of some of the Commissioners themselves. Chair Gallagher asked if the TSCC voted unanimously for this also. April 2,2012 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 8 Mr. Kim stated the TSCC voted unanimously on this issue. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Roney, and duly seconded by Vice-Chair Cress, to approve the installation of an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Adams Street and Highland Drive. VOTE: 2-1-0 AYES: Cress, Roney NOES: Gallagher ABSTAIN: None ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS None. ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Kim mentioned that staff is beginning work on the Traffic Calming Program. Levante Street, which is the longest of the streets in the queue to be addressed by the Traffic Calming Program, is looking at approximately 7 new stop signs along Levante Street, which is per the approved Traffic Calming Program. After the public meetings that will be held, staff will bring it to the Commission for review. Chair Gallagher asked if it would come to the Commission by next meeting or down the road a bit. Mr. Kim stated possibly down the road. Staff is considering bringing the traffic calming streets in groups to TSC instead of individually. Chair Gallagher asked the status on the Carlsbad Boulevard project as far as being done before summer starts. Mr. Kim didn't have a specific date for that. The All-Way Stops that were part of it were approved by City Council at the last City Council meeting. The other improvements are going forward, but he did not have a date on that. /5: April 2,2012 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 9 The next regularly scheduled Traffic Safety Commission meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. to be held in the City Council Chambers. If there are no agenda items, the Commission will be notified a couple of weeks before the scheduled date. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, Chair Gallagher adjoumed the Regular Meeting ofMareh 5,2012 at 3:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted. Ruth Woodbeck Minutes Clerk llo. John Kim From: Aaron Beanan Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 2:08 PM To: John Kim; Ronald Kemp; Bridget Desmarais Cc: Sabrina Michelson; Bryan Jones; Belinda Guzman Subject: RE: Draft Agenda Bill - ALL-WAY STOP at Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane Fl section looks fine. From: John Kim Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 2:05 PM To: Aaron Beanan; Ronald Kemp; Bridget Desmarais Cc: Sabrina Michelson; Bryan Jones; Belinda Guzman Subject: Draft Agenda Bill - ALL-WAY STOP at Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane Attached please find the draft agenda bill to introduce the ordinance to establish ALL-WAY STOP control at the intersection of Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane, Please provide comments to me at your eariiest convenience, Thanksl trtt D» Transportation Departmert JOHN T. KIM, P.E., T.E. Associate Engineer City of Carisbad 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008 Phone: (760) 602-2757 Fax: (760) 602-8562 Email: John.Kim^ca rlsbadca.gov