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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-03; Traffic and Mobility Commission; ; UPDATE ON CARLSBAD BOULEVARD PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTItem 5 Meeting Date: Aug. 3, 2020 To: Traffic and Mobility Commission Staff Contact: Miriam Jim, Senior Engineer Miriam.Jim@carlsbadca.gov or 760-268-4796 Subject: Update on Carlsbad Boulevard Pedestrian Improvement Project Recommended Action Receive an update on the proposed Carlsbad Boulevard Pedestrian Improvement Project. Executive Summary This project will install curb extensions, high visibility crosswalk markings, green bicycle lane treatments and in-pavement flashing lights to augment the existing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) systems at the marked uncontrolled crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard at Army/Navy Academy, Oak Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Hemlock Avenue. Discussion This segment of Carlsbad Boulevard is designated as an “identity street” in the General Plan Mobility Element. Based on recent counts, traffic volumes on Carlsbad Boulevard can range from 12,000 to 20,000 vehicles per day, depending on location. As reported earlier, staff has analyzed and implemented several projects along Carlsbad Boulevard relying on best practices and standards for each project. During the last seven years, many improvements have been implemented along the corridor including the following: • 2012 – Pedestrian scrambles were installed at two locations along Carlsbad Boulevard (intersections at Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand Avenue) • 2012-13 – Pedestrian medians and RRFBs were installed at five locations along Carlsbad Boulevard (Hemlock Avenue, Cherry Avenue, Maple Avenue, Sycamore Avenue and Oak Avenue) • 2014 – Carlsbad Boulevard and State Street roundabout, multi-use trail and road diet were installed • 2014-15 – Carlsbad Boulevard bridge railing, sidewalk and restriping improvements were completed • 2018 – Slurry seal, restriping to accommodate more on-street parking and enhanced crosswalk signage and legends were installed from Beech Avenue to Mountain View Drive The General Plan Mobility Element, which was approved in 2015, has the following recommendation for identity streets: “Traffic calming devices, such as curb extensions (Bulb- outs) or enhanced pedestrian crossings should be considered and evaluated for implementation.” Pursuant to prior City Council direction, staff has evaluated Carlsbad Boulevard for possible traffic calming measures. Considering the General Plan Mobility Element recommendations for identity streets, staff is proposing improvements to the six uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard at Hemlock Avenue, Cherry Avenue, Maple Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Oak Avenue and Army/Navy Academy. The proposed improvements include: • Curb extensions (where feasible) • Pedestrian-activated in-pavement flashing lights to augment existing RRFBs • Continental high-visibility crosswalks • Green bicycle lane treatments in conflict areas These traffic calming improvements will provide additional safety for all modes of travel while enhancing mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists. On September 24, 2019, staff presented the proposed project and informed City Council that it would be moving forward with this project as part of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process. On January 6, 2020, staff presented an Update on Carlsbad Boulevard, College Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue Traffic Calming Enhancements to Traffic and Mobility Commission. The project is currently in the design phase. Next Steps After completion of design, the project will be brought to City Council to approve plans and specifications. Exhibits 1. Conceptual plans for Carlsbad Boulevard Pedestrian Improvement Project EXHIBIT \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\SD CorpStds 2005.dscript \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\19212_Ex01-CarlsbadBlvd-Army-Navy-20SCALE.dgn 2020 Rick Engineering Companyc 24-JUL-2020 13:43 LEGEND = PROPOSED GREEN BIKE PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN RAMP = PROPOSED HELMETED BICYCLIST PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED TYPE III B SERVICE METER ENCLOSURE XS X = EXISTING RRFB SYSTEM X = EXISTING STREET LIGHT = PROPOSED IN-ROADWAY WARNING LIGHTS (IRWL) X = EXISTING STROM DRAIN, SEWER MH= PROPOSED LIMITS OF BULB OUT/ CURB EXTENSION PRELIMINARY NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION JULY 24, 2020XEX X XEX PBX X X WX XS XSXTPB XXTPBCBXXXXX 1 LOCATION 1: CARLSBAD BLVD BETWEEN MOUNTAIN VIEW DR. AND CYPRESS AVE. CONCEPT LAYOUT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENT GRAPHIC SCALE 1" = 20' 10 0 4020 6020 CARLSBAD BLVD POWER SOURCE LOCATION COULD CHANGE BASED ON DIRECTION FROM SDG&E POWER SOURCE LOCATED AT CARLSBAD BLVD/MOUNTAIN VIEW DR. INTERSECTION. 11' 6' 11' 11' 6' 7' 12' EXHIBIT \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\SD CorpStds 2005.dscript \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\19212_Ex02-CarlsbadBlvd-OakAve-20SCALE.dgn 2020 Rick Engineering Companyc 24-JUL-2020 13:47 LEGEND = PROPOSED GREEN BIKE PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN RAMP = PROPOSED HELMETED BICYCLIST PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED TYPE III B SERVICE METER ENCLOSURE XS X = EXISTING RRFB SYSTEM X = EXISTING STREET LIGHT = PROPOSED IN-ROADWAY WARNING LIGHTS (IRWL) = PROPOSED CONTINENTAL CROSSWALK X = EXISTING STROM DRAIN, SEWER MH= PROPOSED LIMITS OF BULB OUT/ CURB EXTENSION PRELIMINARY NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION JULY 24, 2020XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X EXX X EXX X XCA R LSBA D BLVD OAK AVELOCATION 2: CARLSBAD BLVD AND OAK AVE. CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENT CONCEPT LAYOUT 2 GRAPHIC SCALE 1" = 20' 10 0 4020 60208'10'10'10'11'7'8' ON DIRECTION FROM SDG&E POWER SOURCE LOCATION COULD CHANGE BASED POWER SOURCE LOCATED ALONG OAK AVENUE. EXHIBIT \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\SD CorpStds 2005.dscript \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\19212_Ex03-CarlsbadBlvd-SycamoreAve-20SCALE.dgn 2020 Rick Engineering Companyc 24-JUL-2020 13:51 LEGEND = PROPOSED GREEN BIKE PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN RAMP = PROPOSED HELMETED BICYCLIST PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED TYPE III B SERVICE METER ENCLOSURE XS X = EXISTING RRFB SYSTEM X = EXISTING STREET LIGHT = PROPOSED IN-ROADWAY WARNING LIGHTS (IRWL) = PROPOSED CONTINENTAL CROSSWALK X = EXISTING STROM DRAIN, SEWER MH= PROPOSED LIMITS OF BULB OUT/ CURB EXTENSION PRELIMINARY NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION JULY 24, 2020 X XEX EXX XS EXX XX X X X X CARLSBAD BLVDSYCAMORE AVECHANGE BASED ON DIRECTION FROM SDG&E INTERSECTION. POWER SOURCE LOCATION COULD POWER SOURCE LOCATED NE CORNER OF THIS CONCEPT LAYOUT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENT 3 LOCATION 3: CARLSBAD BLVD AND SYCAMORE AVE. GRAPHIC SCALE 1" = 20' 10 0 4020 6020 7' 5' 10' 10' 10' 10' 7' EXHIBIT \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\SD CorpStds 2005.dscript \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\19212_Ex04-CarlsbadBlvd-MapleAve-20SCALE.dgn 2020 Rick Engineering Companyc 24-JUL-2020 13:53 LEGEND = PROPOSED GREEN BIKE PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN RAMP = PROPOSED HELMETED BICYCLIST PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED TYPE III B SERVICE METER ENCLOSURE XS X = EXISTING RRFB SYSTEM X = EXISTING STREET LIGHT = PROPOSED IN-ROADWAY WARNING LIGHTS (IRWL) = PROPOSED CONTINENTAL CROSSWALK X = EXISTING STROM DRAIN, SEWER MH= PROPOSED LIMITS OF BULB OUT/ CURB EXTENSION PRELIMINARY NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION JULY 24, 2020XXX X X EX EXX XSXXX X X X XXCHANGE BASED ON DIRECTION FROM SDG&E INTERSECTION. POWER SOURCE LOCATION COULD POWER SOURCE LOCATED NE CORNER OF THIS CONCEPT LAYOUT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENT GRAPHIC SCALE 1" = 20' 10 0 4020 6020 CARLSBAD BLVDMAPLE AVE6' 10' 10' 10' 10' 7' 4 LOCATION 4: CARLSBAD BLVD AND MAPLE AVE. EXHIBIT \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\SD CorpStds 2005.dscript \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\19212_Ex05-CarlsbadBlvd-CherryAve-20SCALE.dgn 2020 Rick Engineering Companyc 24-JUL-2020 13:57 LEGEND = PROPOSED GREEN BIKE PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN RAMP = PROPOSED HELMETED BICYCLIST PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED TYPE III B SERVICE METER ENCLOSURE XS X = EXISTING RRFB SYSTEM X = EXISTING STREET LIGHT = PROPOSED IN-ROADWAY WARNING LIGHTS (IRWL) = PROPOSED CONTINENTAL CROSSWALK X = EXISTING STROM DRAIN, SEWER MH= PROPOSED LIMITS OF BULB OUT/ CURB EXTENSION PRELIMINARY NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION JULY 24, 2020XXXXXXXXX X TLRX EXBWVXXX EX X XXX X XXXGVX XX XXXEXX XX X SXXXXXXCARLSBAD BLVD CONCEPT LAYOUT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENT GRAPHIC SCALE 1" = 20' 10 0 4020 6020 7' 10' 10' 10' 10' 5 CHERRY AVECHANGE BASED ON DIRECTION FROM SDG&E INTERSECTION. POWER SOURCE LOCATION COULD POWER SOURCE LOCATED NE CORNER OF THIS 3' 8' 7' DETERMINED. TYPE OF CURB/BERM EXTENSION TO BE LOCATION 5: CARLSBAD BLVD AND CHERRY AVE. EXHIBIT \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\SD CorpStds 2005.dscript \\cp.rickeng.com\projects\C19000\19212_CarlsbadBlvdXwalkImp\Traffic\Exhibits\19212_Ex06-CarlsbadBlvd-HemlockAve-20SCALE.dgn 2020 Rick Engineering Companyc 24-JUL-2020 13:59 LEGEND = PROPOSED GREEN BIKE PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN RAMP = PROPOSED HELMETED BICYCLIST PAVEMENT MARKING = PROPOSED TYPE III B SERVICE METER ENCLOSURE XS X = EXISTING RRFB SYSTEM X = EXISTING STREET LIGHT = PROPOSED IN-ROADWAY WARNING LIGHTS (IRWL) = PROPOSED CONTINENTAL CROSSWALK X = EXISTING STROM DRAIN, SEWER MH= PROPOSED LIMITS OF BULB OUT/ CURB EXTENSION PRELIMINARY NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION JULY 24, 2020XXXXX EX X XEX X EXX X SXXX CONCEPT LAYOUT CARLSBAD BOULEVARD CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENT GRAPHIC SCALE 1" = 20' 10 0 4020 6020 7' 10' 10' 6 CHANGE BASED ON DIRECTION FROM SDG&E INTERSECTION. POWER SOURCE LOCATION COULD POWER SOURCE LOCATED NE CORNER OF THIS 8' CARLSBAD BLVDHEMLOCK AVELOCATION 6: CARLSBAD BLVD AND HEMLOCK AVE. ADA PARKING SPOTS TO BE DETERMINED. RESTRIPING TO MAINTAIN TWO ADA ACCESSIBILITY DESIGN AND 10' 10' 7' Questions on Item 5 of the August 3, 2020 Traffic and Mobility Committee Meeting Agenda: 1. Basis: The bulb outs, continental crosswalks and LEDs should all enhance pedestrian safety. However, 2 pedestrians were killed after being hit by cars while crossing the street in 2014. Reference TIMS Case ID’s 6291319 and 6291946. There has apparently been at least one more pedestrian fatality that was brought before our Traffic Safety Commission by a member of the public who was traumatized after witnessing it. Questions: Do recent increases in speeding since the COVID 19 lockdown indicate that traffic calming might be needed to prevent more fatal pedestrian, cyclist or motorist crashes? Are any traffic calming measures being considered that might allow a reduction of the speed limit to 25 MPH? Are additional crosswalks being considered? Are there any other plans to reduce speeding and improve multi-modal LOS? 2. Basis: A preliminary review of Carlsbad crash data for 2014-2018 shows that motorist right hooks are the most common cause of car-bike crashes, while left crosses are next. Some motorists are unaware of the vehicle code requirement (CVC 22100) to make right turns from as close as practical to the right-hand edge of the road, which includes Class II Bike Lanes when they become dashed. Left crosses are often caused by “moving blind spots” which are common on multi-lane streets where neither the motorist turning left or the cyclist on the far right are able to see each other until it is too late to avoid the collision. The Smart Cycling class provides several countermeasures to minimize it. Some of the new, or returning cyclists are unaware of the basic rules of the road, the relatively new Sharrow markings, the meaning of green paint or the free Smart Cycling Zoom classes. Some of these cyclists appear to be younger than driving age and riding E-bikes at speeds approaching the speed limit. Questions: If green paint is provided in the NB Bike Lane on CB Blvd approaches to the intersections at Hemlock, Cherry, Maple, Sycamore, and Oak, will motorists be more likely or less likely to make illegal right turns from the #2 lane? Will there be any before and after studies to answer this question? Will cyclists be more likely to stay in the Bike Lane rather than move to the left and pass drivers who are preparing to turn right? And if cyclists stay to the right, they will be less visible to drivers preparing to turn left due to passing motorists in the #1 and #2 lanes? Swerve 9% Wrong way 8% Unsafe speed 4% Ride out3% SS/TL4% Left turn from right side 3% Right hook 21% Left cross 12% Drive out/ backing 10% Overtaking9% Speed 8% SS/TL 3% Dooring 2% Other 4% CARLSBAD CAR-BIKE CRASHES --WHO'S AT FAULT? On the East side of Carlsbad Blvd at Oak St, will the bulb out be ineffective at reducing speeds if drivers make right turns from the number 2 lane outside the green dashed Bike Lane? Should the Bike Lane, which is inside the door zone, be a shared lane instead, as it is later approaching CVD?