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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-04; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Harbor Drive Management PlanCITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF: December 4, 2017 ITEM NO. SA LOCATION: Harbor Drive INITIATED BY: Michael Shannon, 4050 Harbor Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008 REQUESTED ACTION: Recommend City Council approval of the Harbor Drive Traffic Management Plan BACKGROUND: DATA: In response to resident concerns about vehicle speeding on Harbor Drive, staff has been working in collaboration with the residents to develop a traffic m,inagement plan that would address their concerns. On April 10, 2017, the Traffic Safety Commission supported staff's recommendation to develop a traffic management plan to reduce vehicle speeds. Staff invited residents to a neighborhood meeting on September 21, 2017 to discuss traffic management strategies and to develop a traffic management plan for Harbor Drive. At the meeting, a plan comprised of two speed cushions on Harbor Drive was proposed to the general approval of the meeting attendees. After the neighborhood meeting, surveys were sent to the residents on Harbor Drive to determine if a majority of the residents supported the traffic management plan. Based on the results of the resident survey, staff is recommending that the Harbor Drive traffic management plan be approved by City Council. · Harbor Drive is a cul-de-sac street with access from Chinquapin Avenue on its northerly terminus. A pedestrian path to Agua Hedionda Lagoon is located at the south end. Traffic data collected on September 2016 estimates that the average daily traffic using Harbor Drive ranges from 191 to 298 vehicles. This traffic consists of visitors to Agua Hedionda Lagoon, residents who live in the 18 homes fronting Harbor Drive, as well as residents, visitors and deliveries to the apartment complex which fronts the lagoon. The street is 36 feet wide with curb and gutter and no side sidewalks on both sides. On- street parking is permitted on both sides of the street. Harbor Drive is approximately 645 feet from Chinquapin Avenue to the center of the cul-de-sac end. Speed measurements were performed on Harbor Drive on several different occasions. Portable speed feedback signs were deployed in early July 2017 and indic~ted a critical (or 35th percentile) speed of 17 mph in the northbound direction and 21 mph in the southbound direction. Speed data was also collected in September using hose counting equipment, indicating critical speeds of 23 mph in the northbound direction and 24 mph in the southbound direction. The posted speed limit on Harbor Drive is 25 mph. A query of our collision data base indicates that there have been no reported collisions on Harbor Drive from 1/1/2008 to 8/4/2017. Please note that only reported collisions Page 1 COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT December 4, 2017 ITEM NO. 6A are contained in the database and does not include minor collisions and incidents that are not reported to the police department. The staff report presented at the April 10 TSC · meeting recommended that a neighborhood meeting be held and the Traffic Safety Commission voted to support a project for traffic management features to be implemented on Harbor Drive. A neighborhood meeting was held at the Carlsbad Senior Center on September 21, 2017. Invitations to all of the eighteen single family home residents and owners were mailed and eighteen residents attended the meeting. Staff heard resident concerns and presented the strategies and tools that the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program utilizes to address speeding on residential streets. By the conclusion of the meeting, a draft concept plan comprised of .two speed cushions was developed and supported by the majority of the meeting attendees. Per the requirements found in the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program, implementation of the proposed plan requires that a majority of the residents on the street express positive support the plan as determined by responses to a mailed resident survey. The survey is considered valid if 50% or more of the residents and non- resident owners return the completed survey. Positive support for the plan is indicated by 67% or more of the returned surveys in support of the proposed plan. Nineteen surveys were mailed out to residents and non-resident owners on Harbor Drive. Sixteen surveys were returned, which represents an 84% return rate. Of those sixteen returned surveys, twelve {75%) were in support of the proposed plan. Both Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program requirements related to the survey were met. RECOMMENDATION: Based on the findings contained in this report, and the requirements of the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program, staff recommends City Council approval of the Harbor Drive traffic management plan. NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION: The City Council approve required of the Harbor Drive traffic management plan. Page 2 Harbor Drive Traffic Management Project Traffic Safety Commission December 4, 2017 Requested Action: •Support traffic management plan comprised of two speed cushions on Harbor Drive What is Traffic Calming? •Encourages drivers to travel at safer speed •Doesn’t penalize drivers traveling at speed limit •Self-enforcing Traffic Calming Strategy •Vehicle speeds are determined by roadway design and character •Roadway design is difficult to change but we can change roadway character by implementing traffic calming features at regularly-spaced intervals. •Spacing of 300-700 feet is appropriate for residential streets Traffic Calming Tools –Traffic Circle Traffic Calming Tools –Speed Cushion Traffic Calming Tools –Chicane Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program •Establishes collaborative process used to develop traffic calming solutions •Places high priority on community support •Mail survey used to gauge community support •50% return and 67% support rate is required to move plan forward Harbor Drive –Public Input Process •Staff report of April 10, 2017 TSC meeting recommended neighborhood meeting •Neighborhood meeting held on September 21, 2017 •Proposed plan identified at neighborhood meeting comprised of two speed cushions spaced at 300 feet Harbor Drive –Concept Plan Harbor Drive –Community Support •19 surveys (18 residents + 1 non-resident owner) were mailed out •16 surveys were returned (84% return rate) •12 of 16 returned surveys were in support of plan (75% support) •Meets support criteria of CRTMP Harbor Drive –Design Plan Recommendation •Based on the findings contained in the staff report, and per the requirements of the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program, staff recommends City Council approval of the Harbor Drive traffic management plan. 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