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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-04-04; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFElY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: April 4,1994 TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Green called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. Present: Commissioners Green, Anear, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak. Absent: None. Staff Members Present: Bob Johnson, Traffic Engineer Sgt. Don Metcalf APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On motion by Commissioner Blake, the Traffic Safety Commission approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held March 7, 1994, as presented. AYES: Green, Anear, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak OW COMMUNICATIONS: Bob Johnson read a letter that had been faxed to him from Mr. and Mrs. Henry Struikmans, 8535 Edison Avenue, Chino, CA and a Carlsbad address of 158 Acacia, where they own a second home. The letter called attention to the traffic on Carlsbad Boulevard between Pine and Tamarack, and requested stop signs or signals to be added in that stretch of road. A copy of the letter is attached to the original Minutes on file in the Engineering Department. Mr. Johnson stated that an over-all traffic study is being made on Carlsbad Boulevard and this area will be part of that study. In the meantime, staff will call Mr. and Mrs. Struikmans informing them of the study to be done in that area. Commission discussion followed, with Commissioner Anear stating that bicycles are not allowed on the sidewalks in Carlsbad, and the law needs to be enforced. He suggested confiscating the bikes and making the children pick them up at the Police Department. Commissioner Stachoviak stated that some months ago City Council stated that bicycles and skateboard were allowed on the upper walk along the Boulevard--but not on the seawall walkway. Sgt. Metcatf stated that no bicycles are allowed on the sidewalks, but it is not possible to take bicycles away from bike riders. He said that Carlsbad Boulevard has been very heavily worked by the Police Department during the last year, with 1,800 citations being written on that street. .- April 4, 1994 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: (Continued) Sgt. Metcalf continued, stating that El Camino Real is now where the accidents and injuries are occurring, so the Police are concentrating on that area. As of Memorial Day, the Police Patrol on bicycles will be at the beach area exclusively, and Sgt. Metcalf stated that will reduce the problems on Carlsbad Boulevard as it does every summer. He said that the reduced speed limit enforced as of last summer has helped considerably, and it is hoped that it will be possible to reduce the speed limit further. The Police Traffic Division is short of personnel, and that means that the Officers must move to the areas where accidents are happening. Sgt. Metcalf explained that Carlsbad gets a very small share of any ticket written and has nothing to do with the decision of the judges about the amount of the fines. Chairman Green inquired whether a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Struikmans would suffice instead of conducting a study, and Mr. Johnson explained that the traffic study is to be conducted on that entire area, and the Struikmans would be informed of what the Engineering Department has planned. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: A. Hinhland Drive and Chinquapin Avenue Intersection - Request for Sight Distance Mitigation. Bob Johnson reported that Mr. William Jubb has requested that this item be continued one month. Mr. Jubb was unable to attend today's meeting, and would like to present his case to the Traffic Safety Commission as he disagrees with the City Engineer's decision to have removed from the public right-of-way a pine tree and two rocks. Mr. Johnson stated, in reply to query, that there had been communications with Mr. Jubb, and the City had notified Mr. Jubb to remove the tree and the rocks. If Mr. Jubb refuses to remove the objects, the City will do so. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Courtney, the Traffic Safety Commission continued this item to the May agenda. AYES: Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak NOES Green and Anear B. Tamarack Avenue and El Camino Real Intersection - Request to Eliminate Eastbound 'Right Turn Only' Lane. Bob Johnson gave the staff report, using transparencies to show the intersection. He stated that Chairman Green had made the request to consider the elimination of the right-turn only lane that currently exists. April 4, 1994 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) Mr. Johnson reported that staff has observed this intersection over the last several months and the data has been provided to the Commission as to the operation of the intersection. The service levels are at A and B, with A as the top level of service. There is no problem from a service standpoint. If that right-turn only lane were to be changed to share with a straight through lane, the morning traffic would be affected when one car wanted to go through and they blocked the entire line of cars wanting to make a right turn on the red. There is no accident problem there at this time, and staff feels there would be a problem if this lane were changed to allow both right turns and straight through traffic. The delay that would be caused by changing this lane would add to the pollution and at the present time the through lane clears on every cycle of the signal. Mr. Johnson continued, stating that when Carlsbad Village Drive is extended to College and College extended, there will be different conditions at that intersection, and it will be reassessed at that time. The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended leaving the right-turn only lane as it is on the eastbound Tamarack Avenue intersection at El Camino Real. Chairman Green suggested having a "morning only' turning right, and staff indicated that was not possible. Sgt. Metcalf stated that if the right turn lane backed up, forcing a line up the hill, rear-end accidents would go up and hostility would increase. Drivers would try to get around the backed up line and would be in the bike lane. This could cause serious accidents with bikers coming down the hill and not expecting cars to be in their lane. Sgt. Metcalf said the majority of cars in the morning are making a right turn onto El Camino Real and they are then going north in the afternoon. Commission suggestions included re-striping the corner, but Mr. Johnson said there is not sufficient room to do that; a suggestion to cut the corner back, and staff and the Chairman indicated that there is unstable dirt on that hill. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Courtney, the Traffic Safety Commission adopted the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee that the eastbound right-turn only lane on Tamarack Avenue and El Camino Real remain as it is and that it not be converted to a shared through/right lane. Staff is to monitor this location for any future traffic operations problems. AYES: Anear, Courtney and Stachoviak NOES Blake and Green REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFW COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Anear spoke about his request to paint another 50 feet of red curb on the east side of Pi0 Pic0 at the Carlsbad Village Drive intersection. He stated there is ample parking in a lot to the east of the building and another lot that was nearly empty when he checked it. He is opposed to the one lane of traffic allowed at the present time. April 4, 1994 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS: (Continued) Mr. Johnson stated that staff had evaluated the situation and he referred to the memorandum he had written on this matter. There have been no collisions at that corner and no complaints about being blocked for a right turn onto eastbound Carlsbad Village Drive. Mr. Johnson stated there is not sufficient room to stripe the street there. In reply to query, Mr. Johnson said there will be a 25 mile per hour school sign installed on Tamarack, as indicated in his memorandum to the Commissioners. Commissioner Stachoviak expressed concern with the crews removing the sand from the median along Carlsbad Boulevard between Cannon and Tamarack. He asked why a fence such as a 'snow fence" could not be installed there to stop the sand from drifting onto the median. Mr. Johnson stated that there is a design for a sea wall to be installed in that area; however, there is no funding available at the present time. This is a Coastal Commission issue and there are permits that have to be issued by several agencies before any fence could be installed. Chairman Green inquired about the progress on Palomar Airport Road, and Mr. Johnson reported the work is on schedule, with an anticipated completion date of October 1994. Mr. Green asked whether Daniels Cablevision intends to improve the depressed area on the north side of their building. Mr. Johnson replied that Daniels have made a request to check with the contractor to have them do that. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER: Mr. Johnson stated he had no further report. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of April 4, 1994, was adjourned at 4:14 p.m. Re.ppctfully sgbmiged, Harriett liiab@ Babbitt Minutes Clerk