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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-07; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO P.M. PLACE OF MEETING: July 7,2003 (Regular Meeting) CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Jim Courtney called the Meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Chairperson Jim Courtney Vice-Chairperson Bob Mertz Commissioner Jerry Schall Commissioner Gordon Cress Commissioner Steve Dorsey None Staff Members Present: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division Sgt. Marc Reno, Carlsbad Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 2,2003 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Schall, and duly seconded by Commissioner Cress, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 2, 2003 as presented. VOTE: 3-0-2 AYES: Courtney, Schall, Cress NOES: None ABSTAIN: Mertz, Dorsey .. .. July 7,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Page 2 None ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS : ITEM 6A Establish an all-way stop intersection at the entrance driveway to Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School located on the south side of Calle AcervolCalle Cord0 ba intersection. Referring to an overhead slide, Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division, stated that item 6A is an item initiated by staff. He stated that during the last school year, which ended in June 2003 for the Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School, there were several requests that the intersection of Calle Acervo and Calle Cordoba be considered for an all-way stop. As depicted in the overhead slide, the area is a four-leg intersection with the south leg being the one-way entrance school driveway. Staff observed the intersection during the school year 'and conducted a 24-hour intersection approach count; this data is provided in the staff report. The survey was conducted on May 20, 2003. Mr. Johnson reported the following background information: Pedestrian crossings are prohibited at the Calle Acervo/Calle Cordoba intersection. An all-way stop was established years ago on Calle Acervo at the school exit driveway intersection with Calle Acervo. Signs at the subject intersection indicate that pedestrians are to proceed easterly and cross Calle Acervo at the all-way stop established where the school exit driveway intersects Calle Acervo. In addition, a striped yellow crosswalk was installed across Calle Acervo on both the east leg and west leg at the driveway exit location. Mr. Johnson noted that an adult crossing guard assists the students when crossing Calle Acervo at the school exit driveway intersection. Continuing, Mr. Johnson stated that with the construction of the subdivision to the north of Calle Acervo, parking occurs on Calle Cordoba, which is a public street, and Avenida de Sueno. Parents are taking advantage of the two new streets to park and they also park on Calle Acervo eastbound west of the school because of the congested conditions along Calle Acervo at the school. Referring to the overhead slide, he noted that parents do not want to walk easterly to the all-way stop location and as a result they are crossing at the intersection of Calle Cordoba and Calle Acervo with their children. Mr. Johnson mentioned that traffic operations and pedestrian crossings cause congestion at the intersection of the school driveway entrance. In addition, there are a number of turning movement conflicts; vehicles turning into and out of Calle Cordoba and onto the one-way driveway. Westbound Calle Acervo vehicles queue to turn left into the school driveway and block the sight distance of drivers passing on the right of the stopped vehicles to observe pedestrians crossing the street, albeit illegally. In August 2003 when school resumes, the school district will eliminate busing. School officials indicated that there were approximately 200 students that rode the buses to school during the last school year. Therefore, it July 7,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 is anticipated that the number of private vehicles coming to the school will increase to accommodate the 200 students. Mr. Johnson noted that there is a very low percentage of car-pooling occurring at elementary schools. As a result of the additional volume of vehicles expected in the area, traffic operations and intersection operations will be further compromised during the time frame before and after school. In summary, Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee reviewed the matter and recommends that an all way stop be established at the three-way intersection of Calle Acervo and Calle Cordoba. This will allow the assignment of right-of-way to both vehicles and pedestrians and yellow school crosswalks would be installed across Calle Acervo and Calle Cordoba. He noted that the no pedestrian- crossing signs would be removed. By establishing the right-of-way with an all-way stop, the pedestrians and vehicles movement should be better served. Chairperson Courtney asked if there were questions of staff. Noting his support for the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommendation, Chairperson Courtney commented that with the establishment of an all-way stop the area would be safer for pedestrians. Commissioner Cress asked for clarification regarding the yellow striping. Mr. Johnson replied that yellow striping would be installed as a crosswalk to indicate where pedestrians should cross. Chairperson Courtney mentioned that he believed crosswalk striping gives pedestrians a false sense of security when placed at uncontrolled intersections. Commissioner Dorsey asked for clarification regarding the traffic volume and ADT’s. Mr. Johnson replied that the heavy traffic volumes coincided with the approximate time when school starts. He noted that there is heavy eastbound traffic movement with the high school students; La Costa Canyon High School is located approximately one mile to the east of Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School on Camino de Los Coches. Commissioner Dorsey asked if traffic would be backed up at peak times on Rancho Santa Fe Road with a stop sign at Calle Cordoba. Mr. Johnson replied that it was a possibility, but mentioned that backed up traffic has not been a problem at the existing all-way stop at the school driveway exit. Commissioner Dorsey asked if there was a right turn pocket on northbound Rancho Santa Fe Road at Calle Acervo. Mr. Johnson stated that currently there is not a dedicated right turn only lane, but now that construction is ending on Rancho Santa Fe Road north of Calle Acervo, vehicles will be able to queue up next to the east curb and make the right turn onto eastbound Calle Acervo. Chairperson Courtney asked if there was a bike lane on Calle Acervo. Mr. Johnson replied there is no striped bike lane on Calle Acervo. Commissioner Schall stated that because of the nature of the intersection, he believed that even with an all- way stop problems would still exist. July 7,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 Noting that currently, the pedestrians are in violation of the posted signs, Mr. Johnson commented that the all-way stop would not be the panacea to eliminate all the school zone problems, but the all-way stop would help to assign the right-of-way between vehicles and pedestrians. Commissioner Schall asked if there was a contingency plan if traffic and pedestrian problems continued at this location. Mr. Johnson replied that there is no formal contingency plan in place for Calle Acervo at this time. To reduce traffic volume problems, the City encourages car-pooling and busing. Due to the current economic crisis, busing will be eliminated by the school district and therefore it is not an option. He mentioned that the proposed all-way stop in front of the school was similar to situations at other elementary schools in the City of Carlsbad, e.g. Hope Elementary School, Pacific Rim, La Costa Meadows, La Costa Heights, and Mission Estancia. Commissioner Cress asked if the school would be providing crossing guards. Mr. Johnson stated that the schools do not provide crossing guards; the City of Carlsbad Police Department would provide funding for the crossing guards who are hired through a temporary hiring agency. He stated that each location is evaluated to see if it meets adult crossing guard warrants. Chairperson Courtney stated he believed all school sites should have a double lane for traffic to go completely around each school; therefore vehicles could get off the street before unloading children. As there were no additional questions of staff, Chairperson Courtney opened public testimony. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: As there was no public testimony, Courtney closed public testimony and called for a discussion. DISCUSSION: As there was no discussion, Chairperson Courtney closed discussion and called for a motion. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Cress, and duly seconded by Vice- Chairperson Mertz, to accept the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee, thereby establishing an all-way stop intersection at the entrance driveway to Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School located on the south side of the Calle Acervo and Calle Cordoba intersection. VOTE: 5-0-0 AYES: NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Courtney, Mertz, Schall, Cress, Dorsey July 7,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 5 Mr. Johnson stated that an ordinance would be required to be adopted by the City Council to establish the all- way stop, as recommended ITEM 6B: Elect a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for the Traffic Safety Commission to serve from August 2003 through July 2004. Mr. Johnson stated that item 68 is an annual item; it has been customary for the Traffic Safety Commission to elect, at the discretion of the Commission, a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to serve a one-year term beginning in August and ending in July of the following year. Generally, after serving as Vice- Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson is elected as the Chairperson of the Traffic Safety Commission for the following year. . The Commissioners of the Traffic Safety Commission discussed the aforementioned in detail. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Cress, and duly seconded by Chairperson Courtney, to elect Vice-Chairperson Mertz as Chairperson. VOTE: 5-0-0 AYES: NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Courtney, Mertz, Schall, Cress, Dorsey MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Chairperson Courtney, and duly seconded by Vice- Chairperson Mertz, to elect Commissioner Schall as Vice-Chairperson. VOTE: 5-0-0 AYES: NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Courtney, Mertz, Schall, Cress, Dorsey Mr. Johnson stated that Vice-Chairperson Mertz would chair the next regular meeting as the Chairperson and Commissioner Schall would serve as the Vice-Chairperson. Mr. Johnson noted that no City Council action was required for this action. July 7, 2003 ITEM 7 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION REPORT FROM TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS Page 6 None ITEM.8 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Johnson mentioned that the next regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission would take place on Monday, August 4,2003. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion the Regular Meeting of July 7,2003 was adjourned at 3:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dianna Scott Minutes Clerk