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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-03; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: Faraday Center January 3,2005 (Regular Meeting) CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chair Dorsey called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Staff Members Present: Vice-Chair Steve Dorsey Commissioner Guy Roney Commissioner Bonnie Bradshaw Commissioner Susan Gardner Chair Gordon Cress Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Lt. Don Rawson, Carlsbad Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: December 6,2004 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Bradshaw, and duly seconded by Commissioner Gardner to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 6,2004 as presented. VOTE: 3-0-1 AYES: Gardner, Dorsey, Bradshaw NOES: None ABSTAIN: Roney ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: There were no requests to address the Commission on any non-agenda items. January 3,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Mr. Johnson stated that he had no previous items to report to the Commission. ITEM 6 -NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A. Request for a STOP sign on Cadencia Street at its intersection with Romeria Street. Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, addressed the Commission stating that the purpose of this item was initiated by a Carlsbad resident, Toni Kubilus. Ms. Kubilus lives in the area of the subject location of Romeria Streedcadencia Street intersection. Both of these streets are local streets in a residential area. Referring to Exhibit 1, Mr. Johnson stated that Cadencia Street is a T-intersection with Romeria Street. One of the conditions at an intersection that may warrant the installation of a STOP sign on the minor street is when, for sight distance purposes, the safe approach speed to the intersection is less than 10 miles per hour. There have been other similar issues before the Commission over the last several months. Mr. Johnson stated that Romeria Street has about a nine percent centerline grade sloping from the south to the north. Romeria Street is posted at 25 miles per hour and the clear intersection approach sight triangle distance required would be 155 feet. This would allow a driver on Romeria Street to observe the intersection of Cadencia Street for approaching vehicles and stop in time to avoid a conflict. It also provides the distance for a vehicle on Cadencia Street that is approaching the intersection to observe vehicles on Romeria Street, and to take action to either slow or stop the vehicle to avoid a codlict. Mr. Johnson explained that when there is a grade on the major roadway greater than three percent, there is an adjustment in the required intersection approach sight triangle distance. The northbound approach to the intersection would require1 7 1 feet stopping sight distance. For a northbound vehicle on Romeria Street approaching Cadencia Street there is only 70 feet of visibility for the driver on Cadencia Street to observe vehicles on Romeria Street from a distance of 50 feet from the intersection. There is significant landscaping on the southeast comer of Cadencia Street that reduces the available sight distance. In the uphill direction proceeding from the north to the south, Mr. Johnson stated that the intersection approach sight triangle distance available is 155 feet. Since 140 feet is required, there is sufficient intersection approach sight triangle distance for the driver on Cadencia Street to observe southbound Romeria Street vehicles. Mr. Johnson reported that staff conducted a short observation of fifteen minutes at the intersection of Romeria Street and Cadencia Street. Staff found that most drivers treat the intersection as a stop January 3,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 condition for Cadencia Street. Out of thirty-seven drivers that were noted during the observation period, thirty-six of them either slowed to less than 10 miles per hour or came to a complete stop. Drivers are treating Cadencia Street at this intersection as a stop condition. Staff conducted this evaluation to determine driver reaction at the intersection in its existing condition in comparison to if a stop sign were to be installed. Mr. Johnson stated that based on the limited intersection approach sight triangle for the driver on Cadencia Street at Romeria Street, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends installing a STOP sign on Cadencia Street at its intersection with Romeria Street. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Bradshaw stated that she noticed there were no stop signs on Garboso Street or on the “no-name” street. She wanted to know why stop signs weren’t put there, and create Romeria Street as a through-way street. Commissioner Bradshaw stated that she realized that this wasn’t on their request, but wondered why it wasn’t. Mr. Johnson stated that typically at residential street intersections like at Cadencia Street and Garboso Street, stop signs are not installed because of the low volume and low speed intersection and drivers operate with the right-of-way rule. When staff receives a request from a citizen indicating that they are having dificulties or there is a certain level of uncomfortableness using the intersection, then staff conducts an evaluation and provides a recommendation. However, staff does not generally go out and try to find all of the different locations in a residential area where there is no stop sign. Staff reacts to the request if somebody raises the issue. Commissioner Bradshaw stated that this was the citizen’s second request for a stop sign in this area. Mr. Johnson said that this was the first request received by staff at this particular intersection. Commissioner Bradshaw reiterated that in the general area, it was a second request, which indicated to her that people are concerned about traffk safety. She felt perhaps they were seeing something that staff was not. Mr. Johnson stated that the other request was at Morada Street and Garboso Street. That stop sign has not been installed yet. Quite often, when a driver sees a traffic control device that is installed, that can trigger a request for one in their neighborhood. Staff did not find a collision history at the subject location. There is driver compliance with the right-of-way rule that is working. Staff does not January 3,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 4 have the time to find all T-intersections without stop signs. However, staff will evaluate an intersection upon receiving a citizen request. Commissioner Gardner asked for clarification for when a citizen brings these situations to staffs attention. Does the citizen have something specific in mind, specifically what had Ms. Kubilus observed, and does this handle whatever her concerns were? Mr. Johnson stated that when staff spoke with Ms. Kubilus they found that she was uncomfortable with the limited visibility at the intersection. There is landscaping on the southeast corner. The driver on Cadencia Street approaching the intersection, if they cannot observe the cross street and traffic by the right-of-way rule, should be stopping to observe the vehicles on Romeria Street before they move forward. In this case, the person indicated they would be more comfortable if there were a stop sign to clearly identifjl the assignment of right-of-way. There was no other reason given. Romeria Street is posted at 25 miles per hour, so it is not necessarily a speed issue. Commissioner Gardner said she was surprised that there wasn’t more interest in slowing down vehicles because of grade in that direction. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Gardner and duly seconded by Commissioner Roney, to recommend installing a STOP sign on Cadencia Street at its intersection with Romeria Street. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Dorsey, Roney, Gardner, Bradshaw NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ITEM 6B. Request for a STOP sign on Unicornio Street at its intersection with Rancho Cortes. Mr. Johnson stated that this item was a similar request as Item 6A to have the right-of-way assignment at the intersection of Rancho Cortes and Unicornio Street established with a STOP sign. In this case, a local resident, Ladi Hamer, sent a letter to the Engineering Department indicating that she thought there should be assigned right-of-way at the subject intersection and in addition, at the intersection of Rancho Cortes and Carrillo Way. Staff is evaluating the Rancho Cortes/Carrilllo Way intersection, and was not prepared to bring a recommendation to the Commission at this time. It was discussed at the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee last month and the Committee asked for January 3,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 5 additional information about that intersection. That issue may or may not be coming to the Commission, depending on how it is able to be resolved. Mr. Johnson stated that the Unicornio StreetRancho Cortes intersection is before the Commission today. It is a T-intersection. Both streets are local streets in a residential area. Staff conducted a 10 mile per hour safe approach speed evaluation to determine if there is a need for a stop sign on the stem of the T-intersection, which in this case would be Unicornio Street. At the subject intersection, there is a vertical curve on Rancho Cortes and the intersection is at the top of the vertical curve. In this case, due to some of the geometry and adjoining walls, vegetation, and landscaping, there is a slight sight distance deficiency that is created for the approach sight triangles. Referring to the overhead, Mr. Johnson stated that an evaluation is done from fifty feet fiom the intersection to determine if there is seicient distance, as shown in Exhibit 2. In this particular case, the required intersection approach sight triangle distance looking to the west when a driver is on Unicornio Street is 140 feet, because the westbound to eastbound distance has a slight uphill grade, which causes a reduction in the distance1 55 feet required for a flat road. There is 135 feet of actual intersection approach sight distance. hoking easterly, the approach sight triangle line of sight is 250 feet, so it exceeds the minimum of 155 feet required. Mr. Johnson explained that because of the actual distance looking westerly being very close to the required distance, staff conducted an observation of driver behavior to determine how drivers are negotiating the intersection, how the right-of-way assignment is being handled. What staff found was that in fifteen minutes nineteen vehicles were observed, and seventeen treated the intersection as a stop when on Unicornio Street. Staff defines a stop as a vehicle either actually stopping or slowing, their vehicle to below 10 miles per hour to observe the approach trafEc that would be on Rancho Cortes. The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends installing a STOP sign on Unicomio Street at its intersection with Rancho Cortes. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Gardner stated that she had the same question as the first one. She was looking at the citizen’s letter and she stated that the same benefit of having stop signs at both of these intersections is that it would slow down traffic on that stretch of Rancho Cortes, which is an on-going problem. She wanted clarification that by not putting a sign on Rancho Cortes, does that still address that issue, does the citizen understand that there would be no stop sign on Rancho Cortes? Mr. Johnson affirmed that the staff member who discussed the issue with Ms. Hamer before she sent the letter went through all of the different issues of speeding in residential streets and what can be done, what police can do, and what the Engineering Department staff can do in the way of installing January 3,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 6 traffic calming measures. Staff basically discussed the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program with her. Staff also sent a copy of that program to Ms. Hamer so that she could be aware of the three-phase program that Carlsbad has. Stop signs are not intended to control speed. The City Council was very specific in the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program to indicate that stop signs will not be used as a speed control device. After Mer discussions with the citizen about the assignment of the right-of-way at an intersection, this is what generated the letter. When staffhas discussions with the public, staff tries to get them to send a letter with their request and to put reasons for the request, from their prospective, in writing to help educate the staff as to where they are coming from. Staff indicated to Ms. Hamer to address her concern that the intersection would be evaluated for right-of-way assignment and that is what has been done. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Vice-Chair Dorsey and duly seconded by Commissioner Roney, to recommend installing a STOP sign on Unicornio Street at its intersection with Rancho Cortes. AYES: Dorsey, Roney, Gardner, Bradshaw NOES: None ABSTAIN: None VOTE: 4-0-0 ITEM 6C. Review, comment upon, and approve the attached TSC rules and procedures, I and adopt TSC Resolution No. 2005-1. < Mr. Johnson stated that on a yearly basis, the Traffic Safety Commission is presented the opportunity to review the TSC rules and procedures and they can adopt the attached resolution. The rules and procedures were initially established in 1990. They have been revised several times over the years at the request of the Commission, when the Commission noticed that there should be changes, additions, or revisions to help the Commission operate more efficiently. The rules and procedures were established strictly for the Commission. It is not something that the City Council would take any action on and this particular matter does not go to the City Council. Mr. Johnson stated that by bringing the rules and procedures to the Commission at a minimum of once a year, it gives the Commission the opportunity to address any items or issues throughout the previous calendar year that would be desired to incorporate in the currently approved rules and procedures If there are changes to consider, then the Commission could make the appropriate motion, and the particular changes could be made and the resolution would be brought back to the Commissioners at the next meeting or hture meeting. If no changes are desired, then it would be appropriate for the Commission to consider adopting the attached resolution. If there are changes that any Commissioner would like to see incorporated, then January 3,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 7 the Commission would discuss the suggested revision and subject to the majority of the Commission agreeing, then that change could be made or deleted. DISCUSSION: Vice-Chair Dorsey stated that he has reviewed this matter three times during his term on the Commission and felt it works great and does what is expected for it to do. He felt it was fine as is, without change. It meets the requirements of the Brown Act, and he feels it is just great. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Roney and duly seconded by Commissioner Bradshaw, to recommend adoption of TSC Resolution No. 2005-1. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Dorsey, Roney, Gardner, Bradshaw NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Mr. Johnson stated that although Chair Cress was not at this meeting, he could still sign the resolution. Staffwould indicate the “ayes” and the absent vote. Staffwill get the signatures on the resolution and then give a copy of page 15 to each of the Commissioners for their records so all have an official signed resolution. ITEM 7: REPORT J?ROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS Vice-Chair Dorsey stated that he had a conflict for the February 12* Workshop for the Commissioners and Public Officials and would not be able to attend. Mr. Johnson reported that both Commissioners Bradshaw and Commissioner Roney were signed up and he will provide a status report to the Commissioners about the workshop after discussing the matter with workshop organizers. ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Johnson reported that next month’s regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission would be held on February 7,2005. The Council Chambers are still under construction and the Commission may need to meet at the Faraday Center again next month, depending on how quickly the modifications can be completed. Mr. Johnson explained that there is more to the modifications than January 3,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 8 just installing the ramp for the new Council Member that uses a wheelchair. There are changes to the restrooms, lighting, sound, and cameras, and it may take some time. The meeting location will be noted on the Commissioner’s agenda. ADJOURNMENT: Vice-Chair Dorsey adjourned the Regular Meeting of January 3,2005 at 3:27 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ruth Steckdaub Minutes Clerk