HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-22; Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee; MinutesMINUTES
MEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING:
TIME OF MEETING:
PLACE OF MEETING:
TRAFFIC SAFETY COORDINATING COMMITTEE
March 22,2012
8:00 a.m.
Room 240 - Faraday Center
CALL TO ORDER:
John Kim called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
ROLL CALL:
Committee Members Present: John Kim, Associate Engineer
Dominic Fieri, Flre Department
Sgt. Paul Reyes, Police Department
Heidi Versteeg, Engineering Technician II
Erin Letsch, Risk Manager
Staff Members Present: Jim Gale, Engineering Technician
Jim Murray, Associate Engineer
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
ACTION:
VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
Motion by Dominic Fieri and duly seconded by Heidi Versteeg to
approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on February 23,
2012, as presented.
3-0-2
Fieri, Versteeg, Kim
None
Letsch, Reyes
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
None
PREVIOUS BUSINESS:
None
March 22,2012 Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee Page 2
NEW BUSINESS:
6A: Pio Pico Drive at Stratford Lane - Investigate the need to establish an All-Way STOP
John Kim said this request originated from a Carisbad resident and is one of nine complaints
received between 2002 and 2012 regarding the sight distance at the Intersection or speed of
vehicles on Pio Pico Drive at the intersection. Referencing Exhibit 1, John stated that the
subject Intersection Is located just north of City Hall and explained the geometric configuration of
the Intersection and the limited sight distance to the south from the Intersection due to parked
vehicles along the east side of Pio Pico Drive,
John said both Pio Pico Drive and Stratford Lane are unclassified per the Circulation Element of
the General Plan. John explained the roadway widths, available pari<ing. traffic volumes, traffic
collision history, and roadway geometries of both roadways. John mentioned that over the past
five years, only one reported traffic collision occun-ed at the subject intersection.
John stated that the intersection does not meet warants for All-Way STOP criteria based on
minimum traffic volumes, collision history, or pedestrian volumes but it does have limited sight
distance when looking to the left (south) due to parked vehicles along the east side of the
roadway. Staff previously Implemented portions of red curb atong the east side just north of and
just south of Stratford Lane. Parking demand in this area is very high and Implementing
additional red curb to Improve sight distance would remove valuable paridng.
John explained that the California MUTCD allows consideration of an all-way STOP at
Intersections, such as this, where "a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and
is not able to reasonably safely negotiate the intersection unless the conflicting cross traffic is
also required to stop."
Considering the aforementioned factors, staff recommends that an all-way STOP be established
at the subject Intersection.
Dominic Fieri inquired as to if the next intersection to the north, Pio Pico Drive at Knowles
Avenue, should have an All-Way STOP, since it has the same geometric design. John said
staff responds to Issues when complaints are received and no complaints have been received
regarding that particular intersection.
Sgt. Paul Reyes asked if a little more paridng could be removed In order to achieve acceptable
sight distance when looking soutii from the Intersection. John said in order to have adequate
sight distance more than just a few additional parking spaces would need to be removed. With
pari<ing already being limited, staff cannot justify removing more pari<lng.
Jim Murray said removing paridng for two additional vehicles would achieve adequate sight
distance based on the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour but not when based on tiie
estimated critical speed of closer to 35 miles per hour.
March 22,2012 Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee Page 3
Erin asked if staff anticipates conducting a speed sun/ey on Pio Pico Drive In the future to
establish a proper speed limit and then, as a resutt, having an unwarranted STOP location at
Stratford Lane. Erin also Inquired as to If adjacent businesses have been notified.
John Kim explained that the 25 mile per hour speed limit has been in effect on the subject
portion of Pio Pico Drive for more tiian 30 years and could possibly Increase as a result of
conducting a new speed survey.
ACTION: Motion by Erin Letsch and duly seconded by Heidi Versteeg that the Traffic
Safety Coordinating Committee agree with staffs recommendation to install an
All-Way STOP at the Intersection of Pio Pico Drive/Stratford Lane.
VOTE: 5-0-0
AYES: Letsch, Versteeg, Reyes, Fieri, Kim
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
6B: Adams Street at Highland Drive - Investigate the need to establish an All-Way STOP
Jim Murray presented the staff report and mentioned that this request Is from a resident who
lives on Highland Drive and uses the intersection on a daily basis. Jim said a stop sign cun-ently
exists on Highland Drive where it Intersects Adams Street at a skewed angle on the Inside of a
horizontal curve. As a result, sight visibility for a motorist stopped at the stop sign looking to the
left Is limited is limited to 141 feet when it should be at least 200 feet based on the critical speed
of 30 miles per hour on Adams Street,
Jim presented the staff report said both Adams Street and Highland Drive are unclassified per
the Circulation Element of the General Plan, Jim explained the roadway widths, available
paridng, traffic volumes, traffic collision history, and roadway geometries of both roadways. Jim
said no reported traffic collisions have occun-ed at tfie subject intersection over the past five
years.
Jim mentioned that, as part of this request, staff conducted an analysis to establish an All-Way
STOP at the intersection. Though wanrants were not met regarding minimum traffic volumes
collision history, or pedestrian volumes, the intersection can be considered for an All-Way Stop
due to tiie limited sight distance. Jim explained that the California MUTCD allows consideration
of an alt-way STOP at intersections, sueh as this, where "a road user, after stopping, cannot see
conflicting traffic and is not able to reasonably safely negotiate the intersection unless the
conflicting cross traffic Is also required to stop."
Considering the aforementioned factors, staff recommends that an all-way STOP be established
at the subjeet intersection.
Bryan Jones an^ived at 8:27 a.m.
March 22,2012 Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee Page 4
Erin Letsch asked if motorists on Highland Drive could be prohibited from turning left onto
Adams Street. Jim said tiiat would not be necessary if an All-Way STOP was installed.
Dominie Fieri inquired as to if an additionat STOP sign eould be installed only for motorists
traveling northbound on Adams Street and not for southbound Adams Street. Jim said that Is
not the norm and motorists would be confused.
ACTION: Motion by Sgt. Paul Reyes and duly seconded by Erin Letsch that the Traffic
Safety Coordinating Committee agree with staffs recommendation to install an
All-Way STOP at the intersection of Adams Street/Highland Drive.
VOTE: 5-0-0
AYES: Reyes, Letsch, Versteeg, Fieri, Kim
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
OTHER BUSINESS:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, the meeting of March 22, 2012 was adjourned at 8:33 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
James Gale
Engineering Technician II
Traffic Division
Transportation Department