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Home My WebLink About2020-07-14; City Council; ; Introduce an Ordinance to Decrease the Speed Limit on Avenida Encinas from Cannon Road to Palomar Airport RoadCA Review __RMC__ Meeting Date: July 14, 2020 To: Mayor and City Council From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Staff Contact: John Kim, City Traffic Engineer John.kim@carlsbadca.gov, 760‐602‐2757 Subject: Introduce an Ordinance to Decrease the Speed Limit on Avenida Encinas from Cannon Road to Palomar Airport Road Recommended Action Introduce an Ordinance amending the City of Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 10.44.280 to decrease the speed limit on Avenida Encinas from Cannon Road to Palomar Airport Road to 35 mph. Executive Summary The California Vehicle Code gives local agencies the authority to determine and establish by ordinance a reasonable and safe speed limit that facilitates the orderly movement of vehicle traffic. The speed limit becomes effective when appropriate signs are installed along the roadway. Avenida Encinas’ roadway configuration changed as part of the 2017 Vista/Carlsbad Interceptor Sewer project, which included roadway resurfacing. Because of these changes, staff proposes to decrease the speed limit on Avenida Encinas from Cannon Road to Palomar Airport Road from 40 to 35 mph. The proposed speed limit is reasonable and defensible, and complies with the state’s vehicle code and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The proposed speed limit of 35 mph is supported by a valid engineering and traffic survey. Discussion Avenida Encinas is classified in the Mobility Element of the General Plan as a neighborhood connector street. According to the plan, “neighborhood connector streets are intended to “connect people to different neighborhoods and land uses of the city” and to be “designed to safely move all modes of travel while enhancing mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists.” The portion of Avenida Encinas between Cannon Road and Palomar Airport Road (see Exhibit 3) has a roadway width between 50 and 64 feet and was previously striped with two vehicle lanes in each direction with no bicycle lane. Surrounding land uses include light industrial, professional offices and restaurants. As part of the Vista/Carlsbad Interceptor Sewer project, the roadway surface of Avenida Encinas was repaved. The roadway striping was modified by reducing the number of vehicular July 14, 2020 Item #12 Page 1 of 8 travel lanes from two lanes in each direction to one lane each to accommodate buffered bicycle lanes that align with the Mobility Element. After this significant change in the roadway configuration, staff conducted the necessary engineering studies to compile a revised engineering and traffic survey, including a speed survey. The results of the speed survey, which was conducted on June 18, 2018, indicated a critical speed of 36 mph. The critical speed, otherwise known as the 85th percentile speed, is the speed at which 85% of the surveyed vehicles are traveling at or below. (For example, if the speeds of 100 vehicles were surveyed, and 85 of them were at or below 36 mph, the critical speed would be 36 mph.) The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices requires that when a speed limit is posted, it shall be established at the nearest 5 mph increment of the 85th percentile speed of free‐flowing traffic. The nearest 5 mph increment on Avenida Encinas is 35 mph. Based on these findings, staff recommends that the posted speed limit on Avenida Encinas, from Cannon Road to Palomar Airport Road, be decreased to 35 mph. On Sept. 10, 2018, the Traffic Safety Commission (now known as the Traffic and Mobility Commission) supported staff’s recommendation with a vote of 5‐0. Based on the results of the engineering and traffic survey, the commissioners recommended unanimously that the existing prima facie 40 mph speed limit be reduced to 35 mph on Avenida Encinas from Cannon Road to Palomar Airport Road. Fiscal Analysis The installation of two new 35 mph speed limit signs and removal of the two existing 40 mph signs will cost about $600. Sufficient funds are available in the streets maintenance operating budget to pay for the proposed installation. Next Steps After the ordinance is introduced and adopted, appropriate regulatory speed limit signs will be posted in compliance with California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Environmental Evaluation (CEQA) This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) – minor alteration of existing facilities including streets, sidewalks, gutters and similar facilities involving negligible or no expansion. Public Notification Public notice of this item was posted in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and it was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting date. The city clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and publish it at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Carlsbad within 15 days after its adoption. Exhibits 1. Ordinance introduction 2. Ordinance revisions 3. Location map 4. Engineering and traffic survey July 14, 2020 Item #12 Page 2 of 8 Exhibit 1 ORDINANCE NO. CS-378 AN ORDINANCE OF THE Cl-n' COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 10.44.280 TO DECREASE THE SPEED LIMIT ON AVENIDA ENCINAS FROM CANNON ROAD TO PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD TO 35 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, ordains as follows that: 1. Title 10, Chapter 10.44 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by revision of Section 10.44.280 to read as follows: "10.44. Avenida Encinas A. Upon Avenida Encinas from Carlsbad Boulevard to a point 3,000 feet northerly of Poinsettia Lane, the prima facie speed limit shall be 35 miles per hour. B. Upon Avenida Encinas from a point 3,000 feet northerly of Poinsettia Lane to a point 3,500 feet southerly of Palomar Airport Road, the prima facie speed limit shall be 30 miles per hour. C. Upon Avenida Encinas from a point 3,500 feet southerly of Palomar Airport Road to its intersection with Palomar Airport Road, the prima facie speed limit shall be 40 miles per hour. D. Upon Avenida Encinas from Palomar Airport Road to its intersection with Cannon Road, the prima facie speed limit shall be 35 miles per hour." EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall be effective 30 days after its adoption; and the city clerk shall certify the adoption of this Ordinance and cause the full text of the Ordinance or a summary of the Ordinance prepared by the city attorney to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Carlsbad within 15 days after its adoption. July 14, 2020 Item #12 Page 3 of 8 Exhibit 1 INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 14th day of July 2020, and thereafter PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the day of , 2020, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: CELIA A. BREWER, City Attorney MATT HALL, Mayor BARBARA ENGLESON, City Clerk (SEAL) July 14, 2020 Item #12 Page 4 of 8 Exhibit 2 1. Title 10, Chapter 10.44 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by revision of Section 10.44.280 to read as follows: “10.44. Avenida Encinas A. Upon Avenida Encinas from Carlsbad Boulevard to a point 3,000 feet northerly of Poinsettia Lane, the prima facie speed limit shall be 35 miles per hour. B. Upon Avenida Encinas from a point 3,000 feet northerly of Poinsettia Lane to a point 3,500 feet southerly of Palomar Airport Road, the prima facie speed limits shall be 30 miles per hour. C. Upon Avenida Encinas from a point 3,500 feet southerly of Palomar Airport Road to its intersection with Palomar Airport Road, the prima facie speed limit shall be 40 miles per hour. D. Upon Avenida Encinas from Palomar Airport Road to its intersection with Cannon Road, the prima facie speed limit shall be 40 35 miles per hour.” July 14, 2020 Item #12 Page 5 of 8 EXHIBIT 3 3 July 14, 2020 Item #12 Page 6 of 8 STREET: Avenida Encinas CITY OF CARLSBAD ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY LIMITS: Cannon Road to Palomar Airport Road A.Prevailing Speed Data: Date of Speed SurveyLocation of Speed Survey85th Percentile10 MPH PacePercent in Pace B.Accident History:(6/01 /16 through 5/31 /18) Speed-Related Accidents FACTORS Direction: Northbound/Southbound 6/18/18 1,100 feet north of Palomar Airport Road 36 MPH 28 to 38 MPH 89% Pedestrian and/or Bicyclist AccidentsTotal Accidents 2 1 6 C.Traffic Factors: Average Daily TrafficTraffic ControlsPedestrian/Bicycle TrafficBicycle LanesOn-Street ParkingOther D. Roadway Factors: 10,970 -North of Palomar Airport Road (6/12/18); 7,043 -South of Cannon Road (6/12/18) Traffic Signal at Cannon Road and Palomar Airport Road Light Bicycle Lanes Have Been Striped on the Roadway Parking Prohibited on Each Side Bike Route per Circulation Element of the General Plan Circulation Element Street ClassificationLength of Segment Secondary Arterial 0.93 Mi. 50 to 64 Feet Roadway WidthNumber of LanesVertical AlignmentHorizontal AlignmentSidewalksDrivewaysStreet Li hti n One Lane Each Direction on Majority of Roadway Segment Relatively Flat; 4% Grade Near Palomar Airport Road Curvilinear Sidewalk on Majority of Road Numerous Closely Spaced Driveways Street Lights on Each Side E.Special Conditions: Roadway used by industrial park traffic, delivery trucks and commuters. Travel lanes are separated by eithera two-wa left-turn lane, ainted median, or raised median. F.Ad'acent Land Uses: Freewa , Li ht Industrial, Restaurants, Hotel, Professional Offices, USPS Mailboxes G.Remarks/Conditions Not Readil A arent: The curvilinear ali nment limits sight distance at some drivewa s. H.Traffic Engineer's Recommendation (Explanation): This speed zone satisfies the conditions of Section 627 of the CaliforniaVehicle Code and has been prepared and evaluated in accordance with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic ControlDevices, effective April 7, 2017 with respect to design and prevailing speeds, accident records, pedestrian and bicyclist safety,intersection and driveway spacing, and roadside and traffic conditions not readily apparent to the driver. A speed limit posting of 35 MPH is found to be a ro riate and ·ustified. I.Approvals: □ j(ecertification of existing speed zone per Sections 22357, 22358 and 4 02 of the California Vehicle Code.�Establishment of new speed zone. NOTE: Appropriate speed survey is attached hereto and made a part hereof. EXHIBIT 4 July 14, 2020 Item #12 Page 7 of 8 DATE: 6/18/18 TIME: 1:30 PM TO CITY OF CARLSBAD SPEED SURVEY 2:25 PM TOTAL VEHICLES: WEATHER: Sunny & Mild CRITICAL SPEED: LOCATION: Avenida Encinas~1, 100' n/o Palomar Airport Rd. VEHICLES IN PACE: OBSERVER/RECORDER: J. Gale --------- NORTHBOUND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL PACE SPEED(S): MPH # % � # % %tile % # 65 64 63 62 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 X 38 X X 37 X 36 X X X 35 X X 34 X X 33 X X X X 32 X X X X X X X 31 X X X X X X X X X 30 X X X X X X X 29 X X X X 28 X X X X X 27 X 26 X X 25 24 23 22 21 1 1 100 2 1 2 2 99 4 2 1 2 1 1 97 2 4 4 4 96 4 2 1 2 3 3 92 4 2 3 6 8 8 89 10 5 2 4 7 7 81 10 5 2 4 6 6 74 8 4 4 8 13 13 68 18 9 7 14 12 12 55 10 5 9 18 13 13 43 8 4 7 14 11 11 30 8 4 4 8 8 8 19 8 4 5 10 8 8 11 6 3 1 2 1 1 3 2 4 2 2 2 Public Works Department Traffic and Mobility Division 100 36 MPH 89 % ----------- 28 TO 38 MPH SOUTHBOUND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL MPH 65 64 63 62 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 X 41 X X 40 39 X X 38 X X 37 X X X X X 36 X X X X X 35 X X X X 34 X X X X X X X X X 33 X X X X X 32 X X X X 31 X X X X 30 X X X X 29 X X X 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 July 14, 2020 Item #12 Page 8 of 8