HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-01; Traffic and Mobility Commission; ; College Boulevard Speed Feedback Sign Project UpdateItem 1
Meeting Date: March 1, 2021
To: Traffic and Mobility Commission
Staff Contact: John Kim, City Traffic Engineer
John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov or 760-602-2757
Subject: College Boulevard Speed Feedback Sign Project Update
Recommended Action
Receive an update on the College Boulevard Speed Feedback Sign Project.
Background
On June 11, 2019, a Minute Motion was proposed by Council Member Schumacher, seconded
by Council Member Hamilton, to bring back an analysis of changing the physical character
specifically for traffic calming on the following streets: College Boulevard from Carlsbad Village
Drive to Sage Creek High School, Tamarack Avenue from Skyline Road to Carlsbad Boulevard,
and Carlsbad Boulevard from the Agua Hedionda Trailhead to State Street. The Motion carried
unanimously 5/0.
On Sept. 24, 2019, staff presented to City Council a presentation on traffic calming
recommendations for the above referenced portions of College Boulevard, Tamarack Avenue
and Carlsbad Boulevard. After hearing staff’s recommendation to install speed feedback signs
on College Boulevard to address speeding concerns, a Minute Motion was proposed by Council
Member Schumacher, seconded by Council Member Blackburn, to bring back to Council options
and analysis, including unintended consequences, on physical changes to the College Boulevard
segment, from Carlsbad Village Drive to Cannon Road. Motion carried 4/0/1.
On May 4, 2020, staff presented to the Traffic and Mobility Commission six traffic calming
options, consisting of physical design and other measures, that were considered for College
Boulevard from the northern City limits to Cannon Road to reduce vehicle speeds. These
options include radar speed feedback signs, redesigning of the road segment using a lower
design speed, single-lane roundabouts, vertical deflections such as speed tables and cushions,
two-lane roundabouts and pedestrian bridge.
Considering the advantages, disadvantages and unintended consequences of each of these
options, staff has recommended the radar speed feedback signs as the preferred option.
The Traffic and Mobility Commission voted to approve staff’s recommendation of implementing
speed feedback signs on College Boulevard.
On July 28, 2020, staff presented to the City Council the six traffic calming options considered
for College Boulevard. After hearing staff and Traffic and Mobility Commission’s
recommendation to install radar speed feedback signs on College Boulevard to address
speeding concerns, a Minute Motion was proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Blackburn, seconded by
Council Member Bhat-Patel, to adopt resolution No. 2020-168, approving implementation of up
to eleven speed feedback signs on College Boulevard, north of Cannon Road. Motion carried
4/0/1.
Discussion
Traffic calming on residential streets is formalized through the Carlsbad Residential Traffic
Management Program (CRTMP). Currently, the CRTMP offers traffic calming strategies for
residential streets and features tools such as speed cushions, speed tables and traffic circles
that are intended for low volume/low speed streets. Residential streets, as defined by the
California Vehicle Code, are unique in that no engineering and traffic survey (including a speed
survey) is required to post a 25-mile per hour (mph) speed limit on a residential street.
Prevailing speeds may be higher than the posted speed limit; therefore, a traffic calming
program may be beneficial to help encourage drivers to drive closer to the posted speed limit in
those situations.
On all other streets in the city, the posted speed limit must have a valid engineering and traffic
survey and be posted within 5 mph of prevailing speeds, per the requirements of the California
Vehicle Code.
College Boulevard from the northern City limits to Cannon Road is not defined as a residential
street and therefore not eligible for the CRTMP process. College Boulevard is designated as an
arterial street in the General Plan Mobility Element. Arterial streets are described by the
General Plan Mobility Element as, “primary vehicle routes through the city for both local and
regional vehicle trips.” College Boulevard was built circa 2000 to major arterial standards in
accordance with the prior General Plan Circulation Element, designed to carry 20,000-40,000
vehicles per day at 50 mph. Recent traffic counts prior to the onset of the pandemic indicate
that the average daily traffic (ADT) is approximately 22,000 vehicles per day. The roadway
speed limit is currently posted at 45 mph, consistent with the required engineering and traffic
survey. College Boulevard features two vehicle lanes in each direction separated by a raised
median and signalized intersections where warranted. Marked bicycle lanes are provided on
both sides of the roadway and no on-street parking is allowed. The travel-lane widths were
reduced to eleven feet and bicycle lanes recently were enhanced with painted buffers to help
separate bicyclists from vehicular traffic. The primary land uses along this portion of College
Boulevard are conducive to trips by people walking and biking as these uses include
single-family residential developments, Calavera Hills Elementary and Middle Schools and Sage
Creek High School on the northeast corner of College Boulevard and Cannon Road. There are
also three trail head access points to the Calavera Hills Nature Preserve along the east side of
College Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Cannon Road.
After City Council adopted a resolution approving the implementation of radar speed feedback
signs on College Boulevard in July 2020, the City executed a Professional Service Agreement
with an engineering consulting firm to prepare construction plans, estimates, and specifications
for implementation of the project. A total of ten permanent radar speed feedback signs are
proposed along College Boulevard from the northern City limits to Cannon Road; four in the
northbound direction and six in the southbound direction. The locations of the radar speed
feedback signs were selected specifically to address concerns associated with drivers violating
the posted speed limit of 45 MPH on College Boulevard and concerns surrounding the schools
in Calavera Hills with the consideration of existing roadway conditions including roadway
geometrics, sight distance, traffic signal locations, etc. The new radar speed feedback signs will
serve as educational devices to provide drivers information of their travel speed when driving
by and have been found to help reduce speeding. These new signs will be solar-powered and
have the ability to collect and transmit speed data directly to the City Traffic Management
Center. Our Police Department then can utilize the speed data collected to document the times
of day that speeding occurs and provide focused enforcement during peak speeding times. The
proposed radar speed feedback sign locations on College Boulevard are depicted on Exhibit 2.
Next Steps
Staff will work with the consultant to finalize the construction plans, estimates, and
specifications to install the radar speed feedback signs. Construction of the project is
anticipated to be in Summer/Fall 2021. The construction cost is expected to be less than
$200,000 therefore City Council’s approval to bid is not required.
Exhibits
1. Project Location Map
2. Radar Speed Feedback Sign Location Map
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LOCATION MAP
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#SPEED FEEDBACK SIGN LOCATION