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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-04-05; Traffic and Mobility Commission; Minutes Page 1 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t Council Chambers 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 Monday, April 5, 2021, 3:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Gocan called the Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Gocan, Perez, Hunter, Penseyres, Fowler, Linke and Wanamaker PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice-chair Perez led the Pledge of Allegiance APPROVAL OF MINUTES: This meeting was conducted virtually via Zoom due to the stay-at-home order for COVID-19. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Linke, seconded by Commissioner Hunter to approve the minutes for the March 1, 2021 meeting as amended. Motion carried: 5/0/2 (Abstained: Perez and Wanamaker) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA: 1. Julie Wertz - My biggest concern is our streets and curbs not painted in universal traffic laws. The Mayor has been pushing development and traffic seems to be having a difficult time keeping up with the developers. Carlsbad is a HUGE tourist destination and if we do not have our traffic laws indicated our police will be overwhelmed. We need our traffic signage to be understood by everyone from all over the US and International tourists. Specifically painting curbs no parking zone on the street. Signage is not enough. (especially if English is not your first language.) -Curbs need to be painted no parking zones. (specifically, East and West sides of Tamarack by Vigilucci’s) -Schools ZONES need to be painted on the pavement in BRIGHT YELLOW with Speed limits with flashing cross walks. (Jefferson Elementary) -STOP BARS are lights in front of cross walks. We cannot just use a painted crosswalk as a STOP LINE. (intersection at Vons, & 2 gas stations on Tamarack) -Protected bike lanes painted Green (like in Germany, and Encinitas) -Taking the 101 into a single lane, slowing traffic, expanding E-bike lane, Bike Lane, Running Lane, Walking lane. As you can see painting the Interstate 5 sign on the street for on ramp and off ramp on Palomar Airport Road has been a great success. Europe has long had this type of traffic indicators and it’s great to see we are catching up. DISCUSSION: Traffic Engineer Kim stated that staff will continue to follow up with non-agenda public comments. CONSENT CALENDAR: None TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION Minutes Page 2 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: 1. POLICE MONTHLY REPORT – (Staff Contact: Lt. Steve Thomas, Police Department) Lieutenant Thomas presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). DISCUSSION: Lieutenant Thomas presented that they continue to enforce e-bike safety and education as it is a priority for the traffic division. They have written a significant number of warning citations to e-bikes riders who are riding on the wrong side of the road and juveniles not wearing helmets. The Stop the Asian Hate March took place on March 21, 2021. Due to an uncertain amount of people attending the march and as the group became larger, it was decided to close the southbound lanes of Carlsbad Boulevard for about 25 minutes due to safety concerns. Carlsbad High Schools and Middle Schools opened on March 29, 2021. The motorcycle officers are back to traffic enforcement and added extra patrols at the schools during the arrival and departure timeframes. They have noticed significantly more e-bikes traveling to school. To follow up on the Commission’s previous questions about e-bike rules for kids, anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet. Class III e-bikes have a minimum age of 16. Commissioner Penseyres wanted to confirm that the e-bike riders have been pulled over for a violation like riding against traffic or on the sidewalks. Lieutenant Thomas mentioned that they also pull them over for running a red light, or just being dangerous on the bikes, as opposed to guessing their age. Chair Gocan mentioned that the city is working with the school district and the Police Department to get e-bike specific training and education in the schools. We will be working with the schools over the summer when they are less busy to set up the bike training and education. Vice Chair Perez inquired if we are seeing more e-bike riders without helmets. Lieutenant Thomas said that most of the issues have been unsafe biking not necessarily kids without helmets. We receive calls about bikes and pedestrians on the sidewalks, but they have not seen any collisions. They have not heard any traffic issues associated with meal pick up for the kids doing distance learning and will inquire if there have been any concerns. Commissioner Linke asked if it was legal to have somebody on the back of the e-bike and what can we do about excessive speeds down the hills. Lieutenant Thomas will look into the rules for passengers sitting on the back of the e-bikes. As for the speeds down the hills, they will continue enforcement of the speed and education for kids under 18 on e-bike speed limits. Commissioner Penseyres mentioned that bike education classes are being offered every month and asked if the bike education cards are still being passed out by the motorcycle officers to bike riders to give them a warning instead of a citation. Lieutenant Thomas stated that Lieutenant Calderwood started the bike education awareness program and he will confirm with her if it is still active. Lately, with the increased enforcement and have been giving more tickets instead of warnings. Page 3 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t City Traffic Engineer Kim inquired if the bike classes are tailored to e-bikes and if there has been an increase in e-bike users in the classes. Commission Penseyres said that they teach bike safety to all types of bikes, including where they can be ridden. 2. LOCAL ROADWAY SAFETY PLAN STAKEHOLDER GROUP– (Staff Contact: John Kim and Miriam Jim, Public Works) Staff’s Recommendation: Select two commissioners to serve on the project stakeholder group Senior Engineer Jim presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). DISCUSSION: Commissioner Linke shared that there are seven schools outside of the Carlsbad Unified School District in Carlsbad. Six elementary schools: four schools are in the Encinitas Union and two schools in San Marcos. One high school in San Dieguito Union School District. As stated in his comments on the Sustainable Mobility Plan and Safe Routes to Schools, that we incorporate them at some point in the process. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Hunter, seconded by Commissioner Linke to elect Commissioner Penseyres and Commissioner Fowler to serve as part of the Local Roadway Safety Plan Stakeholder Group and elected Vice-Chair Perez and Commissioner Linke as alternates. Motion carried: 7/0 3. CARLSBAD BOULEVARD PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT - (Staff Contact: John Kim and Miriam Jim, Public Works) Staff’s Recommendation: Support staff recommendation Senior Engineer Jim presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 3: 1. Simon Freedman - This email is submitted on behalf of the Carlsbad My Gen Branch of the Sierra Club. We have reviewed the proposed Pedestrian improvements in staff’s memo of 4/5/21 and note green striping on Carlsbad Boulevard north of Grand Street. We think this is a good step towards improving Bike safety. However, we also believe the green striping should continue both sides of the intersection. In order to implement the goals of the Sustainability Plan and Traffic Demand Management and to improve biker safety we believe it imperative that this pattern of green striping be continued south of Grand Ave. on Carlsbad Boulevard down to Poinsettia in the manner indicated on the proposals we previously submitted. We have also proposed signage be installed at some of these intersections. There has been an explosion in the sale of e-bikes, and we believe that if Carlsbad Boulevard is made more bike friendly along its entire length this will encourage many more people to get out on their Page 4 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t bikes. This in turn will help to reduce single occupancy car trips, reduce Green House Gas production, and improve the health of Carlsbad’s residents. The major goal here is to provide a bright demonstrative display at intersections that will encourage residents to get out on their bikes or e-bikes. This will have a ripple effect as more and more people see residents out on their bikes, they too will be encouraged to get on their bikes. We urge the Commission to make this a priority and to set a goal to have all intersections discussed in our proposals restricted/painted green and signed by the end of this year. We believe this is entirely doable as we are simply asking for an application of paint and installation of signage in all instances. No engineering studies should be required. Thank you. 2. Judy Frankel - It seems you may have missed BikeWalk Carlsbad at a stakeholder in the city that has input from the cycling community here. With regard to green striping through an intersection. How is this in accordance with the MUTCD to put a bike lane through an intersection? Please show where this occurs in the MUTCD. Dashed striping is done within 200 feet of an intersection to show where the merge zone is for a motorist to merge into the bike lane before an intersection in order to make a turn from the right edge of the road as is required by law. It also makes it clear to cyclists that the bike lane is ended at the intersection and they are passing through an intersection where a motorist may make a right turn. And, if they are behind the motorist making a turn to move out into the travel lane to pass on the left. Putting a bike lane through an intersection is a hazard. It is unclear to motorist and cyclists. Motorists should be moving to the right to make the turn well before the intersection and should not be turning across the bike lane from the travel lane. That is equivalent to making a right turn from the left lane. Cyclists should be prepared to merge into the travel lane to pass right turning motorists and to be more visible to left turning motorists coming toward them and who are turning across their path so as not to be hidden by a line of cars to their left. A cyclist was killed in Encinitas on Leucadia Blvd where striping remained through an intersection at Moonstone drive. A truck turned right into the cyclist who was thinking he was safe in the bike lane not aware there was an intersection. This striping was left in error and was removed after the death. Thank you for your attention and clarification 3. Mary Hassing - Commission members and staff, regarding bike safety lanes, I am pleased to see green striping will be added on Carlsbad Boulevard north of Grand Street, according to the staff’s memo on proposed pedestrian improvements. I am disappointed however that the striping will not continue south to Poinsettia and will not be on both sides of the street. I had hoped Carlsbad would prioritize safe bike lanes as Encinitas and Solana Beach have done. With the increase in biking this last year, especially families on e-bikes, it is imperative that we do all we can to keep cyclists safe. The green striping is a strong, effective signal to drivers to watch for bikes and give them space. And, the bright striping encourages residents who are hesitant to ride our streets to get out on their bikes and leave their cars at home. I ask you to reconsider the limited proposal and move more swiftly in making Carlsbad a truly bike- friendly city. DISCUSSION: Page 5 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t Commissioner Penseyres expressed his concerns based on his observations at the Army/Navy Academy location. He believes that is the most difficult of the crossings, especially southbound as the empty spaces are inviting to motorists and motorcycles when traffic backs up. He does not believe that the green paint applied to the conflict zones will stop vehicles from moving over into the bike lane. As mentioned earlier, drivers will do almost anything to avoid hitting a cyclist, if they recognize them or if they see them. The further the bicyclist is to the right the more they drop off the drivers field of view. If people want to stay in the bike lane, then proceed onto the dashed green conflict zone, it is going to be the cyclist responsibility to look back to negotiate with the drivers through the intersection. Commissioner Penseyres recommendation is to provide the green paint along the straightest path through the crossing so that the drivers have to do the yield to cyclists, rather than the cyclists yielding to vehicle. Commissioner Penseyres inquired about the reason for extending the curb extension areas on both sides of the sidewalk. All the legal traffic is coming from the left so what good does it do to provide the extra concrete which removes a parking space or two. The other question is about coming to the center of the crosswalk. The existing crossing distance for pedestrians is long, and the drivers after stopping at the diagonal crossing at Grand Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive, are anxious to make up time and you can see them speeding on the northbound side versus the southbound side. In Solana Beach when the pedestrians come to the center median, they angle it to the right, that way the pedestrians are facing the oncoming traffic. Further south, you do not have a lot of options based on space. You might be able to preserve a parking space, if you can reduce the length of the bulb out on the right side. City Traffic Engineer Kim responded that the dashed green bike lane that highlights the southbound conflict area could be widened to form a continuous edge stripe between the buffer and the beginning of the bike lane approaching Cypress Avenue. As to the extended concrete areas we could modify at least the downstream side to account for the loss in parking and not have that 45-degree cut out that would enter into the parking. Rick Engineering Consultant Jugar mentioned that they will look into the suggestions taking into account the utilities, draining, and the bench that sits close to the street. Preserving the parking space is a high priority. Transportation Director Frank mentioned that we want to consider the staging area for the crossing so that we don’t have an abrupt curb extension. We also need to consider the approach to the crossing. Pedestrians don’t like to walk, then turn a 90-degree angle, they like to take the shortest and straightest path possible. Adding the concrete out on the street is the best way to change driver behavior specifically, speeding behavior. Our team hear the comments and will consider them to make sure it is as comfortable experience for the pedestrians crossing as well. Commissioner Penseyres offered that you could consider sliding the concrete upstream instead of on both sides. City Traffic Engineer Kim agreed that would be a consideration when they look at reconfiguring the curb extensions. The suggestion about the jog in the pedestrian path in the median is a good suggestion for this location, but it is not a part of the scope of the project, as it would add too much in terms of cost since it would require new pedestrian ramps. Vice-Chair Perez inquired if we have overlapping projects on Sycamore, Maple and Cherry and Hemlock Avenues on Carlsbad Boulevard. City Traffic Engineer Kim mentioned there is a project for sidewalk improvements on the southbound side on the west side; they are in coordination with the project manager. City Traffic Engineer Kim mentioned that the dashed bike lane approaching the intersection is what we have been doing and is going to remain unchanged for this project. The proposed dash green bike lane Page 6 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t going through the intersection is not described in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) or expressly prohibited either. We selected this strategy from the Urban Bikeway Design Guide, which is prepared by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). The CA MUTCD supports usage of the Urban Bikeway Guide Design. The proposed treatment can be found on pages 58 and 59 of the NACTO guide. Transportation Director Frank wanted to clarify that we are not striping a bike lane through an intersection, which is different than the conditions where the fatal traffic collision occurred in Leucadia. Our approach is to highlight the transition and conflict areas with dashed green paint to further emphasize the conflict zone to drivers. The right turn hook is a serious concern and there are varying opinions on the best way to treat that issue. We are open to suggestions via a public meeting, like we are doing now. We do not plan on painting green paint through all our bike lanes for several reasons; first is the cost and the second is its effectiveness to alert drivers of a conflict area. The primary point is that we are not creating a bike lane through an intersection. Commissioner Linke inquired about the pros and cons of green paint both before and after an intersection, and to the signage suggestion. Traffic Engineer Kim feels both uses of green paint are valid accepted, and approved by the CA MUTCD. Adding green paint beyond these intersections is not in the scope of this project. We have elected to show green paint and dash green paint up to and after the intersection when needed to visibly show the conflict areas. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Hunter, seconded by Commissioner Linke to support staff’s recommendation to implement the proposed traffic calming improvements at six uncontrolled crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard, at the Army/Navy Academy (between Mountain View Drive and Cypress Avenue), Oak Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Hemlock Avenue. Motion carried: 6/0/1 (Abstained: Penseyres) 4. FARADAY AVENUE AND PALMER WAY INTERSECTION CONTROL EVALUATION - (Staff Contact: Edd Alberto and John Kim, Public Works) Staff’s Recommendation: Support staff recommendation Associate Engineer Alberto presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). DISCUSSION: Commissioner Wanamaker asked if there is any history or ability to put a rumble strip around those proposed warning devices or a road hump. It is going to be hard to get around the excessive speed happening when drivers are trying to make the green light. City Traffic Engineer Kim stated that rumble strips are not included in the traffic calming features in Carlsbad due to concerns about the noise it generates. Chair Gocan would like to revisit the signage solution, if it is approved, to see if it is effective enough to satisfy the safety at that intersection. City Traffic Engineer Kim said that we can evaluate the signage to see if it was effective. Page 7 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t Commissioner Penseyres inquired about the possibility to measure the traffic speed after the installation of the signs. Could the installation of the signs allow you to reduce the speed limit to 35 miles per hour? City Traffic Engineer Kim responded that they would have to find the existing speed surveys for that roadway segment and compare with the new speed survey to determine if the signage was effective on that location. Staff will determine if the added signage is a significant change to warrant a change in the posted speed limit. They are always looking for opportunities to lower the speed limit based on their speed surveys. Commissioner Penseyres is hoping we can reduce the speed limit since most of the causes of severe crashes occurred due to excessive speeds, and to make it a little bit easier for the police to enforce the speed limit. He inquired if we could install radar feedback signs to help post their speed limit. City Traffic Engineer Kim said that he is not considering that solution at this point, but it could be a recommendation, if the proposed signage is not effective. This presentation recommendation is based on the specific request for a traffic signal; therefore, they did these studies to determine whether or not a traffic signal would be appropriate, and they included an evaluation of a possible roundabout. Unfortunately, both proposed improvements were not recommended. Commissioner Penseyres wanted to ask about the congestion with respect to the fact that we have set right turn lanes, left turn only lanes, and observed that we had to squeeze the bike lane out of the picture. It is not very comfortable for the cyclists in the sharrows with a speed of 40 miles per hour. Is there any future plan to get more right of way for this street? City Traffic Engineer Kim noted the apparent lack of right of way on this portion of Faraday Avenue but would discuss with the transportation engineering group to see if there is any opportunity to widen the street. Commissioner Linke is very concerned that if we have a traffic consultant telling us that people are typically speeding there, that just adding the proposed signage is not sufficient. The second most frequent concern is the left turns. There have been several failures to stop or yield by drivers that were taking left turns. The traffic consultant said that there were several unsafe maneuvers into the driveway to the south. Finally, in 2014-2015 when staff was developing the street typologies, they decided to identify the typology for Faraday Avenue as a transit/employment street. This does not put vehicles as a prioritized mode of travel. The priority is on pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit. He did not agree with that typology now or at the time it was approved. Transportation Director Frank greatly appreciates the comments as that is the purpose of the commission. We will take a look at the existing conditions to determine any opportunity to further implement bike lanes through these segments, and the westbound traffic speeds with further analyzing the problem movements. He recommends the implementation of the signs and then do further study based on the issues you brought up during your comments. They will review any changes in traffic operation with the new signs and report back to the commission within a year. Commissioner Linke wanted to point out that after looking at the traffic consultant report that 99.7% of the traffic is currently vehicles, yet it is prioritized for bicycles and pedestrians, with less than one boarding per day at the transit stops. We will have a lot of work to do there, which is near a new city facility. Vice-Chair Perez wants to make sure that we come back to this area to review since this area is growing. ACTION: Page 8 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t Motion by Commissioner Linke, seconded by Commissioner Penseyres to support staff recommendation to install traffic warning signage on Faraday Avenue and recommended additional vehicle speed data to be collected and evaluated. Motion carried: 7/0 5. RESTRIPE TAMARACK AVENUE TO ACCOMMODATE ON-STREET PARKING FROM SADDLE DRIVE TO KNOLLWOOD DRIVE - (Staff Contact: John Kim, Public Works) Staff’s Recommendation: Support staff recommendation Associate Engineer Pham presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 5: 1. Jodi Breton - I have lived on Saddle drive for 21 years. On behalf of my family, neighbors, and our visitors, we greatly appreciate your attention to this matter. The pandemic has brought a surge of visitors to Calavera Mountain and created a new hazard to those of us living on Saddle Dr. Typically on a nice day, visitors will park all the way from the stop sign at Strata, to the corner of Tamarack and Saddle Dr, completely blocking the view of drivers trying to exit Saddle, to go left towards College. Much of this area is clearly marked as “No Parking”. This forces drivers, exiting Saddle to creep out into the middle of the intersection to view oncoming, right side traffic, prior to turning left. Because traffic heading into Calavera from College cannot see Saddle Dr until shortly before approaching it, drivers leaving Saddle are extremely vulnerable to being hit from traffic from the left while trying to clear the intersection. Further exasperating the danger, drivers coming into Calavera often speed down Tamarack as they approach Saddle. Most residents of our street have had near misses exiting our street because of the lack of visibility. On extremely heavy days, visitors will even park to the left of Saddle as well, making it impossible to see in either direction. Despite the obvious “No Parking” signs, on BOTH sides, people ignore the signs and park right next to them. While drivers in higher profile vehicles have a small advantage exiting Saddle, those in low profile vehicles have zero visibility. Most of the teenagers on our street, and there are many, drive low to lower profile cars. Teenagers tend to be less cautious and lack the experience to properly judge the danger of exiting a street blindly. This truly is a tragedy waiting to happen and it’s completely unnecessary. Simply ticketing the cars is of no real value as there are hundreds of visitors, coming from numerous locations every week, who have no idea someone was ticketed the week before or even that morning. Having a dedicated traffic officer is fiscally unworkable as well. What we are asking for is a red curb line or some other obvious markings or barrier, that make it extremely difficult to either physically or negligently, park there. Calavera Mountain is an amazing asset for Carlsbad, and we want everyone to enjoy it as much as we do. We just don’t want to get a phone call one day that someone we love, has been in a completely preventable car accident in this intersection. Thank you for taking the time to look into this situation. 2. Judy Frankel - With regard to restriping Tamarack by Saddle to add more parking. I am a resident that reported motorists parking in the bike lane. To say that this requires you to make more parking spaces is very surprising! There is plenty of parking. When we notified you of the parking in the bike lane there was still more parking available in the spaces already allotted for parking. As well as some in the residential neighborhood where parking is legal. Page 9 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t The problem there is that is it just not obvious that it is a bike lane. There are not enough no parking signs or bike lane stencils and because there is parking in front of them they think it is part of the parking lane. When one does it by accident the rest follow. The curb needs to be painted red. Usually most of the cars stopped in the bike lane were parents waiting for their kids to come out of the middle and elementary school. You do nothing about motorists parking in bike lanes at the other end of Tamarack at the front entrance to the school. I am there almost daily either biking, walking or running from my home to the trails and I have never seen any policing there. In any case with regard to striping a six-foot bike lane in the door zone of parked cars am dumbfounded that something so dangerous is being proposed in Carlsbad. We were promised that door zone bike lanes would not be added. Knowledgeable cyclists already know better than to ride in the one you have already added there closer to the trail head. This is a residential street. It is also the back side of the middle school with many children riding their bikes in a school zone. Parents are waiting in their cars in the neighborhood for kids to exit the school. There is a back path from the school into that neighborhood onto Strata Drive. It is also used for kids and adults riding to the trails and further to Lake Blvd through the neighborhood pedestrian pass through for commuting. The new parking and bike lane striping would be at the base of a long steep descent where unsuspecting innocents on bikes are capable of riding downhill at great speed and can be killed by being led into the door zone of parked cars where a driver or child passenger may open a door into their path without the possibility of stopping in time. Or, they could swerve out to avoid without notice into a motorist next to them in the travel lane. This is a low speed residential neighborhood in a school zone. If you absolutely feel parking is necessary, then a better option would be to add a wider parking zone and use sharrows. Sharrows would also act as Traffic Calming. It is a very low motor traffic street as well as a slow speed neighborhood. Cyclists should not be shoehorned into a narrow space between parked cars and passing vehicles that can’t give the legal 3 feet of passing distance. A cyclist needs to be 5 feet out of the door zone to be safe and there should be a door zone buffer. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Wanamaker asked if staff is getting pushback from having parking at all on Tamarack Avenue. City Traffic Engineer Kim answered that the issue is that more people are coming to the trail head and because Lieutenant Thomas reported people are illegally parking. To alleviate the parking issues, we are proposing more parking on Tamarack Avenue. Chair Gocan inquired about drivers coming out of the side streets on to Tamarack Avenue, based on the public comment, if the visibility is affected by the parked cars. Associate Engineer Pham said that staff conduct a site distance evaluation and provide red curb if there is any sight distance issue. Commissioner Penseyres asked if the two-foot buffer is consistent with what is already there or are we going to squeeze even more space from the existing parking area. City Traffic Engineer Kim said we are looking at making it consistent through the entire area. Commissioner Penseyres asked if it was possible to reduce the travel lane to nine and a half feet so that you can provide a three-foot buffer. Page 10 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t City Traffic Engineer Kim recommends reducing the parking space to seven feet and increasing the bike buffer to three feet. Vice-Chair Perez inquired about the change in parking in relationship to the school. Commissioner Hunter felt that the parking is there to keep people from going into the neighborhoods to park. City Traffic Engineer Kim said that the new parking is not closer to the school than the existing parking, therefore it should not affect the school patterns. Vice-Chair Perez expressed concerns about kids crossing the road at this location. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Linke, seconded by Commissioner Hunter to support staff recommendation on the proposed restriping of Tamarack Avenue to accommodate on-street parking from Saddle Drive to Knollwood Drive and recommended to change the bike lane from six feet wide to five feet wide in each direction, to reduce the parking lane to seven feet wide, and to incorporate a three-foot buffer between the parking and bike lane. Motion carried: 6/1 (No: Perez – He has concerns about kids going across the road). 6. FISCAL YEAR 2019-20 GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN/GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT CIRCULATION SECTION: ROADWAY LEVEL OF SERVICE ANALYSIS - (Staff Contact: Nathan Schmidt and Tom Frank Public Works) Staff’s Recommendation: Support staff recommendation Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). DISCUSSION: Commissioner Linke mentioned that due to the huge traffic volume reductions due to COVID-19, there is not a lot to discuss. There was a really comprehensive collection of data that is completely skewed by COVID-19. One question about the timing of the data collection, with COVID-19 rules opening up would it be best to postpone the traffic counts for the FY2021-22 counts to later in the year versus in May when they have typically been collected. Also, why is there a significant difference in the intersection LOS at El Camino Real and Faraday Avenue in the Faraday Avenue traffic study included in agenda item 4, in comparison to the facility level of service in this agenda item 6. Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt said that staff will consider postponing the traffic counts for the FY 2021-22 GMP Monitoring analysis to September and can look into the details of the intersection level of service analysis comparison between the facility and intersection LOS and report back to the commission. Commissioner Linke inquired about the rules that are applied to the collection of data based on the November 2020 meeting. He heard that the data collection methods are going to be incorporated directly into the TIA guidelines and when will the TIA Guidelines Ad-hoc Committee be meeting to review this. Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt confirmed that the data collection methods will be incorporated in the TIA Guidelines and the committee will be meeting either late April or early May. Staff is working on the first draft of the TIA Guidelines update. Commissioner Linke mentioned that he still does not agree with the TIA Guidelines flow chart where you trigger the more detailed analysis when the level of services reaches level of service D. Several of our Page 11 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t streets jump from level C to level F, like El Camino Real in certain regions and needs to be changed in the TIA Guidelines. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Hunter, seconded by Commissioner Linke to support staff recommendation to City Council to receive and file the attached Growth Management Plan (GMP)/General Plan Annual Monitoring Report Circulation Section, prepared pursuant to Carlsbad Municipal Code (CMC) & 21.90.130(d) and Gov. Code & 65400 Motion carried: 6/0/0/1 (Absent: Wanamaker) CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER REPORT: City Traffic Engineer Comments: Attachment A TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commissioner Fowler noticed that the pedestrian light on Pine Avenue at Carlsbad Blvd is set back from the crosswalk and hard to see if a big car is blocking it. He was wondering if it would be useful or relevant to move the pedestrian light closer to the main road. Commissioner Linke wanted to raise visibility again on the Grand Promenade project in the Village to make it a one-way street, to make it friendly for pedestrians and bicyclists. This project was mentioned in March 2019 by a gentleman named Robert Wilkinson and the T&MC voted to have him give a presentation. Last month Mr. Wilkinson sent another letter requesting some visibility on this project. This project is listed in the Village and Barrio Master Plan and during the City Council’s goal setting session, that project was highlighted. He is interested in getting an update on the status. Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt said that we provide an update on the status of the Village and Barrio Master Plan projects and will either provide an update at the next TMC meeting or will work with Mr. Wilkerson to get some ideas in front of the Traffic and Mobility Commission. Vice-Chair Perez complimented staff on the usefulness of the Carlsbad Connect APP and the response time to it. He did notice that some of the locations, when they click on it, show up as Oceanside and not Carlsbad. Chair Gocan first comment is on the angled parking on State Street. Is there a restriction on the length of vehicles that can park in those parking spaces and if a sign can be generated? When there is a large truck parked in angle it blocks traffic and makes it hard to go around them. The second comment has to do with events or items happening near a neighborhood. Can the city notify the residents within a certain radius, of a specific item on an agenda so that they can be aware of it and if interested, attend the meeting? This is a great way of getting people involved providing feedback. Transportation Director Frank thinks that the second comment is an excellent suggestion. We will talk to our City Clerk’s Office about how we currently notice our projects and consider your suggestion. Page 12 of 12 Public Works Transportation 1635 Faraday Avenue  Carlsbad, CA 92008  760-434-2730 t ADJOURNMENT: Chair Gocan adjourned the Traffic and Mobility Commission Meeting on April 5, 2021 at 6:20 p.m. ___________________________ Eliane Paiva, Minutes Clerk r r Attachment A Meeting Date: April 5, 2021 To: Traffic and Mobility Commission Staff Contact: John Kim, City Traffic Engineer John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov, 760-602-2757 Subject: City Traffic Engineer Report Past City Council Items on Traffic and Mobility None Upcoming City Council Items on Traffic and Mobility April 20, 2021 Award of Contract for Tamarack Ave and Valley Street Hybrid Pedestrian Signal Other Items None City Traffic Engineer Report ' . . TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION Page 2 Non-Agenda Public Comments Item Action Crosswalk timing request at Carlsbad Boulevard and Pine Avenue Completed investigation; no proposed changes at this time. (Closed) Request for additional signal indication for eastbound Poinsettia Lane approaching Ambrosia Lane Completed investigation; no proposed changes at this time. (Closed) Implement Thoroughfares Staff is investigating. Grand Promenade Staff is investigating Commissioner Comments Item Action Concerns on Jefferson Street between Las Flores Dr and Marron Rd Staff is waiting for more photos/videos. Congestion on westbound Carlsbad Village Drive due to construction just west of I-5. Staff is investigating.