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Home My WebLink About2021-08-19; Green Bicycle Lane Enhancements on Carlsbad Boulevard Update (Districts - All); Gomez, PazTo the members of the: pTYCOUNCIL Date 8 h~l2l cA ~CC ~ CM ..}:._ ACM ~ DCM (3) _;i;_ {city of Carlsbad Memo ID #2021155 Council Memorandum Aug. 19,2021 To: From: Via: Re: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Publi~rks Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~ Green Bicycle Lane Enhancements on Carlsbad Boulevard Update (Districts -All) This memorandum provides an update to a previous memorandum dated July 29, 2021, regarding requests for green bicycle lane improvements on Carlsbad Boulevard submitted by residents, Mr. Simon Freedman and Ms. Lynda Daniels (Attachment A). Background Attachment A provides background information on the issues Mr. Freedman had presented to staff regarding requests for green bicycle lane improvements. After the July 29, 2021, Council Memorandum, the City Manager and staff met with Mr. Freedman and Ms. Daniels virtually via Zoom on July 30, 2021. In an eniail exchange with the Transportation Director subsequent to the meeting, Mr. Freedman expressed concern that staff did not provide information on timelines. This memorandum provides the target timelines conveyed to Mr. Freedman in an Aug. 16, 2021, email. Discussion On Aug. 16, 2021, the Transportation Director provided Mr. Freedman the following timelines regarding the three projects that are underway that include green paint treatments: a. Carlsbad Boulevard Lane Reduction and Edge Striping Project (Capital Improvement Project (CIP). Project No. 6096) mainly consists of slurry sealing and restriping of the southbound road segment from approximately Solamar Drive to Island Way. The project is currently under design and is expected to be presented to the Traffic and Mobility Commission in Winter 2021-22 and the City Council in early 2022. Construction is expected to start in late Spring 2022 with completion expected in Summer 2022. The original scope of the project included two intersections with green bicycle lane enhancements at Carlsbad Boulevard/Solamar Drive and Carlsbad Boulevard/Island Way. The striping revisions to the intersections from Palomar Airport Road to Avenida Encinas are planned to be included in this project due to the similar scope of work and proximity. The decision and timeframe to add the additional scope will be reviewed by the Traffic and Mobility Commission and the Public Works Branch Transportation Department 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2757 t Council Memo -Green Bicycle Lane Enhancements on Carlsbad Boulevard Update (Districts -All) Aug. 19,2021 Page 2 City Council consistent with the previously mentioned timelines. The specific additional intersections include: i. Carlsbad Boulevard/Breakwater Road ii. Carlsbad Boulevard/Poinsettia Lane iii. Carlsbad Boulevard/Ponto Drive iv. Carlsbad Boulevard/ Avenida Encinas b. Carlsbad Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements Project (CIP Project No. 6097) mainly consists of enhancing the existing marked uncontrolled crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard at the Army/Navy Academy, Oak Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Hemlock Avenue with in-pavement flashing lights, curb . extensions where feasible and street lighting. It also includes green bicycle lane treatments in conflict areas. This project's design phase is nearly complete and is targeted to be presented to the Traffic and Mobility Commission in December 2021 and the City Council in early 2022. Construction is expected to start in Spring 2022 with completion expected in Summer 2022. c. Jefferson Street Sustainable Mobility Plan Improvements (CIP Project No. 6100) will add bicycle lanes on the uphill direction of the bridge section over Interstate 5. This project includes climbing lanes in the uphill directions with sharrows in the downhill directions on each side of the bridge. The project is currently under design and is expected to be presented to the Traffic and Mobility Commission in early 2022 and the City Council in Spring 2022. Construction is expected to be completed in Summer 2022. As part of this project, staff will also study improving the bicycle infrastructure and conditions on Jefferson Street approaching the intersection at Las Flores Drive which could include green paint. In addition to the project schedules, Mr. Freedman also requested that the city address faded sharrows and begin installing green-backed sharrows. The Streets Maintenance Division plans to repaint the referenced faded sharrows by November 2021. In addition, the Transportation Director explained, that at this time, the city is not installing green-backed sharrows considering it is not standard practice and staff are not aware of any studies addressing its effectiveness. As mentioned during the July 30, 2021, meeting with the residents, there are other considerations as well such as accommodating those who are unable to see the color green, additional maintenance costs, green paint durability and fading or contrast issues. Lastly, the intersections on Carlsbad Boulevard north of Palomar Airport Road that are not being addressed in the previously mentioned projects will be evaluated with the Sustainable Mobility Plan Implementation Strategy, which is expected to be completed by June 2022. Council Memo -Green Bicycle Lane Enhancements on Carlsbad Boulevard Update (Districts -All) Aug. 19,2021 Page 3 Next Steps Staff will continue to work on the projects described above to meet the target project timelines. Attachment: A. Council Memorandum dated July 29, 2021 cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Celia Brewer, City Attorney Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Mickey Williams, Acting Police Chief Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer Ryan Green, Finance Director Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager John Kim, City Traffic Engineer Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Steve Thomas, Lieutenant, Police Department To the members of the: ClTY COUNCIL Date ,/,.qfu CA ~ CC _:t_ CM .i:.._ACM "-DCM {3)_j;;_ July 29, 2021 ATTACHMENT A Council Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council From: Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public;J/Yorks Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ( c;) {city of Carlsbad Memo ID #2021145 Re: Green Bicycle Lane Enhancements on Carlsbad Boulevard (Districts -All) This memorandum provides a summary of the requests for green bicycle lane improvements on Carlsbad Boulevard submitted by residents Simon Freedman and Lynda Daniels. Background At the Oct. 5, 2020, Traffic and Mobility Commission Meeting, Mr. Simon Freedman submitted a public comment via email, which was read to the Commissioners. He requested the following items: 1. Provide signage and roadway painting at most intersections on Carlsbad Boulevard 2. Convert a Class II bike lane on Jefferson Street between Grand Avenue and Las Flores to a Class Ill bike route with sharrows and signage 3. Convert the number 2 lane on Carlsbad Village Drive west of 1-5 in both directions from a Class II bike lane to a Class Ill bike route with sharrows and signage 4. Change Grand Avenue west of 1-5 in both directions to a Class Ill bike route with sharrows and signage 5. Change the number 2 lane on Carlsbad Boulevard between Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive, northbound only, to a Class Ill bike route with sharrows and signage 6. Repaint/refresh the existing sh arrows throughout the city with high-visibility green- backed sharrows Discussion To discuss Mr. Freedman's concerns in detail, staff invited him to the Sustainable Mobility Plan Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting on Nov. 5, 2020. At this meeting, staff generally agreed with enhancing the city's bicycle network with strategic applications of green paint in the most prevalent auto/bicycle conflict areas. Staff did not support the removal of marked bicycle lanes in favor of sharrows and informed Mr. Freedman that staff would evaluate the request for sh arrows to be placed on a green background. Mr. Freedman reiterated his requests during the public comment portion of the Traffic and Mobility Commission Meeting on Dec. 7, 2020. On Jan. 25, 2021, Mr. Freedman sent an email to staff further reiterating his previously made requests. In the emails exchanged between Mr. Free~man and the City Traffic Engineer, staff Public Works Branch Transportation Department 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2757 t Council Memo -Green Bicycle Lane Enhancements on Carlsbad Boulevard (Districts -All) July 29, 2021 Page 2 informed Mr. Freedman that while there was no specific bike lane enhancement project, staff would be incorporating the discussed green bicycle lane treatments as part of other improvement projects. For example, green bicycle lane treatments are being proposed as part of the Carlsbad Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements Project, which would enhance the six uncontrolled marked crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard at Hemlock Avenue, Cherry Avenue, Maple Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Oak Avenue and Army/Navy Academy. Mr. Freedman was invited to attend the Traffic and Mobility Commission Meeting of April 5, 2021, during which staff presented the Carlsbad Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements Project to the Traffic and Mobility Commission for their input. Mr. Freedman submitted an email to be read as public comment for this agenda item. He requested that green bicycle lane enhancements on Carlsbad Boulevard be prioritized. On June 4, 2021, the Transportation Director/City Engineer responded to Mr. Freedman informing him of the following information: 1. The upcoming fiscal year (FY) 2021-22 budget (which began July 1) will include two Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, projects and additional operating budget to further prioritize the Sustainable Mobility Plan (SMP). These projects will allow staff to address many of Mr. Freedman's concerns. a. Included is a proposed project in the FY 2021-22 budget for the Carlsbad Boulevard Lane Reduction and Edge Striping. This project mainly consists of slurry sealing and restriping of the south bound road segment from approximately Sola mar Drive to Island Way. Considering several of Mr. Freedman's areas of concern along Carlsbad Boulevard are near this project, striping revisions to the intersections from Palomar Airport Road to Avenida Encinas are being considered for this project due to the similar scope of work and proximity. i. The intersections north of Palomar Airport Road to the north will be included in the prioritization of the SMP within the next year or as a part of other CIP projects. b. Regarding Jefferson Street, there is a CIP project to add bike lanes on the bridge section over 1-5. This will include climbing lanes in the uphill direction with sh arrows in the downhill direction on each side of the bridge. i. As part of th is project, staff can also consider improving the bike lanes on Jefferson Street and providing new bike lanes on Las Flores Drive. ii. As a part of this project, staff will study how to most effectively balance the needs of the roadway including potentially narrowing vehicle lanes and parking lanes and installing door-zone buffers or widening the bike lanes. c. Staff will keep Mr. Freedman informed when the projects are scheduled to be presented to the Traffic and Mobility Commission for review. Council Memo -Green Bicycle Lane Enhancements on Carlsbad Boulevard (Districts -All) July 29, 2021 Page 3 2. Regarding the faded sharrows, the streets maintenance division will repaint them. At this time, the city is not installing green backed sharrows considering it is not standard practice and staff are not aware of any studies addressing its effectiveness. Mr. Freedman was asked to provide any published studies addressing its effectiveness since staff are always looking for ways to improve city roadways. Next Steps The scope for the Carlsbad Boulevard Lane Reduction and Edge Striping project will be modified to include green bicycle lane enhancements at the following intersections: • Carlsbad Boulevard/Solamar Drive • Carlsbad Boulevard/Island Way • Carlsbad Boulevard/Lanikai Lane • Carlsbad Boulevard/Breakwater Road • Carlsbad Boulevard/ Poinsettia Lane • C.arlsbad Boulevard/Ponto Drive • Carlsbad Boulevard/Avenida Encinas Future implementation of green bicycle lane enhancements will be considered using the city's Pavement Management Program and other projects. The City Manager and staff are scheduled to meet with Mr. Freedman and Ms. Daniels on July 30, 2021. cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Celia Brewer, City Attorney Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Mickey Williams, Acting Police Chief Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer Ryan Green, Finance Director Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager John Kim, City Traffic Engineer Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Steve Thomas, Lieutenant, Police Department