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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-04; Traffic and Mobility Commission; ; Avenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail and Pedestrian ImprovementsItem 3  Meeting Date: April 4, 2022  To: Traffic and Mobility Commission Staff Contact: Brandon Miles, Associate Engineer  brandon.miles@carsbadca.gov, 442‐339‐2745  Subject: Avenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail and Pedestrian Improvements  Recommended Action  1.Receive a presentation and provide input on the preliminary design of the Avenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail and Pedestrian Improvements, CIP Project No. 6004; and 2.Receive input from the community; and 3.Support staff’s recommended bike lane classification, enhanced Class II bike lane, along Avenida Encinas Summary  In July 2017, the City of Carlsbad was awarded an Active Transportation Program, or ATP, grant  by Caltrans to construct a portion of the Coastal Rail Trail, or CRT, along Avenida Encinas  between Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road. This portion of the CRT has been identified as a  high priority by the local and regional community. The CRT is a planned regional bikeway that  includes a 44‐mile regional bikeway that connects six coastal cities throughout San Diego  County.   The project plans to construct over 2.5 miles of new enhanced bicycle facilities, pedestrian  ramps, new sidewalks where there are missing gaps, enhanced intersection treatments for  improved bicycle and pedestrian safety, and traffic calming with a road lane realignment at  select locations along the corridor.  In response to the T&MC request for additional information regarding the project alignment,  staff reached out to San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG. Staff presented a  summary of their discussion to T&MC on June 7, 2021. It is staff’s understanding that the  original project alignment was considered along the North County Transit District railroad  corridor, however, after further engineering analysis it was determined that an alignment  positioned along the railroad corridor would be infeasible due to environmental and financial  constraints.  As stated in Next Steps at the June 7, 2021 T&MC meeting, staff posted a request for  qualifications to advertise for the professional services and select a qualified consultant for  engineering design and environmental assessment of the project on July 12, 2021. On Aug. 9,  2021, staff received seven proposals. A selection panel comprised of city staff evaluated and  April 4, 2022 Item #3   ranked the proposals based on best value‐criteria, in keeping with Carlsbad Municipal Code  sections 3.28.050 – Procurement of goods, (D)(2) and 3.28.060 ‐ Procurement of professional  services and services. On Dec. 7, 2021, with a recommendation from staff, City Council  authorized executing an agreement with NASLAND Engineering for engineering and  environmental services for the project.    Discussion   In order to expedite the project schedule and realistically manage the environmental review  and right‐of‐way acquisition phases to meet the ATP grant requirements, this project has been  broken into three segments along Avenida Encinas, as shown in Exhibit 1.      1. Segment 1 from Cannon Road to Palomar Airport Road – Completed  2. Segment 2 from Poinsettia Coaster Station to Carlsbad Blvd – Presented tonight  3. Segment 3 from Palomar Airport Road to Poinsettia Coaster Station – Currently in  preliminary design     The city has constructed the project segment between Cannon Road and Palomar Airport Road  (Segment 1) with funding from a separate Capital Improvement Program project, including a  road narrowing with enhanced/buffered Class‐II bike lanes. Class II bike lanes run along streets  and are delineated by pavement striping and signs. The enhanced intersection at Cannon Road  and Avenida Encinas, as proposed in the original project scope of work, will be constructed as  part of another city project, the Terramar Area Coastal Improvements Project    The grant was originally awarded to fund a portion of the costs of improvements along the  project corridor. To facilitate the use of the grant and meet the grant timeline requirements,  staff are coordinating with the SANDAG and Caltrans to rescope the project and use the grant  funding only for construction of the segment between the Coaster station and Carlsbad  Boulevard (Segment 2). This change in the scope of work will need to be reviewed and  approved by Caltrans and California Transportation Commission. Improvements in Segment 2  includes striping modifications, enhanced bike lanes, enhanced intersection treatments  including curb extensions, traffic calming measures and high‐visibility crosswalks.    The portion of the project corridor between Palomar Airport Road and the Poinsettia COASTER  station (Segment 3) will require widening of the existing roadway to accommodate new  sidewalks and wider bikeway facilities. Construction of the improvements in this portion will be  complex and require evaluation of the environmental impacts associated with the project,  potential habitat mitigation requirements, property acquisition, utility undergrounding, and  obtaining the required permits.     Improvements along the project corridor include the following features as identified in the  preliminary design improvements provided in Exhibit 2:   Class‐II buffered bike lanes   Enhanced intersection treatments including curb extensions, traffic calming measures,  and high visibility crosswalks at the following intersections on Avenida Encinas:  o Poinsettia Lane  o Portage Way  April 4, 2022 Item #3   o Dory Lane  o Carlsbad Boulevard   Traffic calming with a road lane realignment between Poinsettia Lane and Carlsbad  Boulevard   Enhanced midblock pedestrian crossings (potentially with pedestrian actuated signs and  median refuges) along Avenida Encinas at the following locations:  o Poinsettia Station Driveway: Pedestrian Hybrid Beach (HAWK) crossing  o South of Poinsettia Lane at the Poinsettia Village Shopping Mall    As shown in the proposed preliminary design improvements provided in Exhibit 2, most of the  roadway segment level improvements will be implemented through roadway restriping.      The approved ATP grant application proposed Class‐IV separated bikeways throughout the  project corridor.  The Class‐IV bikeways were proposed to consist of standard bike lanes with  plastic vertical delineators known as “soft‐hit posts” providing a physical barrier between the  bike lanes and vehicle travel lanes.  Staff has however observed concerns related to the free  movement of bicyclist in Class‐IV bike lanes at intersections and on‐going maintenance  requirements to replace the soft hit post and debris from the separated bike lanes.  Because of  these constraints with the Class‐IV bikeway, Staff recommends class II buffered bikeways for  Segment 2 as shown in Exhibit 2. This type of facility is consistent with adjacent facilities and  with the larger buffers provides a more comfortable environmental for riders with regards to  options and safety.     Next Steps  Following the Traffic and Mobility Commission’s review of the proposed preliminary design  improvements, staff will update the plans and prepare final documents for construction bid in  August 2022.     Exhibits  1. Project Location Map  2. Proposed Preliminary Design Improvements   April 4, 2022 Item #3 ââ ââ ââ ââ ââââ ââ ââ ââ ââ ââââââââââRD AVENIDA ENC INAS POINSETTIA PALOMAR AIRPORT CARLSBAD B L §¨¦5 §¨¦5 LNRD CANNON PRTS PLOTTED BY: Andy Chang PLOT DATE: 10/25/2021 PATH: Z:\Brandon_Miles\LocationMaps\6004_Avenida_Encinas_Coastal_Rail_Trail\6004_LocationMap_WithVicinityMap.mxd PROJECT NAME EXHIBITPROJECTNUMBER60041Avenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail and Pedestrain Improvements LOCATION MAP CARLSBAD VISTA ENCINITAS OCEANSIDE SAN MARCOSPROJECTLIMITS è è PROJECTLIMITS è èPRTS - Poinsettia Regional Transit Station Legend ââ ââ ââ ââ Segment 1 - Completed Segment 2 - To be Completed by ATP and City Funds Segment 3 - To be Completed by City-Only Funds April 4, 2022 Item #3 SO U T H B O U N D CA R L S B A D B L V D NO R T H B O U N D CA R L S B A D B L V D PO N T O D R DORY L N MERIDI A N W A Y POR T A G E W A Y MAR L I N L N WINDROSE CIR SHOPPINGCENTER DWYSHOP P I N G CENT E R D W Y SHOPPING CENTER DW Y SAN LUCAS S T SAN C A R L O S S T POI N S E T T I A L N P P RAI N T R E E D R TRAFFICMAT C H L I N E SEE B E L O W L E F T MATCHLINESEE ABOVE RIGHTMATCHLINESEE NEXT SHEETAVENIDA ENCINAS CONCEPT STRIPING (SHEET 1 OF 2) P April 4, 2022 Item #3 © 2022 Microsoft Corporation © 2 0 2 2 M a x a r © C N E S ( 2 0 2 2 ) D i s t r i b u t i o n A i r b u s D S EMBARCADER O LN EMB A R C A D E R O L N P P P P P P P P P MA C A D A M I A D R TRAFFICSEE PREVIOUS SHEETMATCHLINEAVENIDA ENCINAS CONCEPT STRIPING (SHEET 2 OF 2) P April 4, 2022 Item #3 From:Lance Schulte To:Brandon Miles; Nathan Schmidt; Traffic Cc:"Craig Carter"; "Chas Wick"; Becca Warrillow; Lisa Fowler Subject:Ave Encinas Rail Trail @ Mobility Commission 4-4-22 - RE: 4-1-22 Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Date:Monday, April 4, 2022 9:58:45 AM Attachments:image004.pngimage008.pngimage009.pngimage010.png Brandon: I noticed the proposed Ave Encinas Rail Trail design is going to the Mobility Commission today. I was hoping we could have met beforehand to go over proposed design issues. Unfortunately I have a Board Meeting today at 5pm and will not be able to attend the Commission meeting. So here are my comments: 1.       Ave Encinas has horizontal and vertical curves that limit vehicular sight visibility. Also because of these curves some drivers enjoy going faster than normal. The proposed bike lane improvements and vehicle lane modifications will help moderate vehicle speeds, and is greatly appreciated. 2.       However one area that I use frequently and maybe an area of increased vehicle accident potential from the proposed redesign is east-bound left-turn into Dory Lane. The proposed redesign removed the left turn pocket. With no left turn pocket vehicles speeding east-bound with limited sight visibility due to Horizontal and vertical curves between Dory Lane and Ponto Drive may not see cars waiting in the travel lane to turn left onto Dory Lane and could cause rear-end accidents. It should be confirmed that travel lane blockage due to left turns onto Dory Lane will not be accident inducing. I marked this area in orange in the map below. 3.       A critical issue is that Ave Encinas cuts our San Pacifico Community in half. So there is a lot of Community pedestrian traffic across Ave Encinas as people walk around the Community and to the Community pool. So there should be enhanced pedestrian crossings across Ave Encinas at Dory Lane and west of Dory Lane where the Batiquitos Lagoon Bluff-top Trail and San Pacifico Trails cross at Ave Encinas. I marked these locations in red arrows in the map below. These pedestrian crossings across Ave Encinas should be safe. The proposed redesign removes the striped median that was a safe pedestrian refuge when crossing Ave Encinas when walking along the trail (crossing Ave Encinas) and to/from Dory Lane. 4.       There are large areas of striped pavement areas in the redesign. It would be preferable if these pavement areas could be landscaped. The Ponto area is missing 30-acers on unconstrained Growth Management Open Space per City maps so landscaping these pavement areas would help address the Open Space shortfall. Thank you for the work you have done to make biking safer on Ave Encinas. I regularly ride my bike to the Ralphs’ Center and have been hit by a vehicle while on my bike so know the situation. The proposed improvements will be helpful, and I hope you make the above suggested changes to complete a more safer and livable street. Sincerely, Lance Schulte From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 9:53 PMTo: 'Nathan Schmidt'; 'Brandon Miles'; 'Chas Wick'Cc: 'Craig Carter'Subject: 4-1-22 Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association  Nathan: Tom mentioned you will be going to public hearing on April 1st . Could we at San Pacifico Community Association maybe have a brief meeting before then with you review status/design since our input last year? This would I think be a great benefit to all. Lance From: Nathan Schmidt [mailto:Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 3:25 PMTo: Lance Schulte; Brandon Miles; 'Chas Wick'Cc: 'Craig Carter'Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association  Hi All, The attached staff report and concept exhibits provided the latest details on the Avenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail segment. The project is getting ready to move into the engineering and design phase and if all goes to schedule we will have engineering plans available sometime early next year. Please let me know when would be a good time to meet with your group to discuss the project. Now would be a good time to meet as the project is still conceptual and we do have limited ability to make changes as long as they can fit within the project goals and budget. I will likely bring along our Traffic Engineer, John Kim, and possibly the Transportation Director, Tom Frank, if he’s available. Just let us know. Thanks! -Nathan Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov Cell: 760-637-7183 From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 8:47 AM To: Brandon Miles <Brandon.Miles@carlsbadca.gov>; 'Chas Wick' <chaswick@reagan.com>; Nathan Schmidt <Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: 'Craig Carter' <craigcarter911@gmail.com> Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association   Chas & Craig: Nathan is working on the Coastal Rail Trail that runs along Avenida Encinas thorough San Pacifico. Nathan is who we need to connect with regarding Ave Encinas. After you have reviewed the plans we can meet and discuss. These is some new information I heard that we should be aware of. Lance PS: Brandon is working on the El Camino Real(ECR) widening with a Batiquitos Lagoon Trail. I was contacting Brandon as a Board Member of the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation. From: Brandon Miles [mailto:Brandon.Miles@carlsbadca.gov] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 8:10 AMTo: Chas Wick; Nathan SchmidtCc: Lance Schulte; Craig CarterSubject: Re: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association  Chas, I work in the Transportation Engineering division here at the city. I believe you are asking about the Coastal Rail Trail project, but I can also help with the ECR widening from Arenal to La Costa as well. I have shared some information with Lance. Both projects do not have plans yet. However, here are some exhibits that were presented to the Traffic and Mobility Committee that may help. Please let me know if you have any other questions? Thank you, Brandon Miles, P.E., T.E. Associate Engineer Public Works Branch Transportation Engineering www.carlsbadca.gov P: 442-339-2745 | F: 760-602-8562 |M: 760.579.3321 From: Chas Wick <chaswick@reagan.com> Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2021 3:16 PM To: Nathan Schmidt <Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Lance Schulte <meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net>; Brandon Miles <Brandon.Miles@carlsbadca.gov>; Craig Carter <craigcarter911@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association  Nathan , My name is Chas Wick . Lance , Craig and I are on a special ad Hoc committee for our SanPacifico HOA to adviseour homeowners on the ECR project on Avenida Encinas. It cuts right through our Community. Could you please attach thelatest link to the plans for us to use for our Committee? Thanks, Chas Wick SanPacifico HOA Boardmember  Sent from my iPhone  On Jun 4, 2021, at 10:13 AM, Nathan Schmidt <Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov> wrote: Hi Lance, Yes I’ll reach out to you the week of June 21 to schedule a meeting time. I’ve cc’d Brandon Miles on this email (Brandon.Miles@carlsbadca.gov) so please feel free to coordinate with him directly regarding the ECR widening project. Thank you! Nathan Schmidt, AICP City of Carlsbad Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov Cell: 760-637-7183 From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Friday, June 4, 2021 7:05 AM To: Nathan Schmidt <Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Chas Wick <chaswick@reagan.com> Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Nathan: Thanks for the call back and vm. Regarding the 1st item, Chas and I talked yesterday and it may be a while before we can meet. So given could you put on your calendar to contact us after June 21st after your holiday to have our on-site meeting? Thanks for letting us know about Brandon Miles the Carlsbad City Staff lead on the 2nd item. Could you send me his full contact information and I can forward my fellow BLF Board Members on the ECR trail Committee to arrange a meeting. Thanks again. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Lance From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 12:20 PMTo: 'Nathan Schmidt'Cc: 'John Kim'; 'Jim Gale'; 'Chas Wick'; 'Brandon Miles'; 'Tom Frank'; Chas Wick (chaswick@reagan.com)Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Nathan: Hope all is well. I just left a longish vm on your cell on 2 items. One being the rail-trail concept through SPCA, and the other in my role as Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation Board member – the west (seaside) El Camino Real pedestrian (complete streets) improvements between Alga and La Costa Ave. No rush, but when you have time could we talk? Thanks, Lance M 760.805.3525 From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Monday, May 10, 2021 3:49 PMTo: 'Nathan Schmidt'Cc: 'John Kim'; 'Jim Gale'; 'Chas Wick'; 'Brandon Miles'; 'Tom Frank'Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Nathan: When I was at NCTD, I think I recall the rational for using Avenida Encinas for the Rail Trail Corridor was due to insufficient bridge width over rail tracks. The narrow bridge spans (both Poinsettia and Avenida Encinas) would not allow a bike trail to be a sufficiently safe/appropriate distance from the trains an prevent track maintenance. This is not a constraint in much of Old Carlsbad. This should be confirmed with NCTD. Anyway, I took the attached image of the Avenida Encinas Bridge and this appears to be the case here. When this section of rail corridor is double tracked there looks to be no room for a bike trail and safety buffer, nor a rail service access road/space. Overcoming these constraints the Bike trail would need a long ramp-up to Avenida Encinas on the bridge and then a long ramp-down again on the other side of the bridge. The road and bike trail crossing would be on the bridge, so not a great/safe place. Alternatively one could cut into the concrete bridge embankment to notch in a trail, but that could be expensive and create an sheltered hang-out under the bridge. I hope the image and data helps. Lance From: Nathan Schmidt [mailto:Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov] Sent: Friday, May 7, 2021 11:26 AMTo: Lance SchulteCc: John Kim; Jim Gale; 'Chas Wick'; Brandon Miles; Tom Frank Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Hi Lance, Thanks for reaching out. I did relay your comments to the Traffic and Mobility Commission at their meeting. During their meeting the Commission expressed concerns with the proposed alignment being along Avenida Encinas vs. a bike trail along the actual railroad track alignment. They requested that staff look into the history of the project further to understand why the current alignment is on Avenida Encinas versus the rail corridor. I appreciate your comments and yes the intersections at both Dory Ln and Windrose Circle are proposed for redesign with traffic calming improvements and improved pedestrian crossings as part of this project. The designs for both of these will be developed through the engineering process and will be presented to the TMC and community for comments. I also included your map of the potential connection to the Lagoon trail to further emphasize the value of the connection along Avenida Encinas vs. the railroad corridor. Please let me know if you should need any help or materials in your communications with the SPCA. I would be happy to meet with your group personally to present the project if that would be a benefit. Just let me know. Thank you, Nathan Schmidt, AICP City of Carlsbad Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov Cell: 760-637-7183 From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Friday, May 7, 2021 10:01 AM To: Nathan Schmidt <Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Jim Gale <Jim.Gale@carlsbadca.gov>; 'Chas Wick' <chaswick@reagan.com> Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Nathan: We wanted to follow-up with you on this Monday’s T-M Commission meeting on the Ave Encinas Redesign Project (AERP). The Chas and I will be meeting soon to work with some other SPCA members with traffic expertise and to gather community input. The SPCA appointed Chas and I to gather data on AERD for Board and Community consideration. So any information or status update is appreciated. My initial-quick-review comments (and data on the I-5 trail connections) below are my own personal comments I wanted to get to you for consideration. If you had time to review my comments, it would be nice to discuss. Thanks again, for communicating with the SPCA. Ave Encinas runs through the middle of SPCA and is of significant concern to the SPCA Board and Community. I hope you have a great weekend planned. Sincerely, Lance From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2021 4:41 PM To: 'Nathan Schmidt'Cc: 'John Kim'; 'Jim Gale'; 'Chas Wick'Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Nathan: Thanks! Your reaching out is very much appreciated. Following are my comments which I think are fairly consistent with community concerns about vehicle speeding and running stop signs, danger is pedestrian crossing, and narrow bike lanes and sidewalks for a major pathway to the beach. Chas and I will discuss other possible community comments and try to get to you ASAP. Unfortunately I am out at sea Fri-Sun. There is not enough time to circulate to SPCA and get feedback to you, but Chas and I will see how we can try to get that later. Here are my comments after a quick look over: 1.   The Caltrans I-5 bike/pedestrian trail should be included in the plan. See the attached file. This is a longer term plan likely not to be built until after 2035 when the remaining components of the NCC Build I-5 project is completed. 2.   It appears the location of the intersection redesigns are not fully/accurately marked. Ave Encinas/Dory lane is further west near the rail corridor. Also Ave Encinas/Windrose Circle should be identified as a redesign. 3.   Conceptual intersection designs should be provided for all proposed intersection redesigns. 4.   An specific intersection redesign should be provided for Ave Encinas/Windrose Circle. This is significant intersection needing redesign. 5.   The area south of Poinsettia Lane is in Local Facilities Management Plan Zone 9 (LFMP-9). There is a current lawsuit against the City regarding LFMP-9 missing 30-acres of Unconstrained Growth Management Standard Open Space that LFMP-9 developer were inaccurately, and possibly inappropriately, exempted from providing. Landscaping the 12’ buffers as shown in figure D-D could be used by the City to help address the missing 30- acres of Unconstrained Open Space in LRMP-9. I would highly encourage the City to explore landscaping these 12’ buffer areas as it will help address missing Open Space and other issues in a positive way. Attached is a ‘planned loss of open space’ file that summarizes City data on multiple Open Space shortfalls in LFMP-9. Pages 1 & 2 talk about the Unconstrained GMP Open Space Standard shortfall in LFMP-9. Thanks you again. I think you are hitting a lot of the issues very well, and with the above suggestions would make for a suitably complete/livable street. Please call me Friday morning before noon if you would like to talk over any items. Sincerely, Lance From: Nathan Schmidt [mailto:Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov] Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2021 12:14 PMTo: Lance SchulteCc: John Kim; Jim Gale; Chas WickSubject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Hi Lance, I just wanted to let you know that the Traffic and Mobility will be reviewing the Avenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail segment project at their meeting this Monday May 3rd at 3pm. This will be the first opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed concept plans. We anticipate holding additional public meetings once we have more refined engineering plans available so the intention of this meeting is to obtain high level feedback on the general project features. You can view the staff report and concept map for the upcoming Traffic and Mobility Commission meeting here: https://www.carlsbadca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=47312 Please share with your neighbors and let me know if you should have any questions. You can also provide any comments directly to me which I can forward to the Traffic and Mobility Commissioners and read into the record at the meeting. Thanks! Nathan Schmidt, AICP City of Carlsbad Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov Cell: 760-637-7183 From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Friday, February 26, 2021 5:16 PM To: Nathan Schmidt <Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: John Kim <John.Kim@carlsbadca.gov>; Jim Gale <Jim.Gale@carlsbadca.gov>; Chas Wick <chaswick@reagan.com> Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Nathan: Thanks! Sounds good so far to me. I bike this regularly in shopping at Ralphs, and got hit (and bike totaled) at Navigator Circle, so that ‘kluged intersection’ is a key area for fixing with a proper redesign. We will see how SPCA members feel about it. May need some education for people that have not seen these types of solutions work in other areas of the world. From my perspective sounds like you have a very good understanding of the issues and logical initial concept solutions. Will be good to see current/buildout ADT volumes data and if truck restrictions. Good also to see your AICP. I was AICP Commissioner for CA & NV years ago. Great to see AICP in mobility. Have a great weekend! Lance From: Nathan Schmidt [mailto:Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov] Sent: Friday, February 26, 2021 3:25 PMTo: Lance SchulteCc: John Kim; Jim GaleSubject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Hi Lance, It’s good to hear from you again. Jim forwarded me your email as I am currently working on the Coastal Rail trail improvement project which includes the portion of Avenida Encinas from Carlsbad Blvd. to Palomar Airport Road. From reading your email it sounds like our vision for Avenida Encinas is very much in line with your suggestions in terms of reducing lane widths, vehicle speeds, and enhancing the entire corridor for people walking and biking. The project is still in the conceptual planning stages but will include improvements such as enhanced pedestrian and bicycle crossings, road diets, wider bike lanes, and traffic calming. Specifically in your area south of Poinsettia we are planning to implement a road which would reduce the roadway to a single travel lane in each direction, narrow lanes to 11 ft. and provide wider bike lanes and increased buffer width between the bike lanes and travel lanes. We are also evaluating improvements to the intersections of Portage Way and Dory Lane such as removing the left turn pockets and adding bulb-outs to each corner of the intersection. We will be holding public outreach events to review these plans in detail prior to moving forward on the engineering designs so I’ll be sure to let you know once these are scheduled. In the meantime please let me know if you should have any questions or additional thoughts. I look forward to working with you on this very interesting and exciting project. Thank you! Nathan Schmidt, AICP City of Carlsbad Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov Cell: 760-637-7183 From: Lance Schulte <meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2021 8:04 AM To: Jim Gale <Jim.Gale@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: 'Nika Richardson' <nrichardson@waltersmanagement.com>; Becca Warrillow <bwarrillow@waltersmanagement.com>; Chas Wick <chaswick@reagan.com> Subject: RE: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Jim: It has been a while, so thought we would check-in as to the status of the intersection. FYI, the San Pacifico Community Association has Chas Wick (Board Member) and me as the SPCA points of contact with the City on the intersection. Lance From: Lance Schulte [mailto:meyers-schulte@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2020 8:03 AMTo: 'jim.gale@carlsbadca.gov'Cc: Dale Ordas (daleordas@gmail.com); 'Nika Richardson'; Becca Warrillow (bwarrillow@waltersmanagement.com); ChasWick (chaswick@reagan.com); Adriaan Van Zyl (vanzyl.aakc@live.com) (vanzyl.aakc@live.com); Adriaan van Zyl(adriaanHOA@outlook.com)Subject: Avenida Encinas & Portage intersection @ San Pacifico Community Association Jim: Nice meeting you and the City Traffic signage crew the other day. As you suggested here are the ideas we talked about. Having lived at SPCA since 2000 and being a former City planner who has presented my transportation work done for Carlsbad at International ITE conferences, I hope the suggestions are helpful. Avenida Encinas is used as a short-cut between regional I-5 and PCH corridor movements for a significant amount of traffic. As such driver motivation creates travel speeds are higher that designed/posted, that is made worst by the stop sign that encourages stop-n-go drag racing behavior. This behavior is enhanced by the unneeded wide painted center turn-lane median that overly separates opposing traffic that encourages faster speeds. If opposing vehicle lanes are closer together there will be slow travel speeds due to driver concern over head-on crashes. A narrow median will also promote more driver focus on driving. The wide median additional makes this faster driving more unsafe, as it pushes driver line of sight to the edges of the roadway thus reducing sight-lines while also creating a more attractive slalom course. The vertical and horizontal curves in the roadway provide this slalom course and the travel lanes on edges of the roadway make sight distance worse and encourage faster drive speeds. I see this behavior daily, and experience the influence the current roadway design has on my driving behavior. The Current design encourages faster speeds and the stop sign trying to stop that behavior makes a worst as it forces stop-start acceleration that induces some drag racing behavior. This higher speed behavior is encouraged by the current roadway design, and not only impact pedestrians crossing the street on our trails, but also impacts bike riders on the Regional Rail Trail Bike Trail. The unnecessary wide painted turn lane median pushes the vehicle lanes to the outside edges to the roadway that then compresses the Regional Rail Trail Bike Trail right next to vehicular traffic (only separated by a 6’ strip of paint) and also forces the Regional Rail Trail Bike Trail to a bare minimum 3’ wide. A Regional Rail Trail Bike Trail it seems should be wider that then bare minimum 3’ wide for any bike lane, and there should be a wider painted separation between the bike and vehicular lanes. A narrower painted center median would allow this. As you know roadway design physiologically influences driver behavior. That is the point of roadway design to create a design speed to bracket drive behavior to be commensurate with the roadways capacity to handle speeds. Most past city roadway design, like at Avenida Encinas, focused on making roads faster to drive on and broke up higher speeds with traffic stops v. the more traditional euro model of continuous slower speed flow in more narrow roadways. I think the City could explore some very cost effective redesign to make Avenida Encinas safer and slower speed. This could be by repainting to narrow the painted center median to say 2-3’ wide with cat eyes, and then using the space to widen the Bike lanes and create a 1’ or so painted buffer separation between vehicular and bike lines. These changes would promote slower speeds and more driver focus, and create a safer Regional Bike Trail. If the City wanted to make this a truly complete and integrated solution replacing the Stop signs at Avenida Encinas and Portage Way with a minor round-a-bough to slow traffic and allow cross flow movements could be considered. The City is proposing to do exactly that further west on Avenida Encinas so this should be done at Portage Way also to create a more uniform roadway design and more uniform drive behavior. I hope my observations and ideas are helpful. If anyone at eh City Traffic Safety wants to talk over any issues, I am happy to help. These observations and ideas are my own. However the SPCA of around 500 homes that Avenida Encinas runs thru the middle has expressed concern about Avenida Encinas roadway design, speeds and safety, so I copied some key people at SPCA so they are aware of my comments and communication to you. Lance Schulte CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know thecontent is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know thecontent is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Eliane Paiva Subject:FW: April 4th Traffic & Mobility Commission Meeting Comment: Acenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail Segment   From: Fred Butts <dilophosaurus.david.p@gmail.com>   Sent: Sunday, April 3, 2022 4:26 PM  To: Nathan Schmidt <Nathan.Schmidt@carlsbadca.gov>  Subject: April 4th Traffic & Mobility Commission Meeting Comment: Acenida Encinas Coastal Rail Trail Segment    Re: Preliminary Coastal Rail Trail Plan Along Avenida Encinas:     Don't give up at intersections! All these mixing zones and right‐turn crossover lanes will get people killed. Lycra‐clad  exercise enthusiasts will use any thoroughfare no matter what, but commuters, families, or people going out for a small  errand? They NEED foolproof infrastructure that keeps vehicles separated as much as physically possible‐‐NOT as much  as what's "feasible" or "convenient." What is the point of these bike investments if not to get people out of their mobile  climate change factories? Do you really see Mommy and Daddy taking Timmy along on his first road ride, weaving  between and around giant pickups with 6‐foot‐tall hoods that literally can't see what's in front of them? Do you believe  that a guy who works at one of the businesses near Poinsettia Station who's chosen to save some money and commute  on bike will keep at it after he's sideswiped trying to cross to the left of a right turn lane?    The proposed intersection plan is absolutely absurd. The only reason it won't cause more deaths is that potential casual  cyclists will recognize the danger, shake their heads, and keep shelling out $6 a gallon and spewing CO2, because at least  their car is safer than a mangled pile of aluminum tubing in the wake if an SUV.    Luckily, there is a solution! The Dutch figured out safe intersection design for bicycles decades ago. Search on YouTube  "Dutch bicycle intersection" and you will find a design where the ONLY place cars and bikes meet is when bikes have to  cross the intersection‐‐NO right turn lane crossovers in someone's blind spot, no combo bike lane‐right turn lane, or any  of that malarkey. Their. Design. Saves. Lives.    If you're worried about the cost, don't! Check out NACTO's guide "Don't Give Up at the Intersection." It provides  templates for full, tear‐up‐the‐corner‐and‐cast‐it‐all‐in‐concrete treatments, all the way down to paint, bollards, and  rumble strips. The point is: these safe designs are not only feasible, but funding‐efficient, too. And since the proposed  design calls for complete replacement of the intersection corners anyway, well...    Please, PLEASE do the right thing. This segment is the gosh darn Coastal Rail Trail‐‐the crown jewel of the county's  bicycle investments. Don't cram in some unpolished rock‐‐thoughtfully place a gleaming, lovely stone that all will love  and admire! :D      Thank you for your time,      David Pierce    1850 Pentas Court  CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.   Avenida Encinas Questions and Comments for April 4 Traffic and Mobility Commission General Comments and Questions: 1. Is the use of green paint authorized for the driveways and intersections per the latest version of the CA MUTCD without experimental authorization? 2. Since Right Hooks are the #1 cause of car-bike collisions in Carlsbad, will there be any educational efforts to provide drivers with guidance for yielding and making legal right hand turns as close as possible to the right edge of the road per CVC 22100? Are portable signs being planned for this education as is being done along Coast Highway in Encinitas? Direct mail flyers to residents? Other? 3. Left Crosses are the #2 cause of car-bike collisions in Carlsbad. Since there are 19 locations where drivers may turn left without stop or traffic light controls, will similar educational efforts be made to the public and residents? 4. The 10’ travel lanes and road diet to no more than one through lane may provide natural traffic calming. Is any speed limit reduction expected to be possible with this plan? If not, is any reduction in pace speed expected? Will before and after speed surveys be conducted? Embarcadero Lane North Entrance SB direction: 1. Why is there no RTO lane once there is 10’ of room for one? If that is desired, could the Bike Lane have the same skip dashed green paint with a R4-4 “Begin RTO Lane, Yield to Bikes” sign planned for other locations? 2. Why is the Bike Lane only 5’ wide here with a 10’ buffer to the left? This places the cyclists next to the curb and gutter pan which may act as a longitudinal crack if there is a gap OR an elevation difference between the concrete and asphalt surface. Why not make the Bike Lane 8’ wide here, as is done farther south, until it moves left near the intersection? 3. Are the Sharrows NB & SB temporary until a CIP to widen the roadway at the pinch point can be completed? If so, what is the projected time frame from the paint changes along this roadway until the CIP is expected to be completed? 4. Will the Sharrows have a green background? Will the words “May Use Full Lane” be placed on the pavement in front of the Sharrows as has been done in Cardiff? Remainder of Sheet 2 of 2: 1. Why are there no crosswalks across Avenida Encinas at any of the intersections (Both ends of Embarcadero, and Macadamia)? 2. What is the justification for bulb outs with ADA curb ramps at Macadamia without crosswalks? 3. There are 7 driveways in the northbound direction where motorists may turn right or left across the dashed green painted Bike Lane without stop or traffic signal controls. Since parking is prohibited leading up to each of the 7 driveways northbound, should the dashed green paint currently shown across the driveways be extended back to at least where the parking ends to encourage cyclists to remain in the Bike Lane (rather than swerve to the right) and encourage overtaking motorists to yield and move to the right (rather than passing while staying to the left of the bike lane) before making right turn? Should the distance of the parking restriction and dashed green paint be at least 100 feet to allow enough distance for motorists to yield and move to the right without obstructing motorists continuing straight. Sheet 1 of 2: 1. What is the justification for bulb outs with ADA curb ramps at Raintree and Dory/Meridian without crosswalks? 2. The crosswalk at San Carlos in the median is an excellent example of the type of infrastructure that can be used to turn pedestrians toward the oncoming traffic no matter which direction they are crossing. 3. There is no left turn pocket for Avenida Encinas NB into the San Carlos neighborhood. This provides a degree of safety since that neighborhood will only have right-in, right-out access. The absence of left turns here will be safer for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Is this possible at other locations as well? 4. The travel lanes are a consistent 10’ North of Raintree then 11’ south of there. Could the extra 1’ be provided to increase the left side Bike Lane buffer to 3’ to provide additional comfort space for cyclists as well as additional traffic calming? 5. The existing Bike Lane SB south of the shopping center traverses areas near the curb that have required repairs due to pavement buckling from tree roots. This area has left side buffered space of 7.5’ to 13’. Should the 8’ bike lane be shifted left a few feet with a buffer to the curb to avoid this area? 6. Why is the southbound Bike Lane treatment approaching the Dory Lane/Meridian Way intersection different from the northbound Bike Lane approach to the same intersection? The dashed green paint southbound seems consistent with other intersections. Why is it not being used in the northbound direction?