HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-03; Traffic and Mobility Commission; MinutesApril 3, 2023 Traffic & Mobility Regular Meeting Page 1
Council Chambers
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
April 3, 2023, 4 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: 4:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Coelho, Fowler, Penseyres, Garcia and Kohl.
Proulx and Newlands – Absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Coelho led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Matthew Moldovan requested improvement on the bike lanes on Carlsbad Village Drive west of
freeway I-5.
Scott Engel expressed his concerns on lane narrowing on Cannon Road and College Boulevard and
shared his disapproval of the proposed roundabout at Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Boulevard.
Brian Connor expressed his concerns on lane narrowing on Cannon Road and College Boulevard
and requested enhanced parking control in the Carlsbad Village area.
CONSENT CALENDAR: None.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
1. POLICE REPORT REGARDING TRAFFIC & MOBILITY-RELATED MATTERS DURING THE MONTH
OF MARCH 2023 – Received a presentation from a representative of the City of Carlsbad’s
Police Department that provide an overview of traffic and mobility-related police matters
during the month of March 2023. (Staff Contact: Lieutenant DeVelasco, Police Department).
Staff’s Recommendation: Receive the presentation.
Lieutenant DeVelasco presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file
in the Office of the City Clerk).
Lieutenant DeVelasco explained that due to a Commission request last month his
presentation was detailed and included graphics of traffic and mobility-related police matters
during the month of February and he included “Notable News for the month of March”.
The Commission received the report.
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Matthew Moldovan requested that slideshow presentations and materials be posted online
prior to the Traffic and Mobility Commission meetings, and expressed his concerns regarding
access and safety downtown, specifically in Carlsbad Village.
In response to Commissioners Kohl’s inquiry regarding the number of warnings issued in
February and how they compare to January’s numbers, Lieutenant DeVelasco replied that he
does not have the numbers currently but that he will provide them to the Commissioner.
2. EVALUATION OF TAMARACK AVENUE AND VALLEY STREET PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL PROJECT –
Receive a presentation on the evaluation of the Tamarack Avenue and Valley Street
pedestrian signal project. (Staff Contact: Miriam Jim and Lindy Pham, Public Works
Department).
Staff’s Recommendation: Receive the presentation.
Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt presented the report and reviewed a
PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
The Commission received the report.
Tim Morgan expressed his concerns about the High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK)
signal at Tamarack Avenue and Valley Street.
In response to Commissioner Penseyres inquiry regarding the number of viewers on the
HAWK signal video that was posted for public viewing, Transportation Director Frank
explained that they don’t have those numbers on hand, but staff can get those numbers from
the Communications Team and provide them to the Commission.
In response to Chair Coelho’s inquiry regarding the immediate next steps regarding the HAWK
signal, Transportation Director Frank explained that the next step is to move forward with
the installation of the speed control, raised crosswalks and tables and he added that
construction should start before summer.
In response to Chair Coelho’s comment about adjusting the flashing red and flashing yellow
intervals of the HAWK signal, City Traffic Engineer Kim explained that staff will look at the
operational requirements for the pedestrian HAWK signals. He added that the California
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) have guidelines and recommendations
that staff need to follow.
In response to Chair Coelho’s question asking if the vehicle compliance observation data that
staff presented was positive, City Traffic Engineer Kim answered that the data was very
positive. He further clarified that the majority of vehicles that were observed to enter the
intersection on a red light did so AFTER yielding to crossing pedestrians and that the number
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of vehicles observed encroaching upon the pedestrians’ right of way was very low (2 on the
weekdays and none on the weekends).
3. CITY OF CARLSBAD COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES OVERVIEW – Receive an informational
presentation on how the city’s policies, including the General Plan and Sustainable Mobility
Plan, are intended to prioritize the creation of “complete streets” by requiring that the design
of transportation infrastructure balances the needs of all users, promote safety and enhances
the quality of life for all those who live, work and play in the City of Carlsbad. (Staff Contact:
Tom Frank, Public Works Department).
Staff’s Recommendation: Receive the presentation.
Transportation Director Frank presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation
(on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
The Commission received the report.
Matthew Moldovan expressed concern over the urgent need to improve bike lanes at the
freeway crossings to provide safer and more efficient access to the downtown transit hubs.
In response to Commissioner Penseyres inquiry regarding whether staff could use the recent
crash involving a thirteen-year-old female cyclist on Tamarack Avenue as a test case for a root
cause analysis, Transportation Director Frank explained that since City Council adopted Vision
Zero, staff will talk to team members and determine how to proceed with implementing a
root cause analysis.
In response to Commissioner Penseyres request to update pictures in the Mobility Element
slideshow to reflect the buffer against the car doors when there is a door zone bike lane,
Transportation Director Frank responded that the next time staff have the opportunity to
update the Mobility Element they will review the pictures in the slideshow and update them
accordingly.
In response to Chair Coelho’s request to determine how long the cars are stopped in the
northbound lane toward Carlsbad Village in the video, Transportation Director Frank
responded that the traffic team will get back to him with the requested data.
In response to Chair Coelho’s request for staff to review the need for bike lanes at the freeway
crossings and in the northern part of Carlsbad, Transportation Director Frank responded that
with the East-West Corridor project approved staff are resurfacing sixteen miles of streets to
provide wider buffered bike lanes for bicyclists and pedestrians and one of them is Carlsbad
Village Drive and that will improve the east of freeway I-5.
CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER COMMENTS:
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City Traffic Engineer Kim responded to Vice-Chair Fowler’s earlier comment regarding the
pedestrian crossings in Carlsbad Boulevard and explained that there is a project to enhance the
pedestrian crossings with curb extensions where feasible and to augment the existing rectangular
rapid flashing beacon system with in-pavement flashing lights. He added that the project has
been awarded but due to long lead times for the delivery of some equipment, staff expect
construction to begin in Fall of 2023.
Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt shared updates on next month’s meeting
where the Traffic and Mobility Commission Annual Work Plan will be discussed adding that he
will forward the Commission a copy of the current work plan for review.
Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt informed the Commission that he will be
reaching out to the Ad-Hoc Subcommittee for the Multi-Modal Level of Service to find a time to
meet this month.
Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt listed the upcoming city cycling classes
which are to be held on Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Pine Avenue Community
Center adding that all ages are welcome. TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION COMMENTS:
In response to Commissioner Kohl’s inquiry regarding loop detectors and how reliably they are
detecting bicycle riders and whether there is a minimum green that we put on the traffic
controller per approach, Traffic Engineer Kim responded that staff treat this on an as needed
basis. He added that most of the signals are controlled with video detection which does work for
bicyclists, and loop detectors can be adjusted for sensitivity, so if staff is notified of a location
where bicyclists are not being detected they can look at that location specifically.
In response to Commissioner Garcia’s inquiry regarding the closure on Highway 78,
Transportation Director Frank responded that Caltrans reported recently that they estimate at
least another three weeks of construction.
Deputy City Manager, Public Works Gomez added that Caltrans intent is to switch from the
westbound closure over to the eastbound closure this coming Wednesday morning. She further
added that once that is done, they expect three weeks until completion.
In response to Commissioner Fowler’s inquiry on whether staff can optimize traffic lights to
minimize the impacts of the freeway construction or other disasters, City Traffic Engineer Kim
responded that the city has the ability to implement signal timing changes although typically on
high traffic arterials staff will have a time-of-day coordination plan which takes into account the
prevailing traffic patterns.
In response to Commissioner Fowler’s question regarding the policy on no outlet signs when
there is an outlet such as at The Crossings Drive, City Traffic Engineer Kim responded that
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although there is a connection between the Crossings Drive and Cannon Road, the connection is
via private road and as such, the city does not consider that was a viable connection or outlet.
In response to Chair Coelho’s inquiry about when the budget is being presented to City Council,
Deputy City Manager, Public Works Gomez responded that the plan is to present a preliminary
budget to City Council on May 23, 2023.
In response to Chair Coelho’s request for staff to provide a visualization such as a pie chart of
how the staff invests its resources, Deputy City Manager, Public Works Gomez recommended
that after the budget has been presented to City Council, staff can provide an overview of the
transportation related projects at the June Traffic and Mobility Commission meeting.
Motion by Vice-Chair Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Kohl to cancel the Traffic & Mobility
Commission meeting of July 3, 2023. Motion carried – 5/0/2 (Proulx, Newlands – Absent).
Motion by Commissioner Penseyres, seconded by Vice-Chair Fowler to bring back an item on Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue Intersection Improvements, Capital Improvement Program Project No. 6058. Motion carried – 5/0/2 (Proulx, Newlands – Absent). ADJOURNMENT: Chair Coelho adjourned the Traffic & Mobility Commission Regular Meeting on April 3, 2023, at 6:08 p.m.
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Eliane Paiva, Secretary