The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2008-01-07; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Investigate the need to install a stop sign on Tern Place at its intersection with Spoonbill Lane to replace the existing yield sign( ( CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF: January 7, 2008 LOCATION: INITIATED BY: Tern Place at Spoonbill Lane Marc Angel c/o Pavona Homeowners Association 7040 Avenida Encinas, Suite B-200 Carlsbad, C 92011 ITEMNO. 6B REQUESTED ACTION: Investigate the need to install a stop sign on Tern Place at its intersection with Spoonbill Lane to replace the existing yield sign. BACKGROUND: Tern Place intersects Spoonbill Lane in a T-intersection configuration in a residential area with Tern Place being considered the stem of the T-intersection. Spoonbill Lane is the top of the T (see Exhibit 1). A yield sign has been installed to assign the right-of-way at this intersection. DATA: Tern Place and Spoonbill Lane are both local streets located within the Pavona subdivision and both are unclassified on the Circulation Element of the General Plan. These streets serve a residential neighborhood comprised of single family homes. Spoonbill Lane provides access to and from Batiquitos Drive while Tern Place is a cul-de-sac that has 25 single-family homes fronting on the street. Each stop sign request received by staff is analyzed based on standards and guidelines found in the California MUTCD and the Caltrans Highway Design Manual. Stop signs, if improperly used, can cause substantial inconvenience to drivers and should be used only where warranted. One of the conditions that may warrant consideration of installing a stop sign on the minor street is when the safe approach speed to the intersection is less than 10 miles per hour. The minor street at a T-intersection is generally considered to be the stem of the T-intersection with the major street being the top of the T. For the purpose of this report, Tern Place will be considered the minor street and the stem of the T-intersection and Spoonbill Lane will be considered the major street and the top of the T-intersection. As drivers approach an uncontrolled intersection, they have right-of-way assignment based upon the rules of the road. However, the driver should have an unobstructed view of the entire intersection and sufficient distance along the line of sight at the intersecting street for the driver to anticipate and avoid conflicts with approaching vehicles. ( CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF: January 7, 2008 ( continued) ITEMNO. 6B When a driver on the minor street is traveling towards the major street, a decision point is reached where it is necessary to determine whether braking to a stop is required because of an approaching vehicle on the major street. This decision point location on the minor street must allow the driver sufficient distance to view to both the right and left the approaches on the major street. The driver on the minor street, generally not having the right-of-way, can then initiate actions to slow, stop, or avoid a conflict with other vehicles, as necessary, when sufficient sight distance is provided (see Exhibit 2). For the analyses of local streets, the minor street decision point is assumed to be 50 feet from the intersection given the vehicle on the minor street has an approach speed of 10 miles per hour. A distance of 155 feet (stopping sight distance for 25 miles per hour) along the major street must be provided to minor street drivers to view vehicles approaching the intersection. At the study intersection, sight distance from Tern Place looking to the east was measured to be 101 feet, which is less than the required 155 feet. The sight distance limitation is due to the horizontal and vertical geometry of Spoonbill Lane. Sight distance looking to the west was found to satisfy the 155 foot minimum requirement. Based on these findings, staff finds that the 10-mile per hour safe approach speed criteria is not being met and a stop sign can be considered for installation on Tern Place at Spoonbill Lane in place of the existing yield sign. RECOMMENDATION: The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends the installation of a stop sign on Tern Place at its intersection with Spoonbill Lane to replace the existing yield sign. NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION: The City Council must adopt an ordinance to establish the stop control as recommended. LOCATION MAP BA TIQUITOS DR. 02 Q Cl) ~ G 5 0 r= a3 ~ l @ : .I; NOT TO SCALE ~ -------------------------------------~ EXHIBIT ~ TERN PLACE & SPOONBILL LANE PROPOSED STOP SIGN t 1 it ! -----------------------------------" . --------- 101' MEASURED (NOT SATISFIED) NOT TO SCALE CD )> =:I 0 s; a (/) C, ~ ;$i E ~ -~ i t---------------------------~-----1, TERN PLACE & SPOONBILL LANE SIGHT DISTANCE EVALUATION EXHIBIT ~ t 2 l ..__ ___________________________ a..,_ __ __...; A. McKibbin&Co. COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT October 24, 2007 Mr. Bob Johnson, Engineering Dept. City of Carlsbad 1635 Faraday, Carlsbad, CA 92008 n I RE: Request for Stop Sign at Tern Place and Spoonbill Lane Mr. Johnson: This letter is written on behalf of the Pavona Homeowners Association. The Board of Directors for the Pavona Homeowners Association has requested a stop sign be installed at the intersection of Tern Place and Spoonbill Lane (end of Tern Place). Drivers proceeding south on Tern Place often do not look when crossing the intersection onto Spoonbill Lane and vehicles turning onto Spoonbill Lane from Batiquitos Drive come very close to hitting those vehicles. The portion of Spoonbill Lane roadway is very short from Batiquitos Drive to Tern Place. Please review this area for a stop sign and advise us when this could be installed. Thank you for your considen;ition in improving the traffic situation on Spoonbill Lane. Marc Angel Community Association Manager Pavona Homeowners Association 7040 Avenida Encinas• Suite B-200 • Carlsbad, CA 92011 (760) 431-7874 • Fax (760) 431-7064