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Home My WebLink About2024-02-05; Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission; MinutesTRAFFIC SAFET Y & MOBILITY COMMISSION Minutes Feb. 5, 2024, 4 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: 4 p.m. ROLL CALL: Coelho, Fowler, Penseyres, Proulx, Newlands, and Kohl. Absent: Proulx, Garcia. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE : Chair Coelho led the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of Regular Meeting held on Dec. 4, 2023 Council Chamber 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 Motion by Commissioner Newlands, seconded by Commissioner Kohl, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on Dec. 4, 2023, as presented. Motion carried, 5/0/2 (Proulx, Garcia -Absent). PUBLIC COMMENT: Jim Powers spoke about the new restriping on El Camino Real and Tamarack Avenue and the issues with drivers traveling west on Tamarack Avenue who need to turn left into Amberwood Court usually have to stop before making their turn, causing a backup of cars on Tamarack Avenue and into the bike Jane, he requested to know what plans are in place to address this and the time frame. He further talked about new signage that has been placed going eastbound on Tamarack Avenue that notifies drivers of the right turn lane and explained that this sign causes drivers who are turning onto El Camino Real to enter the right turn lane too early, blocking the entrance of Amberwood Court. Commissioner Garcia joined the meeting .at 4:05 p.m. Steve Linke discussed modifications he has identified in private development Traffic Impact Analysis reports, which have led to inaccurate findings and conclusions. \ CONSENT CALENDAR: Motion by Vice-Chair Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Newlands to approve Consent Item No. 1. Motion carried, 6/0/1 (Proulx -Absent). 1. 2023 SLURRY SEAL PROJECT. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 6001-23SS -Support staff's recommendation to the City Council to approve the plans for the 2023 Slurry Seal Project, Capital Improvement Project No. 6001-23SS, as a part of the Pavement Management Program. (Staff Contact: Eric Zielke, Public Works Department). Kenneth Chin-Purcell spoke about the striped crosswalk across The Crossings Drive at the Lego/and bicycle path. He further explained that the plans currently show no visual indication or street marking on the roadway for motorists to know that this is an intersection for both pedestrians and cyclists that are entering into and exiting from the bike path and he recommended putting a crosswalk or other markings at this intersection. Feb.5,2024 Traffic Safety & Mobility Regular Meeting Page 2 Steve Linke presented and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding lane narrowing (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Steve Linke spoke about his concerns regarding lane narrowing, specifically the lanes that have been narrowed down to 10-feet-wide on higher speed, higher volume, multi-lane arterial streets and presented selected excerpts in support of his claims from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Green Book, the Ca/trans Highway Design Manual, and staff reports. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: 2. POLICE REPORT REGARDING TRAFFIC & MOBILITY-RELATED MATTERS DURING THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2023, INCLUDING NOTABLE NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2024 -Receive a presentation from a representative of the City of Carlsbad's Police Department that will provide an overview of traffic and mobility-related police matters during the month of November and December 2023, including notable news for the month of January 2024. (Staff Contact: Lieutenant Alonso DeVelasco, Police Department). Staffs Recommendation: Receive the presentation. Lieutenant Alonso DeVelasco presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). The Commission received the PowerPoint presentation by Lieutenant DeVelasco. Steve Linke presented and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding lane narrowing and enforcement (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Steve Linke spoke about city staffs' suggestion that lane narrowing to less than 11 feet wide will increase safety. He further explained that there have been multiple instances where he has witnessed vehicles driving outside of their lane to keep a distance from the curb and added that narrowed streets with a 35 mile per hour speed limit or higher will lead to more lane encroachments and increase danger to both drivers and bicyclists. In response to Commissioner Newlands' inquiry whether it would be valuable to capture what collisions were due to high speed versus unsafe speed, Lieutenant De Velasco explained that when officers are issuing a violation as unsafe, they must clarify in their report why they believed that the conditions were unsafe to be travelling at that speed. In response to Commissioner Pen seyres' inquiry as to whether Lieutenant DeVelasco could report a year's worth of data as opposed to monthly, Chair Coelho explained that they will be discussing the possibility of reporting the data on a quarterly basis. In response to Vice-Chair Fowler's inquiry regarding the scale of hit and run collisions that get resolved, Lieutenant DeVelasco explained that it can be difficult to report on how frequently they identify hit and run drivers because investigations can take days or weeks. Feb.5,2024 Traffic Safety & Mobility Regular Meeting Page 3 In response to Commissioner Newlands' inquiry whether the Police Department writes tickets for lane encroachment, Lieutenant DeVelasco explained that lane encroachment is primarily enforced during DUI stops, however, the Police Department hopes to further address and enforce maintaining a lane with the new lane designs. 3. COMPLETE STREETS BEST PRACTICES: NEW BIKEWAY TREATMENTS AND ROADWAY WIDTHS - Receive an informational presentation on Complete Streets Best Practices including an overview of recent bike lane design treatments and roadway travel lane widths. {Staff Contact: Nathan Schmidt and Tom Frank, Public Works Department). Staffs Recommendation: Receive the presentation. Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Nathan Schmidt and Transportation Director/City Engineer Tom Frank presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). The Commission received the presentation by Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Schmidt and Transportation Director/City Engineer Frank. Steve Linke presented and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding lane narrowing (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Steve Linke spoke about the John Hopkins study referenced by staff and explained that the findings are consistent with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials {AASHTO) Green Book, however 10-foot lanes are only appropriate on low-volume streets with speeds of 35 miles per hour or less, are not truck or bus routes, and do not have raised medians. He requested that staff show their data that supports the use of 10-foot lanes on arterial streets of 55 miles per hour. In response to Steve Linke's inquiry regarding how 10-or 10.5-foot-wide lanes are consistent with the Caltrans 1:Jighway Design Manual, Topic 308, City Traffic Engineer Kim explained that the Highway Design Manual is intended for state highways, not local roads. He pointed out that Topic 301 gives lane width recommendations for state highways but directs local agency consideration of lane widths to Topic 308, which specifically allows local jurisdictions to define lane widths based on locally adopted standards with the exception of freeway ramps and interchanges and also defers to AASHTO for additional guidance on lane widths on local roads. In response to Steve Linke's inquiry regarding how 10-or 10.5-foot-wide lanes on 35 to 55 mile per hour arterial streets are consistent with the AASHTO Green Book standard, City Traffic Engineer Kim explained that AASHTO's governing document for roadway design is called A Policy of Geometric Design of Highways and Streets. In Section 7.3.3.1, it states that "lane widths on through-travel lanes may vary from 10 to 12 ft." The use of the word "may" denotes a recommendation or suggestion, not a standard or requirement. This section further highlights the local agency's "local practice and experience regarding lane width" as a determining factor. He further added that staff concludes that the use of 10'-10.5' lanes is considered justified, appropriate and fully compliant with engineering standards and practices as contained in the Feb.5,2024 Traffic Safety & Mobility Regular Meeting Page 4 Caltrans Highway Design Manual and the Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. In response to Commissioner Newlands' inquiry regarding whether data will be released, Transportation Director/City Engineer Frank explained that they currently have collected before- speeds and volumes and will perform after-studies and report on the performance of the East- West Corridors when it is available. In response to Commissioner Penseyres' inquiry regarding debris found in wide buffer lanes and if the buffer lanes cleaned during street sweeping, Transportation Director/City Engineer Frank responded that he would notify Streets Maintenance. Commissioner Kohl commented that education may be needed to refresh drivers on how to safely drive in and around bike lanes and bicyclists. Commissioner Penseyres further commented that education for both drivers and bicyclists would be more helpful. CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER COMMENTS: Transportation Director/City Engineer Tom Frank spoke about SAN DAG and explained that they are currently in the process of updating the Regional Plan. COMMISSION COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS: None ADJOURNMENT: Chair Coelho adjourned the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Regular Meeting on Feb. 5, 2024, at 5:45 p.m. ,/ Eliane Paiva Secretary