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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-11-03; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Establish a prima facie speed limit on Hummingbird Road from Batiquitos Drive to Rock Dove StreetCOMMISSION MEETING OF: CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT November 3, 2014 ITEM NO. GD LOCATION: Hummingbird Road from Batiquitos Drive to Rock Dove Street INITIATED BY: Sue Jones 1745 Hummingbird Road Carlsbad, CA 92011 REQUESTED ACTION: Establish a prima facie speed limit on Hummingbird Road from Batiquitos Drive to Rock Dove Street BACKGROUND: Hummingbird Road is a two lane road that functions as a residential collector street which provides a through-street connection between the Aviara community to the west and the Seaport community to the east (see Exhibit 1). The easterly segment of Hummingbird Road from Rock Dove Street to Sanderling Court is currently posted 25 mph meeting the California Vehicle Code definition of a Residence District. SETTING SPEED LIMITS: In the City of Carlsbad, the predominant practice for managing speed is by legally establishing a speed limit according the criteria set forth by the California Vehicle Code and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and then posting the speed limit upon the road with regulatory signs in compliance with the California MUTCD. Police enforcement is used to cite violators that exceed the posted speed limit. A fundamental tenet is that laws are enacted to protect the majority of the public by regulating the unsafe or unreasonable actions of the few. When speed limits have been reasonably set, the enforcement efforts of the Carlsbad Police Department are more effective. Speed limits are established by law when the City Council adopts an ordinance and the speed limit is posted on the roadway to indicate the maximum reasonable speed for a driver to operate a vehicle under ideal conditions in off-peak free flowing conditions. Among many factors, the three most persuasive factors to consider when setting a realistic, or rational, speed limit are: 1. 85th percentile speed (critical speed) 2. Collision history 3. Conditions that may not be readily apparent to the driver Page 1 C COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT November 3, 2014 ITEM NO. 6D The 85th percentile speed, often referred to as the critical speed, is the speed which 85% of the drivers are traveling at or below. The premise implied in speed zoning is that the majority of drivers are operating their vehicles at or below the 85th percentile speed. Drivers that operate their vehicle at speeds higher than the 85th percentile speed should be the focus of the police as excessive speed is often a factor in a vehicle collision. A comprehensive review of the collision history on a roadway is another important element in the process to establish a speed limit. In the collision analysis, factors such as collision frequency, type, severity, road conditions, road geometry, lighting conditions, and spatial distribution of the collisions are all considered. The review of collisions will also reveal if there is a high incidence of speed-related collisions on the road at specific locations. However, absent a significant collision history attributed to speed, it may be concluded that drivers are operating their vehicle in a reasonable and prudent manner at the speed they choose to drive. Speed limits should not be lowered for conditions that are readily apparent to the driver and the speed limit signs should not be used as intersection, curve or hazard warning devices. For unusual conditions or conditions not readily apparent to motor vehicle operators, appropriate warning signs can be installed. Voluntary public compliance with the posted speed limit is the goal when determining a realistic prima facie speed limit to post on a roadway. The realistic speed limit takes into consideration the normally competent and careful actions of a reasonable driver and provides for the regulation of unreasonable behavior by a few individuals. A posted speed limit should be readily accepted by drivers, be fair and reasonable, be related to risk on the roadway, be determined by the majority of drivers, and one that has a factual foundation. Posted speed limits reflect a balance of the various factors specific to the roadway. As a result, roadway safety can be improved and community concerns about traffic speed are appropriately and legally addressed. BASIS OF ACTION: The proposed speed limit for the road segment discussed in this report is regulated by section 22357(a) of the California Vehicle Code: "Whenever a local authority determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that a speed greater than 25 miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe upon any street other than a state highway otherwise subject to a prima facie limit of 25 miles per hour, the local authority may by ordinance determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 miles per hour or a maximum speed limit of 65 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate to Page 2 CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) November 3, 2014 ITEM NO. GD DATA: facilitate the orderly movement of traffic and is reasonable and safe. The declared prima facie or maximum speed limit shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the street and shall not thereafter be revised except upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey. This section does not apply to any 25 mile per hour prima facie limit which is applicable when passing a school building or the grounds thereof or when passing a senior center or other facility primarily used by senior citizens." The subject portion of Hummingbird Road is approximately 0.24 miles in length and is unclassified in the Circulation Element of the Carlsbad General Plan. The road follows a curvilinear alignment with vertical grades ranging from 2% to 12%, has a curb-to-curb width 40 feet, and is fully improved with curb, gutter, sidewalks and street lights. There is a single travel lane in each direction with no painted centerline. Parking is allowed on both sides of the street except adjacent to Tanager Drive. Traffic control on Hummingbird Road is provided by a STOP sign at Batiquitos Drive on the west end and a STOP sign at Sanderling Court on the east end. Hummingbird Road qualifies as a "Residence District" per the California Vehicle Code and is posted with "SPEED LIMIT 25" signs east of Rock Dove Street. Surrounding land uses along Hummingbird Road are single and multi-family residential with access limited to intersections only from Batiquitos Drive to Rock Dove Street. Traffic volumes are approximately 1,100 vehicles per day, which is in line with the City of Carlsbad Street Design Criteria for a local street (200 -2,000 vehicles per day). Staff reviewed the Police Department traffic collision reports for the two-year period from August 1, 2012 through July 31, 2014. In that period, there have been no reported collisions on the subject segment of Hummingbird Road. Staff conducted a speed survey on this segment of Hummingbird Road to determine the 85th percentile speed. As stated previously, the 85th percentile speed, commonly called the critical speed, is the speed at which 85 percent of the vehicles are traveling at or below. A sample of 100 vehicles was measured to calculate the 85th percentile speed. Page 3 COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) Survey Date CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT November 3, 2014 TABLE A SPEED SURVEY DATA Location Direction 7/24/14 320 ft. east of Tanager Drive EB/WB ITEM NO. GD Critical Pace Speed Speed %in (MPHI (MPH) Pace 30 21-31 87% The California MUTCD requires that the speed limit be established at the nearest 5 mile per hour increment of the 85th percentile with the allowance of exercising one of the following options: 1. The posted speed may be reduced by 5 mph from the nearest increment of the 85th percentile speed, in compliance with eve Sections 627 and 22358.5. See Standard below for documentation requirements. 2. For cases in which the nearest 5 mph increment of the 85th percentile speed would require rounding up, then the speed limit may be rounded down to the nearest 5 mph increment below the BSth percentile speed, if no further reduction is used. Refer to eve Section 21400(f). Exercising Option 2 allows the speed limit to be rounded down to the nearest 5 mph increment below the 85th percentile speed which, in this case, is 30 miles per hour. Based on these findings, staff recommends that a speed limit of 30 miles per hour be established on Hummingbird Road between Batiquitos Drive and Rock Dove Street. See attached Engineering and Traffic Survey. RECOMMENDATION: Based upon the results of the Engineering and Traffic Survey, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends establishing a 30 mile per hour prima facie speed limit on Hummingbird Road from Batiquitos Drive to Rock Dove Street. NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION: An ordinance will be required to be adopted by the City Council to establish the 30 mile per hour prima facie speed limit on this segment of Hummingbird Road as recommended. Page 4 NOT TO SCALE LOCATION t-.: Cl) 1--ll! ffi MAP Ii; EXIST. 25 MPH ~ ii! ~ ~ SPEED ZONE ~---____) UMMJNGBJRD RD. PROJECT NAME EXHIBIT ESTABLISH A SPEED LIMIT ON HUMMINGBIRD ROAD FROM BATIQUITOS DRIVE TO ROCK DOVE STREET PlOTTrO BY, SCOTT £VANS PLOT OA'/f:,1O/15/14 PA1H,O,\1RANSPORTATION 0£PAR1JIENT\1RAFFIC\MURRAY\SPEED ZONE -HUMMINGBIRO ROAO.OWG 1 C CITY OF CARLSBAD ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY STREET: Hummingbird Road LIMITS: Batiguitos Drive to Rock Dove Street FACTORS A. Prevailing Speed Data: Direction: Northbound/Southbound Date of Speed Suivey 7/24/14 Location of Speed Suivey 320 Feet east of Tanager Drive 85th Percentile 30MPH 10 MPH Pace 21 to 31 MPH Percent in Pace 87% B. Accident History: (8/01/12 through 7/31/14) Speed-Related Accidents None Pedestrian and/or Bicyclist Accidents None Total Accidents None c. Traffic Factors: Average Daily Traffic 1,100 -w/o Rock Dove Street (2012) Traffic Controls Stop Sign Control at Batiquitos Drive Pedestrian/Bicycle Traffic Light Bicycle Lanes No Designated Bicycle Lanes Have Been Striped on the Roadway On-Street Parkinn Parking Allowed on Both Sides Except Adjacent to Tanager Drive D. Roadway Factors: Street Classlflcation Unclassified Length of Segment 0.24 Mi. Roadway Width 40 Feet (Curb-to-Curb) Number of Lanes 1 Lane Each Direction Vertical Alignment Roadway Grades Vary from 2% to 12% Horizontal Alignment Curvilinear Sidewalks Sidewalk on Both Sides Driveways No Driveways Street Linhtinn Street Lights on Both Sides E. S-cial Conditions: East of Rock Dove, Humminabird Road aualifies as a "Residence Districf oer the California Vehicle Code. F-Adiacent Land 11mes: Sinnle and Multi-Familv Residential G. Remarks/Conditions Not Readily Apparent: Hummingbird Road functions as a residential collector and provides a connection between the Seanort communitv to the east and the Aviara communitv to the west. H. Traffic Engineer's Recommendation {Explanation): This speed zone satisfies the conditions of Section 627 of the California Vehicle Code and has been prepared and evaluated in accordance with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, effective January 13, 2012, with respect to design and prevailing speeds, accident records, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, intersection and driveway spacin~, and roadside and traffic conditions not readily apparent to the driver. A speed limit oostino of 30 MPH is found to be annroonate and iustified. I. Approvals: ~ ecertification of existing speed zone per Sections 22357, 22358 and W 802 of the California Vehicle Code. Establishment of new speed zone. \ .,..,,. .Pi q.;;i-lLJ Approved DougBils\~, Date City Traffic ineer CATR2279 NOTE: Appropriate speed suivey Is attached hereto and made a part hereof. C DATE: 7/24/14 TIME: 10:05 AM TO WEATHER: Sunny & Warm CITY OF CARLSBAD SPEED SURVEY 11 :50 AM TOTAL VEHICLES: CRITICAL SPEED: LOCATION: Hummingbird Road-320' e/o Tanager Drive VEHICLES IN PACE: OBSERVER/RECORDER: .:::J·c..:G::.:a::.:le'-------PACE SPEED(S): EASTBOUND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL MPH # '¾ l:# % %tile % # 0 55 64 63 62 61 60 59 56 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 46 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 39 X 37 36 35 y 34 33 32 X 31 30 29 X X 28 X X 27 X X 26 25 X X 24 X X 23 22 21 1 2 1 1 100 99 99 2 4 3 3 99 2 1 1 2 2 2 96 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 4 a 3 92 2 1 1 2 2 2 89 2 1 4 8 9 9 87 10 5 6 1 10 10 78 8 4 6 12 13 13 68 14 7 6 12 9 9 55 6 3 4 8 9 9 46 10 5 6 1 1:< 13 37 14 7 6 12 12 12 24 12 6 3 n 5 5 12 4 2 1 2 4 4 7 6 3 3 3 3 6 3 Transportation Department Traffic Division 100 -------=3.:::0 ____ MPH 87 % -----=-----21 TO 31 MPH ----=-'-------- WESTBOUND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL MPH 65 64 63 62 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 46 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 X X 30 X 29 y y X X 28 27 X X 26 y y X X 25 y X X 24 23 X 22 X 21