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Home My WebLink About2016-06-06; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Investigate the need to establish an ALL-WAY STOP at the intersection of Buena Vista Way and Arland Road.CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF: June 6, 2016 ITEM NO. GE LOCATION: Intersection of Buena Vista Way and Arland Road INITIATED BY: Michelle Lin REQUESTED ACTION: Investigate the need to establish an ALL-WAY STOP at the intersection of Buena Vista Way and Arland Road. BACKGROUND: DATA: The subject intersection is located in the northwest quadrant of the city close to City Hall (see Exhibit 1). The vertical curvature on Buena Vista Way east of Arland Road severely restricts sight distance for several movements at this intersection. The request was submitted by a resident of Carlsbad who expressed concerns about turning left from Buena Vista Way onto Arland Road due to limited sight distance to the east. Buena Vista Way and Arland Road are classified as local/neighborhood streets in the Mobility Element of the General Plan. Buena Vista Way features curb, gutter, and sidewalk on the north side between Highland Drive and James Drive. On the south side, there is an asphalt berm and dirt shoulder. It has a pavement width of approximately 30 feet with a single travel lane in each direction. There is a painted double yellow centerline, and the speed limit is 25 miles per hour. Arland Road features curb, gutter, and sidewalk on the west side and is unimproved on the east side. It has a pavement width of 29 feet and is not striped. The posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour. There is a street light on the northeast corner of the intersection with Buena Vista Way, and there are no parking restrictions near the intersection. Single family residences are located near the subject intersection. In response to this request, staff conducted an analysis to evaluate whether ALL-WAY STOP control is appropriate at the subject intersection. The analysis is based on Section 2B.07 of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD}, which specifies the consideration of minimum traffic volumes, collision history, vehicle/pedestrian conflicts, sight distance restrictions, and other criteria to determine whether or not an ALL-WAY STOP is justified at a particular intersection. Staff also considers the intersection design against criteria contained in the Caltrans Highway Design Manual in the determination of installing an ALL-WAY STOP. Page 1 COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT June 6, 2016 ITEM NO. GE Staff conducted field measurements of the existing sight distance conditions at the subject intersection, which is restricted by vertical curvature. At unsignalized public road intersections, the Caltrans Highway Design Manual states that adequate corner sight distance and stopping sight distance should be provided. For a 25 mile-per-hour roadway, adequate corner sight distance is determined to be 275 feet and stopping sight distance is 150 feet. Corner sight distance allows the driver on the side street to complete their movement while the approaching vehicle travels at the speed limit of the main street. There is significant vertical curvature on Buena Vista Way east of its intersection with Arland Road, which significantly restricts sight distance of westbound vehicles for vehicles waiting to turn right or left on Arland Road. The results of the sight distance evaluation conducted by staff are shown in Table 2 and consider the minimum stopping sight distance and corner sight distance requirements for 25 miles per hour. Table 2: Sight Distance {SD) Evaluation at Buena Vista Way and Arland Road Location Measured Sight MinimumSSD Meets SSD Minimum Corner Meets Corner SD Distance for 2S MPH for 2S MPH? SD for 25 MPH for 25 MPH? Looking to the West More than 300' 150' YES 275' YES Looking to the East 174' 150' YES 275' NO Page 2 COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT June 6, 2016 ITEM NO. 6E Figures 1 and 2 are photographs that show the sight distance conditions from Arland Road looking to the west and east, respectively. Figure 1: Sight distance from Arland Road looking to the west meets SD standard Figure 2: Sight distance from Arland Road looking to the east does not provide adequate corner sight distance Page 3 COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT June 6, 2016 - ITEM NO. 6E The sight distance conditions measured by staff support the consideration of an ALL- WAY STOP at the subject intersection. Traffic volume data was not collected at this time as it is not a factor in the requirement to provide sight distance. In the past eight years, there have been no reported collisions at the intersection of Buena Vista Way and Arland Drive. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: At the Traffic Safety Commission meeting of March 7, 2016, commissioners requested that staff look into alternatives to an ALL-WAY STOP at the intersection of Buena Vista Way and Arland Road, including a roundabout and 2-WAY STOP control. Two intersections in the vicinity were discussed, including the intersection of Highland Drive, Elmwood Street, and Buena Vista Way and the intersection of Buena Vista Way and Valley Street. Page 4 COMMISSION MEETING OF: CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT June 6, 2016 • Highland Drive, Elmwood Street, and Buena Vista Way: O Existing stop sign ITEM NO. 6E The intersection of Buena Vista Way and Highland Drive was pointed out by commissioners as an example of an intersection that had one uncontrolled approach and STOP control on all other approaches. However, due to the proximity of the intersection of Elmwood Street and Highland Drive, this location functions as a five- legged intersection and has been signed to operate as an ALL-WAY STOP for five approaches. The ALL-WAY STOP for the five approaches was established by City Council in September 2013. ALL-WAY plaques were installed on all five STOP signs in October 2013. There have been two collisions at this intersection in eight years, and both involved drivers under the influence hitting fixed objects. There are no operational concerns at the intersection. Page S COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT June 6, 2016 • Buena Vista Way and Valley Street: ITEM NO. 6E The intersection of Buena Vista Way and Valley Street was brought up as an example of an intersection with unconventional STOP control. STOP control is located on the terminating street and is consistent with the California Vehicle Code, which states that " ... the driver of any vehicle on a terminating highway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle on the intersecting continuing highway" (Section 21800[b][l]). Buena Vista continues east and west of Valley Street and is considered the continuing highway. There has been one collision reported in eight years. There are no operational concerns at the intersection. Page 6 COMMISSION MEETING OF: (continued) CITY OF CARLSBAD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT June 6, 2016 • 1-WAY STOP Control at a 3-Leg Intersection Alternative ITEM NO. 6E 2-WAY STOP control at a 3-leg intersection is unconventional for public roadways. It may result in drivers having incorrect expectations regarding who is required to stop and fail to yield the right-of-way. • Roundabout Alternative: A roundabout is an alternative to an ALL-WAY STOP, but is not recommended for the intersection of Buena Vista Way and Arland Road due to the vertical curvature that limits sight distance for all approaches. The restricted sight distance for eastbound and westbound traffic on Buena Vista Way and southbound traffic on Arland Road may cause operational issues for the roundabout. The Federal Highway Administration published Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, Second Edition, which serves as the authority on design guidance for roundabouts in the United States. It discusses locating roundabouts on crest vertical curves with steep approaches, and it states that "a driver's sight lines will be compromised, and the roundabout may violate driver expectancy" (Pg 6-86). RECOMMENDATION: Based on the findings contained in this report, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends the installation of an ALL-WAY STOP at the intersection of Buena Vista Way and Arland Road. NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION: The City Council must adopt an ordinance to establish the ALL-WAY STOP control as recommended. Page 7