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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMP 139A; Rancho Carrillo Master Plan; Master Plan (MP) (13)MEMORANDUM TO: JOYCE CROSTHWAITE, PLANNING DEPARTMENT FROM: RICHARD ALLEN, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DATE: February 23, 1981 SUBJECT: RANCHO CARRILLO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (TRAFFIC IMPACTS) INTRODUCTION The Engineering Department and the Traffic Engineer have reviewed the EIR. A report from the Traffic Engineer is attached and further comments are offered below. SUMMARY The EIR, by the inclusion of the Traffic Engineer's comments, adequately addresses the issue of phasing. The EIR points out several times that the intersection of Palomar Airport Road and Mel rose Avenue will have a significant operational problem. The affects this will have on the project, mitigation measures and alternatives are not sufficiently presented in the EIR. DISCUSSION The report states on page 39 that the capacity of Palomar Airport Road will be exceeded and indicates the need to develop parallel routes. On page 47, listed as a mitigation measure, is the comment that the City should review the feasibility of providing an alternative route. A discussion of a par- allel alternative route is appropriately a part of this EIR and should be discussed. What affect would a realignment of Los Monos Drive narallel to Palomar Airport Road connecting to El Camino Real have? In analyzing traffic volumes was the extension of Carrillo Way west (ultimately providing another access to 1-5) considered? If not, what affect would it have? If so, would a realignment or upgrading to a major arterial be desirable and would it relieve traffic on Palomar Airport Road? The intersection of Palomar Airport Road and Mel rose Avenue will have un- acceptable levels of congestion. The design of this intersection does not meet all of the City's standards, the intersection spacing on Mel rose Avenue is substandard and other criteria on these streets meets only the mininums. The EIR should discuss at least two alternatives: 1. Impact on traffic capacity if all City standards are met or exceeded: a. Intersection angle made 90°. b. Horizontal curve through the intersection on Melrose be replaced by a tangent. c. Minimum horizontal radius be increased from 1150 feet to 2000+ feet. d. Minimum intersection spacing on Melrose Avenue of 2600 feet. e. No driveway accesses are permitted on Palomar Airport Road and Mel rose Avenue. f. The grade on Mel rose Avenue approaching Palomar Airport Road is reduced to less than 7%. 2. Straightening out of Palomar Airport Road and relocation of Melrose Avenue to intersect it approximately 700 feet west or 2600 feet west. RECOMMENDATION Using the information in the discussion above and the Traffic Engineer's memorandum attached as a guide, alternatives should be developed which will better handle the traffic impacts. RHArls Attachment cc: Pat Tessier, Planning Department -2- MEMORANDUM TO: CITY ENGINEER FROM: TRAFFIC ENGINEER DATE: February 18, 1981 SUBJECT: RANCHO CARRILLO MASTER PLAN & EIR The subject EIR, dated January 21, 1981, was reviewed pertaining to traffic circulation and traffic impacts. The previous memorandums from the Traffic Engineer, dated August 1, 1980, August 11, 1980, and October 1, 1980, were also reviewed. The issues addressed in the previous Traffic Engineer's reports appear to have been incorporated into the EIR as comments by the Traffic Engineer. These comments do not appear to have been included in the Developer's desfgn or master plan. Items which need further discussion include the following: 1. Phasing of Improvements as pertains to Development. 2. Alignment of Palomar Airport Road and Mel rose Avenue with Associated Intersection Spacing. 1. Phasing of Improvements as pertains to Development. The improvement phasing plan recommended by the Traffic Engineer is based upon two criteria. The first is that it will more adequately serve the residents of the area with regard to impacts from increased traffic on the streets, the ability to route construction traffic away from developed areas» and keep the capacity of the road system at a level-of-service more con- sistent with traffic safety until the area is developed to its optimum density. The suggested phasing also eliminates Alga Road, Melrose Avenue, and Fuerte Street being exceedingly long cul-de-sac streets. The second criterion is that since phasing of the overall development is not known, this will allow each separate development phase to be in- dependent of the other phases. 2. Alignment of Palomar Airport Road and Mel rose Avenue with Associated Intersection Spacing. The traffic volumes on Palomar Airport Road are in excess of 40,000 vehicles per day which is approaching an unacceptable level-of-service. When the traffic east and west of the Rancho Carrillo Project is com- bined with this traffic, additional ways must be found to mitigate the traffic impacts and associated deteriorated level-of-service. Roadway aeometrics then become a very important consideration. -2- Although the alignment of Palomar Airport Road may meet minimum design criteria, straightening out the roadway and realigning Mel rose Avenue into Palomar Airport Road at a 90 degree angle will significantly aid the 1eve!-of-service for the street. A design study should be conducted by the City to determine if a more westerly alignment for Melrose Avenue is feasible. A more westerly Melrose alignment in addition to a more southerly alignment for Carrillo Way will provide for intersection spacing that will meet the Engineering policies. The above alignments incorporated with a realignment Palomar Airport Road will most likely increase the level-of-service on the roadways, provide intersection spacing, and increase traffic safety. WS:ls 2/18/81 cc: Richard Allen