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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-07-06; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: July 6, 1992 TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: City Councll Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Stachoviak called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Stachoviak, Blake, Fuller, Piel and Rifkin. Absent: None. Staff Members Present: Bob Johnson, Traffic Engineer Sgt. Don Metcalf, Police Department Mike Shirey, Assistant Engineer Chairman Stachoviak welcomed Charles Piel, Sr., the new Traffic Safety Commission Member. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On motion by Commissioner Fuller, the Minutes of the Meeting held June 1, 1992, were approved as presented. AYES: Stachoviak, Blake, Fuller and Rifkin ABSTAIN: Piel ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Meredith Glover, 1780 Swallowtail Road, Encinitas, requested the La Costa Avenue/l-5 interchange be re-visited with regard to safety issues, as well as a portion of the highway along the Batiquitos Lagoon. She stated there are no signs with a posted speed limits and no signs warning of a blind intersection at Saxony. Ms. Glover said that there is a lower speed limit east of El Camino Real as La Costa Avenue goes up the hill. Bob Johnson replied that La Costa Avenue between 1-5 and El Camino has a speed limit of 50 miles per hour, and signs are posted. He said that some drivers do exceed that speed limit in that area. The area east of El Camino Real has a different critical speed and different speed limit. As far as the intersection of Saxony and La Costa, Mr. Johnson stated the intersection is not an unexpected intersection that cannot be seen, and there are very few accidents there. In reply to Commission query, Mr. Johnson stated that the intersection at La Costa will be widened to four lanes at the time the overpass is replaced, which is scheduled for 1994. Mr. Johnson stated he would investigate Ms. Glover’s concerns and write her a letter. July 6, 1992 TRAFFIC SAFRY COMMISSION Page 2 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: (Continued) Renata B. Mulry, 701 0 Nutmeg, representing Vista Pacifica Homeowners Association, addressed the Commission asking for information about what can be done about commercial vehicles being parked in their tract when their association rules do not allow that. She said the streets are public streets and the homeowners want to know whether the City can do anything about the parking. Ms. Mulry stated that another problem is that children set up play equipment in the middle of the public streets, making them their playgrounds. She said that hockey nets and cones appear in the streets, and she asked whether anything can be done about this. Ms. Mulry said the streets have no stripes, and some people drive on the wrong side of the street. Also, there is no posted speed limit. Chairman Stachoviak stated that staff would work with Ms. Mulry to explain what action should be taken. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: There were no items. NEW BUSINESS: A. Poinsettia Lane/Avenida Encinas Intersection Bob Johnson reported that this item is a follow-up to the April meeting, where, by a three to two vote, the Commission recommended and signs were installed from northbound on Avenida Encinas eastbound on Poinsettia to implement a "NO RIGHT TURN ON RED" for a two-month trial period. Mr. Johnson stated that signs were put up on April 27, 1992, and after more than two months during which time staff was in the area doing compliance studies and delay studies, the item is back before the Commission for action. Mike Shirey continued the report, showing a graph with the statistics of the studies conducted. The chart showed the delays before and after the signs were installed and the compliance percentage. Mr. Shirey stated that the signs helped on some days, and not on others, and there is no explanation for that, except that traffic patterns vary from day to day. The result of the studies was that the 'NO RIGHT TURN ON RED' signs were not affecting delay one way or the other. Bob Johnson added that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee, based on the results of the studies, did recommend that the signs be removed. The recommendation that a delay reduction of at lest 40 percent must be achieved at the off-ramps, and that did not happen. Chairman Stachoviak opened the meeting for public testimony at 3:28 p.m. Cliff Odendhal, 2702 Via Cardel, stated he had driven taxis in San Diego and is a driver's education instructor. He stated he is a good driver and follows the rules, and the first thing he teaches drivers is to observe the traffic patterns. He objected to traffic tickets being given out for not observing these signs, as that involves taking time from your employment, a financial hardship and possibly an increase in insurance rates. He felt this was unjust and unfair. July 6, 1992 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 Meredith Glover, 1780 Swallowtail Road, Encinitas, spoke in opposition to the 'NO RIGHT TURN ON RED' signs at this intersection, stating that she only knows of such signs at extremely busy and dangerous intersections, where there is a safety problem. She said there is no delay in getting off at the Poinsettia off-ramp. The signs installed are small, and there is no warning of such a restriction ahead, and she is in favor of removing the signs. David Hall, 607 Navigator Court, stated there are no other such signs in this community, and there was no advance notice. Also, if you stop there and do not turn, the drivers behind you get very impatient, as they do not see the signs stating there is no right turn on red. Cheryl Beasley, 1622 Pennsylvania, San Diego, spoke in opposition to the signs, stating this is a bad signal, with bad planning, and there was no warning that there was something different at this signal. She said the drivers were penalized for bad planning, as the overpass did not plan for the shopping center there. Warnings were given for two weeks, and tickets for one week, and that should have been posted. She stated that study dates on the chart were on Wednesdays, and that is a dead day for grocery shopping. She suggested that when a study is conducted near a grocery store, that it be done on Thursday, which is the shopping day. James Perkins, 1780 Swallowtail Road, Encinitas, received a ticket for not observing the posted signs for no right turns on the red signal, and he expressed disapproval for the signs. Peter Andre, 7303 Linden Terrace, stated this is a dangerous intersection and he felt the signs have not had a long enough time to give them a fair trial. Ray Hebert, 71 11 Linden Terrace, representing Sea Cliff Public Affairs Committee, stated that Committee supported the signs, and feel that the project has been somewhat successful and should be continued. He recommended another two-month trial period. Mr. Hebert stated that if the people had been complying with the signs, they would not have received tickets. Don Conners, 921 Begonia Court, Spinnaker Hills, stated the community newspaper had published notice of the signs being installed and this also appeared in the local newspapers. There are two signs ahead of the intersection and one at the intersection, and if the drivers didn't look at the signs, it would escape them. He agreed with staff in withdrawing the signs due to the ineffectiveness; however, he requested that staff continue to monitor this intersection. The traffic will be increasing at that intersection, especially when construction on the Palomar Airport Road overpass begins. Armand Gesner stated he was in favor of removing the signs immediately and issuing no more tickets. Since no one else wished to speak on this matter, the public testimony was closed at 3:49 p.m. Commissioner Fuller stated that the signs did not work, but the problem remains. There are delays on the ramps and that will only get worse until the overpass is widened. Commissioner Rifkin concurred with Commissioner Fuller and said nothing will help until the bridge is widened. Commissioner Blake stated that CalTrans controls the intersections and ramps at overpasses. July 6, 1992 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 Bob Johnson stated that CalTrans has given the burden to Carlsbad to solve the problem of the overpass, and it is under design at this time. Construction is to start in 1993 on the widening of the intersection, ramp meters and signalization. Commissioner Blake stated this matter was brought to the Traffic Safety Commission because the people living in that area said there was no break in the traffic, and this sign was an attempt to make a break in the traffic. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Rifkin, the Traffic Safety Commission approved the Traffic Safety Committee recommendation that the 'NO RIGHT TURN ON RED" restriction at the Poinsettia Lane/Avenida Encinas intersection be discontinued and the signs prohibiting the turn be removed and salvaged. AYES: Stachoviak, Blake, Fuller, Piel and Rifkin B. South Carlsbad - Request to establish prima facie speed limits on several streets Bob Johnson stated that this request was initiated by Morris Rabin. Mr. Rabin requested staff to conduct an engineering and traffic survey on several streets to establish a prima facie 25 mile per hour speed limit. Following the studies, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended a speed limit of 25 miles per hour on several streets. In reply to Commission query, Mr. Johnson stated that although this allows golf carts to be driven on these streets, those carts cannot cross La Costa Avenue. Mr. Rabin had filed a request to speak, but had to leave the meeting before this item was discussed. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Blake, the Traffic Safety Commission approved the Traffic Safety Committee recommendation to establish a 25 mile per hour prima facie speed limit on the following streets: Romeria Street - La Costa Avenue to Gibraltar Street Gibraltar Street - La Costa Avenue to Romeria Street Gibraltar Street - Romeria Street to end of street Vieja Castilla Way - La Costa Avenue to Navarra Drive Estrella De Mar - Alga Road to Playa Road Estrella De Mar - Playa Road to Costa Del Mar Corintia Street - Alga Road to Socorro Road AYES: Stachoviak, Blake, Fuller, Piel and Rifkin C. Elect new Traffic Safetv Commission Chairman and Vice-chairman. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Fuller, the Traffic Safety Commission elected Commissioner Blake as Chairman for the coming year and Commissioner Rifkin as Vice-chairman. AYES: Stachoviak, Blake, Fuller, Piel and Rifkin July 6,1992 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 5 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Fuller inquired whether there was a signal planned for Romeria Street, and Mr. Johnson stated that is not on the qualified list, as it doesn't meet warrants. There is a signal on the list for Corintia Street. Commissioner Rifkin stated that Commissioner Blake and he are on the Village Master Plan Advisory Committee and there has been concern expressed about traffic congestion in the downtown Village Area if the North County District Station is installed at Grand and State. Concern has also been expressed that the signals might hinder traffic rather than help. There had been questions about the signals at Roosevelt and Grand and Jefferson and Grand; that traffic had moved well before they were installed. Bob Johnson stated that the commuter rail item will be on the agenda before Council tomorrow night. Staff felt the E.I.R. did not address the traffic congestion for the downtown station. Mr. Johnson stated that two things are considered in installing a traffic signal--traffic safety and pedestrian safety. The two signals on Grand improved pedestrian safety greatly, and that was the main concern there. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER: Bob Johnson stated the Palomar Airport Road/ld interchange construction is on schedule, with the bids opened last week for 5.6 million dollars. The funding is available and this interchange will be the first one with ramp signals in Carlsbad. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of July 6, 1992, was adjourned at 4:20 p.m. 'karriett Babbitt Minutes Clerk