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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-12-06; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES 7 MEmNG OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEmNG: December 6,1993 TIME OF MEMNG: 3:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEmNG: Ci Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Green called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROU CALL: Present: Commissioners Green, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak, Absent: Commissioner Anear arrived at 3:Ol p.m. Staff Members Present: Bob Johnson, Traffic Engineer Sgt. Don Metcalf, Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Blake, the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held November 1, 1993, were approved as presented. AYES: Green, Blake and Stachoviak ABSTAIN: Courtney ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: There were no requests to address the Commission on a non-agenda item. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Bob Johnson stated he had no items to report on previous business. A. Carlsbad Boulevard/Cerezo Drive Intersection - Request to install a 'LEFT TURN YIELDS' sign on the traffic signal mast arm Bob Johnson gave the staff report, stating Bailey Noble had requested this regulatory sign at the November Traffic Safety Commission meeting. Mr. Noble said that some drivers are confused by the green indication (green ball) at the traffic signal when they attempt to turn left from southbound Carlsbad Boulevard. The drivers think they are protected and turn left in front of approaching northbound vehicles. December 6, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 Carlsbad Boulevard/Cerezo Drive Intersection (Continued) Mr. Johnson stated that there is no protected left turn for the southbound vehicles, since there is a low turning volume. There is a green ball over the left turn lane for southbound vehicles, and a green ball does indicate that the driver must yield. The request for a regulatory sign "LEFT TURN YIELDS was reviewed by the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee and they recommended a sign be installed next to the signal head over the left turn lane. Commissioner Anear stated he felt staff should have the ability to make this kind of a decision without the matter coming before the Commission. Mr. Johnson explained that if a written request is received by staff, they do take care of such requests. If a citizen does not agree with the staff action, the matter can be appealed to this Commission. However, this request was made at a Commission meeting, and the Commission directed staff to place the item on the agenda. Bailey Noble, 5470 Los Robles Drive, addressed the Commission, reiterating his request for the sign, stating that people who are not familiar with that area have the mistaken idea that they are turning on a protected signal. He said this is a preventive measure to hopefully keep someone from being hurt at that intersection. Mr. Noble mentioned the curve on Carlsbad Boulevard under the Palomar Airport Road overpass, and the help moving the 50 miles per hour speed limit sign further south on the road and installing regulatory signs has been in preventing accidents in that area. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Blake, the Traffic Safety Commission adopted the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to install a LEFT TURN YIELDS sign next to the NO U TURN symbol sign that is located adjacent to the signal head over the left turn lane for southbound traffic on Carlsbad Boulevard at Cerezo Drive. AYES: Green, Anear, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak 6. Tamarack Avenue, Carlsbad Boulevard to Interstate Hiahwav 5 - Request to establish a prima facie speed limit Bob Johnson gave the staff report, using a transparency to show Tamarack Avenue between Carlsbad Boulevard and Interstate 5. He explained that the construction has been completed except for utility pole removal. The poles are scheduled to be removed by December 15, 1993. Mr. Johnson explained the present configuration of the street and referred to the results of the traffic and engineering survey conducted by staff contained in the packet. He said this survey is used by the City of Carlsbad to establish a prima facie speed limit. One of the key factors in establishing a prima facie speed limit is the 85th percentile. This is the speed at which 85 percent of the vehicles are traveling at or below. The at or below is very important. Two speed surveys were conducted on this street, and the critical speed, or 85th percentile, speed was 34 miles per hour. That is the speed determined to be established by reasonable and prudent drivers, who are obeying the basic speed law. Mr. Johnson said it is recognized that there are 5 to 15 percent of the drivers who will exceed any speed limit, and those are the ones that the Police Department are there to enforce the speed limit and issue tickets. December 6, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 Tamarack Avenue, Carlsbad Boulevard to Interstate HiQhwav 5 (Continued) Mr. Johnson stated that this is a residential area of Tamarack Avenue, but due to the width of the road being more than 40 feet, it does not qualify as a residence district per the California Vehicle Code for a 25 mile per hour prima facie speed limit. On this survey, 87 percent were driving 26 to 36 miles per hour at one location, and 92 percent driving between those speeds at another location. Mr. Johnson stated that based on the Engineering and Traffic Survey and as required by law, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended a 30 mile per hour prima facie speed be established on Tamarack from Carlsbad Boulevard to 1-5. In response to query from the Commission as to whether there would be a problem in court, Mr. Johnson explained that the key factor is the critical speed. Staff cannot post above the critical speed. They could not post this area at 35 miles per hour, with a critical speed of 34. The pace is used for reasonableness of a recommendation, but it does not carry the weight that the critical speed does. The judges have the surveys in the courtroom and will evaluate them when anyone appeals a ticket. The posting of a speed limit must be within 5 miles per hour below the critical speed, and that is what is being requested. Anything more than 5 miles per hour lower than the critical speed does require special circumstances that are not readily apparent to the driver, and none exist on that street. Commissioner Anear said that at 5:OO p.m., on weekdays, the speed would be higher in that area, and he asked when the survey was taken. Mr. Johnson said the survey is done in off-peak conditions, because during peak hours, the critical speeds may be lower due to congestion. The survey is done on a week day, off-peak conditions, to get normal speeds, because there will be speeding at certain times on every street in the City. Mr. Johnson reiterated that it would be appropriate to establish a 30 mile per hour speed limit, and it would hold up in court. Commissioner Stachoviak said this portion of Tamarack is heavily used by pedestrians and bicycles as a route to the beach, as well as students attending Jefferson School. He asked whether a 25 mile per hour sign should be posted close to Jefferson Street indicating a slower speed when children are present. Mr. Johnson replied that a school has to be on the road itself for that regulatory sign to be proper. The State Traffic Manual has to be followed. Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee could not make the findings for a 25 mile per hour prima facie speed limit for this section of Tamarack. Chairman Green opened the meeting for public testimony. December 6, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 Tamarack Avenue - Carlsbad Boulevard to Interstate HiQhwav 5 (Continued) Eron Sahagun, 625 Tamarack Avenue, stated he has lived on Tamarack for over 50 years, and there is a very dangerous place on that street. In the afternoon all the children from Jefferson School use the bike lane, and where the street squeezes from two lanes to one, and a curb is involved, you can watch the cars driving over the bike lane because they can’t maneuver the curve at the speed they are driving. Mr. Sahagun felt the speed limit should be lower in the area where the children could be injured. He said the construction signs of 25 mile per hour speed limit have been taken down and there is no speed limit there, allowing people to drive very fast. Commissioner Anear commented that the dangerous area is where the two lanes merge together, and that is where signs are needed to warn the people of the merging. Mr. Johnson stated there are signs there to notify the drivers of the roadway condition. Mr. Sahagun stated he has difficulty getting in and out of his driveway, and particularly when he slows down to turn into the driveway, the drivers are angry because he has slowed down. Commissioner Courtney stated that many years ago the homeowners along Tamarack Avenue fought against the widening of Tamarack in that area. The design of the road was fought over many years, and finally designed the best that it could be with the restrictions in the area. This Commission does not make the designs of the streets. Mr. Sahagun suggested posting 25 miles per hour in the area from 1-5 past where it narrows down, which would be Hibiscus. In response to Commission query about a speed zone from Jefferson to Hibiscus, Mr. Johnson stated that a very short speed zone is not an appropriate way to establish speed zones. There is a minimum of at least one half mile in length. He stated that staff and the Police Department work with the schools to educate the children so they understand the traffic situations. Commissioner Anear asked to extend the 25 mile per hour limit that exists from Highland to 1-5 one more block to west of 1-5. Mr. Johnson said the entire Tamarack Avenue will have to be evaluated. Sgt. Metcalf stated that the State of California Appellate Court just ruled that Police cannot enforce speeds that do not fall in the proper parameters. The San Marcos Court threw out Carlsbad’s speed surveys and staff had to redo them. He said he understood the concerns, but if a speed limit is established below what the court says is valid--that constitutes a speed trap and is not enforceable and the Officers will be reprimanded by the court. Sgt. Metcalf stated that there is a low volume of children that use that street, and from a Police Officer’s standpoint, the Police must enforce the speed limit and that will bring speeds down. If you have a speed limit that you can’t enforce, and the public realizes that, they will drive at any speed they choose. In reply to Commission comment that a judge would surely listen to a plea that children are in danger, Sgt. Metcalf said that he and other Carlsbad Policemen have been told by the judge to get out of the courtroom because of an invalid Engineering and Traffic Survey. This is a State Appellate Court decision, and the San Marcos Court judges must abide by that. December 6, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 5 Tamarack Avenue - Carlsbad Boulevard to Interstate Hiqhwav 5 (Continued) Sgt. Metcalf reiterated that if this street would be posted at a 25 mile per hour limit, it would not be enforceable. Chairman Green said that in order to protect the children, could the City design a sign that could be placed near the school to say something like 'Live children playing in the area" that might deter drivers from speeding in that area. Mr. Johnson stated that regulatory signs are approved by the State, and such a sign as proposed does not exist in the CalTrans Traffic Manual. If non-standard signs are installed, drivers will not comply and the City is limited to the Traffic Manual for signs that can be installed. He said the type of sign suggested has no bearing on speed enforcement, and if there is a problem, standard regulatory signs, striping and other devices are available to be used to take care of the problem. Creative signs are not used to take care of traffic problems, if one exists. Chairman Green reiterated he would want to do whatever possible to have the drivers slow down. Mr. Johnson explained that with speed zoning and Police enforcement, the proper speed will be attained. There is danger on any street where there is a mixture of circumstances, and this is why proper speed zoning must be established. Chairman Green requested Mr. Johnson to research the feasibillty of a different sign such as he suggested. Mr. Johnson replied that it may take longer than a month. Mr. Johnson stated that if the Commission recommended to the City Council that a particular sign and particular wording be installed, and if the City Council wanted it to be installed, it could be done. He added that there are other implications--how effective will it be and what does it really mean? Drivers recognize standard regulatory signs, but if you install an unusual sign with different wording, drivers will be distracted in order to read that sign, and you could create more problems with rear-ending accidents. Commissioner Courtney stated that if the Commissioners feel that 25 miles per hour is the speed they want in that area, they can bring the speeds down by setting the legal speed limit and later doing another survey to get the 85th percentile lower. It must be done legally by the criteria set by the State. Chairman Green stated he wants the unique aspects of the design and use of this street discussed further. Lowell Ponte, 522 Tamarack Avenue, (now 3880 Hibiscus Circle), concurred with Mr. Sahagun's comments, and stated that when the survey was taken, there were no signs up whatever, and drivers were going any speed. He said the street fails to meet the safety criteria of a secondary arterial. Mr. Ponte said that the rights and prerogatives have been taken away by the State. Mr. Ponte spoke about Tamarack on the other side of 1-5, but was reminded that the Commission is only discussing the area west of 1-5. He expressed the belief that the speed limit should be 25 miles per hour near Jefferson Street from Hibiscus, or the railroad tracks to Jefferson, and instruct the Police Department to not ticket them unless they are going 30 or 35 miles per hour. December 6, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFm COMMISSION Page 6 Tamarack Avenue - Carlsbad Boulevard to Interstate Hiahway 5 (Continued) Mr. Ponte said that when the street was being designed, they were reassured by the City Engineering Department that the street would not be posted above 25 miles per hour. He presented a letter dated April 5, 1990, from the City, stating that. Commissioner Anear requested an extension of time at the lectern to Mr. Ponte. Chairman Green granted Mr. Ponte more time. Mr. Ponte continued, stating that this street does have many driveways that exit in a relatively blind fashion, and also driveways from apartment buildings with numerous vehicles to exit. There is only a fve-foot bike lane to exit across, which creates a dangerous situation and should qualify this area for a residential speed limit of 25 miles per hour. A secondary arterial is not supposed to have driveways exiting onto it. Also, this time of the year, driving westbound on Tamarack puts a driver directly into the blinding sun. Mr. Ponte said the survey was done during the summer when the teenagers and other young people going to the beach drive faster. He said the survey should be re-done in the winter months without the surfing traffic. He also suggested a school crossing sign. Chairman Green said that the situation on this portion of Tamarack should be monitored, but that a speed limit must be adopted for that street. This may be adjusted in the future, if problems are brought to the attention of staff. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Courtney, the Traffic Safety Commission adopted the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to establish a prima facie speed limit upon Tamarack Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Interstate Highway 5 at 30 miles per hour. AYES: Green, Courtney and Blake NOES: Anear and Stachoviak Commissioner Anear stated he opposed the motion as he feels the speed is too high. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Anear complimented Mr. Johnson and Ctty staff for the improvement’of the sidewalk on Hillside. He requested staff to investigate the possibiltty of painting the end of the asphalt curb white so it can be seen, particularly at night. Chairman Green requested a permanent stop sign at eastbound Grand at liarding, due to the streascape on Carlsbad Village Drive. Bob Johnson replied that as of last Friday, there is now two-way traffic on Carlsbad Village Drive. A stop sign at that particular spot was rejected by staff, and now that there is two-way traffic on Carlsbad Village Drive and new traffic signals installed on Carlsbad Village Drive, staff feels there should be no problem. There will be no detours from now on for the next phase of the streetscape. Chairman Green requested an agenda item in the future on the situation at El Camino Real and Tamarack Avenue, where there are three lanes; one left; one straight ahead, and one right turn. On the east side of El Camino on Tamarack there are two straight ahead lanes available. December 6, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 7 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC WRY COMMISSIONERS: Mr. Johnson said that he understood the request to be to determine whether to change the right hand turn lane to either through or right turn. Commissioner Courtney requested the signal for eastbound Tamarack approaching El Camino be checked for the left turn, as he does not get the green arrow on the first phase. Mr. Johnson said he will have the signal checked. The Commissioners wished everyone Happy Holidays. Chairman Green wished everyone Happy Holidays and complimented Mr. Johnson and the Minutes Clerk for their good work. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER: Bob Johnson distributed the report on 1992 traffic volumes throughout the County compiled by SANDAG. Mr. Johnson announced the dedication for the Palomar Airport road overpass will be Wednesday, December 8, 1993, at noon. Mr. Johnson thanked the Commission and the Minutes Clerk and wished everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of December 6, 1993, was adjourned at 4:38 p.m. Harriett Babbitt Minutes Clerk