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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-05; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF : DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION May 5,1997 (Regular Meeting) 3:OO p.m. City Council Conference Room CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Blake called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Blake, Gillfillan, Courtney, and Green Absent: Allen Staff Members Present: Bob Johnson, Traffic Engineer Sgt. Jim Byler Senior .Officer Bruce May APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On motion by Commissioner Courtney, the Commission approved the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 3, 1997 as amended, with Commissioner Gillfillan abstaining. On motion by Commission Green, the Commission approved the minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 7, 1997, as amended, with Commissioner Courtney abstaining. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Traffic Engineer, Bob Johnson, reported that the speed zone issue regarding Batiquitos Drive (and previously discussed by this Commission), was heard by the City Council and they approved a 35 mph zone from Aviara Parkway to Golden Star, and a 40 mph zone fi-om Golden Star to Kestrel. Regarding Calle Acervo, Mr. Johnson reported that the item went before the City Council where they adopted the ordinance establishing a 30 mph prima facie speed limit as recommended by the Traffic Safety Commission. Mr. Johnson also reported that the ordinance establishing a 30 mph prima facie speed limit, on Kestrel Drive, was adopted by the City Council as recommended by the Traffic Safety Commission. NEW BUSINESS: 6A. Tamarack Avenue and El Camino Real Intersection - Request to eliminate eastbound "Right Turn Only" lane and convert to a THROUGWGHT shared lane. Traffic Engineer Bob Johnson stated that this item was continued fi-om the meeting of April 7,1997, due to a 2-2 (tie) May 5, 1997 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 vote, and must be voted upon by a full Commission as required by “The Rules of Commission Procedures”. However, due to the absence of Commissioner Allen, this item was continued to the regular meeting of June, 2, 1997. 6B. CARLSBAD VILLAGE DRIVE, FROM HIGHLAND DRIVE TO EL CAMINO REAL - Request to revise the existing prima facie speed limit. Traffrc Engineer, Bob Johnson, presented the staff report and indicated that the segment of Carlsbad Village Drive fiom Highland Drive to El Camino Real is currently posted with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour. He reported that an updated Engineering and Traffic Survey was recently completed which indicated that the survey does not support the 35 mph speed zone in that segment. The accident history of this segment is very good. There have been only 7 collisions in the past two years, with only three being speed related, which gives that area an overall accident rate of 0.73. Mr. Johnson pointed out that this accident rate figure is one of the criteria that the court system looks at when justifyrng the lowering of a speed limit to a point considerably lower than the critical speed. In this case, the Engineering and Traffic Survey can support 40 mph. Mr. Johnson also noted that the Engineering Department cannot make findings to justify keeping the speed limit at 35 mph. Mr. Johnson reported that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee has reviewed this matter and has recommended that the existing 35 mile per hour prima facie speed limit be raised to a 40 mile per hour prima facie speed limit. Commissioner Gillfillan asked if there are any sight limitations on this segment. Mr. Johnson stated that there is a small limitation at Donna Drive, but there are advisory signs warning that there is an intersection ahead. Commissioner Gillfillan questioned the splitting of speed limits on the same street. Mr. Johnson stated that having more than one speed limit on any street is not unusual and pointed out that there are several such streets in Carlsbad that have more than one speed limit, one of which is Tamarack. The posted speeds depend on the Engineering and Traffic Surveys and the critical speeds. Mr. Johnson explained why the 35 mph will remain on the segment west of Highland. He also explained that the courts look at the Engineering and Traffic Surveys to see if they support the posted speed limits and then determine whether or not a Traffic Officer was justified in writing the traffic citations. Commissioner Gillfillan also asked about the impact on the school children attending the schools in the vicinity of Carlsbad Village Dr., east of Highland Dr. Mr. Johnson agreed that high school students use Monroe and CVD, at lunch time, to reach either the downtown area or Plaza Camino Real. Commissioner Green asked if the use by high school students, at lunchtime, was considered in the survey and if those hours were affected by the peak hours survey. Mr. Johnson stated that the surveys are done in off peak conditions. He quoted the California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) as follows: “A driver will adjust his speed, based on conditions . . . etc.”, and stated that speed surveys are done when traffic is moving fairly well during the off peak times. Commissioner Green asked if someone had brought this area and the low speed limit to his attention and if so, who. Mr. Johnson responded by saying that it was the Police Department that suggested that the limit be raised. commissioner Courtney spoke of an instance when Traffic Commissioner Brandenberg, from the North County Division of the San Diego County Municipal Court, addressed the Traffic Safety Commission and explained how the May 5, 1997 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 courts become bogged down by cases where the speed limits cannot be supported by the Engineering and Traffic Surveys. The Traffic Commissioner then flatly stated that he didn’t care what the circumstances were when the ticket was written and that if the speed limit cannot be justified by the surveys, he will throw the case out. Sgt. Jim Byler, Carlsbad Police Department, stated that they have had a lot of problems enforcing speed limits in some areas because the speeds are too far below the critical speed and just won’t hold up in court. He cited specific instances when the posted limit was either too high or too low and the citations were dismissed by the court. Since those instances, the speed limits have been adjusted and the citations are holding up in court. Sgt. Byler also stated that since the speed limit adjustments have been made, the need for enforcement in most of the aforementioned areas had been reduced and most of the previous problems in those areas have been eliminated. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Gillfillan, and duly seconded, the Traffic Safety Commission approved Item 6B, as presented, to establish a prima facie speed limit of 40 miles per hour, on the subject portion of Carlsbad Village Drive from Highland to El AYES: NOES: Camino Real. Blake, Courtney, and Gillfillan Green Commissioner Green stated that his opposition to the prima facie speed limit change on Carlsbad Village Drive, from Highland Dr., to El Camino Real, is because there are pedestrian school children using Carlsbad Village Dr., to get to school. He pointed out that this is an area where most drivers would not expect to find school pedestrians and regardless of the courts, this constitutes over-riding circumstances and, in his opinion, the speed limit should remain as currently posted. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS: None REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Johnson reminded the Commissioners of the TraEc Commissioners’ Workshop to be held on Saturday, May 10, 1997, in San Diego. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of May 5, 1997, was adjourned at 3:27 p.m. Respectllly submitted, Minutes Clerk -