HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01-03; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES
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MEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
DATE OF MEETING: January 3,2000 (Regular Meeting) TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: City Council Chambers
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Keith Gillfillan called the Meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Absent: Commissioners Gillfillan, Whitton, Blake and Courtney Commissioner Allen
Staff Members Present: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation
Jim Murray, Associate Engineer
John Kim, Associate Engineer
Jannae Brown, Senior Office Specialist
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
On motion by Commissioner Frank Whitton, the Commission approved the minutes of the regular
meeting of November 1, 1999, as presented.
VOTE: 3-0- 1
AYES: Whitton, Blake, Courtney
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Gillfillan
There was no Traffic Safety Commission meeting in December, 1999.
PREVIOUS BUSINESS:
Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation, notified the Traffic Safety Commission of
recently adopted speed zone ordinances on Calle Timiteo, Poinsettia Lane and Ani110 Way. He stated that the 3-hour Downtown Parking ordinance will be on the Tuesday, January 4, 2000 City Council Agenda
for adoption. Mr. Johnson also explained that the No Parking Zones on Jackspar Drive, which was
previously recommended by the Traffic Safety Commission, was not approved by City Council and will
be presented again following the City Council's request for more information about parking issues on Jackspar Drive. He mentioned that the NO PARKING zone on Camino Hills Drive also needs to go to the City Council.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
None
January 3,2000
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TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2
NEW BUSINESS:
6A. Reauested Action - Review and Drovide recommendations regarding the 2000 Traffic
Simal - Evaluation Policv and Traffic Simal - Qualification List.
Jim Murray, Associate Engineer presented the staff report as follows: The Traffic Signal Evaluation Policy was first adopted by City Council in 1988. It is updated on a biannual basis. The policy was
established with the intention of providing a mechanism to establish a system to evaluate potential
fkture traffic signal locations. For the year 2000 Qualification List, 28 locations were analyzed of which 19 locations met at least one Caltrans Traffic Signal Warrant and were included in the current list.
Of the 19 locations on the current list, eight are new locations. In 1998, 21 locations were evaluated. Of
those 21 locations, eight have been removed from the list due to the fact that six have been constructed
and two are currently in design.
Mr. Murray explained that the qualification factors used in ranking the signals on the list are generally straightforward and take into account such factors as traffic volumes and patterns, pedestrian volumes and
accident history. Qualification Factor #7 (Special Conditions) considers items not included in the previous
six factors and incorporates engineering judgment, which is based on field observation of the location and
other available data.
In conclusion, Mr. Murray stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends adoption
of the 2000 Traffic Signal Evaluation Policy, including the Traffic Signal Qualification List and that the policy be submitted to the City Council for adoption.
Commissioner Blake asked if there was a traffic signal at Carlsbad Boulevard and State Street. Mr.
Murray indicated there was no traffic signal at that location.
Chairperson Gillfillan opened Public Testimony.
Kim Trujillo, 3720 Sierra Morena Avenue, Carlsbad, expressed concern of the lack of a traffic signal at
Carlsbad Boulevard and Cherry Street due to the amount of pedestrians accessing the public beach area,
although she doesn't know the number of pedestrians crossing at that location. Ms. Trujillo alluded to an incident involving her van and a truck rapidly approaching from behind. She stated that if she had not used her horn, an accident might have occurred. Ms. Trujillo stated that a traffic signal is needed at
Carlsbad Boulevard and Cherry Street for public safety.
Nick Arvanitis, 2712 Via Plato, Carlsbad, explained that he goes to the beach frequently to surf and has
observed many near-accidents at Carlsbad Boulevard and Cherry Street and believes a traffic signal is needed.
Dylan Trujillo, 3720 Sierra Morena Avenue, Carlsbad, stated that he goes to the beach nearly every day
during summer and feels unsafe crossing the street at Carlsbad Boulevard and Cherry Street. He said he sometimes crosses Carlsbad Boulevard at Tamarack Avenue. He requested a traffic signal or some
measure be implemented to slow cars down.
January 3,2000 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3
Don Friedlander, 2245 Nob Hill Drive, Carlsbad, stated that a traffic signal is needed at Carlsbad Village
Drive and Donna Drive and that he was in disagreement with the findings of the 2000 Traffic Signal
Evaluation Policy and Traffic Signal Qualifications List as presented by Mr. Murray. He felt that this intersection should be ranked higher on the Traffic Signal Qualification List. First, he felt that the limited sight distance at the intersection due to it being situated on a crest of a hill should result in a higher value for Factor #7 (Special Conditions) than was given by staff.
Mr. Friedlander's second concern involved staffs calculation of Factor #2 (Interruption of Continuous
Traffic). He mentioned a letter he received from Mr. Murray which stated that the traffic on Carlsbad
Village Drive is "approximately 11 times the volume on Donna Drive". Based on the volume shown on
the 2000 Traffic Signal Qualification List for Carlsbad Village Drive and Donna Drive (4,009 vehicles), Mr. Friedlander calculated the volume on Donna Drive to be over 300 vehicles and therefore should have
resulted in a non-zero value for Factor #2. He concluded by comparing other locations on the list with Donna Drive and reiterated his request for a traffic signal at that location.
Mr. Johnson stated that a new development on the north side of Carlsbad Village Drive at Donna Drive
has been conditioned to install a traffic signal at the intersection.
Commissioner Courtney asked Mr. Friedlander if he understood the comment made by Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Friedlander replied that he was aware of the proposed development, but didn't know when the project
would be built.
Commissioner Courtney stated that since the project is ongoing, the traffic signal would be installed more quickly than if it were a strictly City-hnded capital improvement project. Mr. Courtney also pointed out
that sight distance is only one criteria for installing a traffic signal and that management of traffic flow is
another important consideration.
Mr. Friedlander reiterated his concerns of the time frame of the proposed development project and said
that he previously requested an ALL-WAY STOP be installed, which would be a very simple interim
solution, in his opinion.
Commissioner Courtney stated that installation of an ALL-WAY STOP is not necessarily "simple" and
the proper procedures need to be followed.
Chairperson Gillfillan asked Mr. Johnson if he knew the current status of the development project.
Mr. Johnson replied that the final map for the project was recently approved.
Chairperson Gillfillan asked staff to clarify for Mr. Friedlander his concerns regarding the qualification factors used in ranking the locations for the Traffic Signal Qualification List.
Mr. Murray, referring to the data collected for the 2000 Traffic Signal Evaluation Policy, verified the accuracy of Qualification Factor #7 as shown on the Traffic Signal Qualification List for the intersection
of Carlsbad Village Drive and Donna Drive. Mr. Murray stated that the letter Mr. Friedlander was quoting
may have referenced older, non-current data. Mr. Murray said he had all of his calculation sheets in case the Commission wanted to review any location in detail.
January 3,2000 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4
Mr. Johnson summarized the process used to prepare the 2000 Traffic Signal Evaluation Policy. He stated
that meeting at least one Caltrans traffic signal warrant puts the analyzed location on the Traffic Signal
Qualification List. The qualification factors in the Policy are then used to rank the intersections in order of
approximate need. Mr. Johnson stated that order of construction does not necessarily follow the priority
order found on the Traffic Signal Qualification List and the installation timing is dependent on such factors as funding and private development. Mr. Johnson concluded by stating that installation of traffic
signals does not eliminate accidents and may, in fact, increase the number of certain types of accidents if
the traffic signals are not warranted.
ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Whitton, and duly seconded, the Traffic Safety Commission upheld the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating
Committee to approve the 2000 Traffic Signal Evaluation Policy, including the
Traffic Signal Qualification List, as presented, and forward it to the City Council.
VOTE: 4-0 AYES: Gillfillan, Whitton, Blake, Courtney
NOES: None
REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS:
None
REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER:
Mr. Johnson announced that the next meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission will be held on Monday,
February 7,2000, at 3:OO p.m., in the City Council Chambers.
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of January 3,2000, adjourned at 3:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
a& %d
NAE BROWN
nior Office Specialist