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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-11-05; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: November 5,2001 (Regular Meeting) TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO P.M. PLACE OF MEETING: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Frank Whitton called the Meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Chairperson Frank Whitton, Commissioners Jeny Schall, Keith Gillfillan Vice Chairperson Jim Courtney Commissioner Bob Mertz Staff Members: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division Jim Murray, Associate Engineer, Transportation Division Lt. Mike Shipley, Carlsbad Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 1,2001 As there was not a quorum of the October 1, 2001 attendees, approval of the minutes from the regular meeting of October 1, 2001 was continued until the December 3, 2001 regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission. ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A Request to establish a prima facie speed limit upon Gabbiano Lane from Batiquitos Drive to the southerly terminus. -. . November 5,2001 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 Associate Engineer, Jim Murray, Transportation Division, stated that agenda item MA is a request to establish a prima facie speed limit upon Gabbiano Lane from Batiquitos Drive to the southerly terminus. He mentioned that Mr. David Levy, a resident of Gabbiano Lane, submitted this request. Mr. Murray presented agenda item #6A as follows: Gabbiano Lane is unclassified on the Circulation element of the General Plan and functions as a residential collector road. A prima facie speed limit has not been established on this road as of this date. Gabbiano Lane is a two-lane road with a straight alignment, other than a 250 foot radius curve at the north end from Batiquitos Drive, and the road is approximately 0.32 miles long. Roadway grades range up to a 6%. This roadway has been fully improved with curbs, gutters, streetlights and sidewalks on both sides of the street. Parking is permitted on both sides of the street. The section of the roadway from Batiquitos Drive to Merlo Court is 56 feet wide curb to curb with an eight-foot median in the extra wide section. The section of Gabbiano Lane from Merlo Court to the southerly terminus is 40 feet wide curb to curb. No centerline has been striped on the road. Continuing, Mr. Murray commented that the adjacent land uses are single-family homes off of the intersecting cul-de-sacs; a trailhead for lagoon parking, and additional parking has been provided at the end of the cul-de-sac for the public lagoon parking. Noting that Gabbiano Lane is controlled by a STOP sign at the northerly end where it intersects Batiquitos Drive, Mr. Murray mentioned that there are no other controls on Gabbiano Lane at the other cross streets. Gabbiano Lane has an average daily volume of 700 vehicles per day and no traffic collisions have been reported on this road segment for the two-year period ending July 31,2001. Mr. Murray stated that Gabbiano Lane does not qualify as a RESIDENCE DISTRICT per the requirements of California Vehicle Code. A RESIDENCE DISTRICT per the California Vehicle Code does carry a prima facie speed limit of 25 mph. In order for a street to qualify as a RESIDENCE DISTRICT, a street must have 16 or more separate dwelling houses on both sides of the street within a distance of a quarter of a mile (1320 feet}. All 16 dwelling houses must have vehicular access to the street and the street cannot be greater than 40 feet in width curb to curb. Gabbiano Lane does not meet the requirements due to the northerly portion of the street that exceeds 40 foot curb to curb and Gabbiano Lane has only 8 dwelling houses in the roadway segment with vehicular access to the street. For these reasons, a prima facie speed limit must be established based on the results of an Engineering and Traffic Survey. Referring to TABLE A in the staff report, Mr. Murray indicated that staff conducted an Engineering and Traffic Survey for Gabbiano Lane from Batiquitos Drive to the southerly terminus and found the critical speed to be 34 miles per hour. Mr. Murray commented that the resutts of the Engineering and Traffic Survey indicated that the critical speed on this segment of the roadway was 34 mph, with 87% of the vehicles in the pace speed. Based on Sections 22357 and 22358 of the California Vehicle Code, which does authorize local agencies to establish a prima facie speed limit on the basis of the results of an Engineering and Traffic Survey, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends establishing a prima facie 30-mile per hour speed limit upon Gabbiano Lane from Batiquitos Drive to the southerly terminus. In conclusion, Mr. Murray stated that an ordinance will be required to be adopted by the City Council to establish the 30-mile per hour speed limit, as recommended. Chairperson Frank Whitton asked if there were questions of staff. Commissioner Gillfillan asked if there were openings in the median on the %-foot curb-to-curb section of the roadway. 4 November 5,2001 - TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 Mr. Murray replied that there was an opening at Grivetta Court and also an opening midway between Grivetta Court and Merlo Court. Commissioner Gillfillan asked if there were any sight distance issues on the curved portion of the roadway. Mr. Murray replied no. As there were no additional questions of staff, Chairperson Frank Whitton opened public testimony. PUBLIC TESTIMONY Mr. Jerry Werby, 906 Merlo Court, Carlsbad, CA 92009, stated that his dwelling is on the corner of Merlo Court and Gabbiano Lane and he has lived at the aforementioned address for 3.5 years. Noting that he witnessed vehicles traveling at downhill speeds that exceed 40-50 mph, he expressed his support for the establishment of the 30-mile per hour prima facie speed limit. Mr. Werby stated that due to the location of the roadway, drivers mistakenly used this segment of the roadway believing it to be an entrance to the freeway, hence the 50-mph speeding vehicles. Mr. Werby suggested that a 25-mph prima facie speed limit be established on this segment of roadway. In response to clarification asked for by Chairperson Whitton, Mr. Murray advised the Commission and Mr, Werby that due to the fact that the roadway does not qualify as a RESIDENCE DISTRICT, a 25-mph speed limit couldnY be established. The prima facie speed limit established must be based on the results of the Engineering and Traffic Survey. Mr. Werby recommended that in addition to the speed limit being posted, it should be painted on the roadway to alert drivers of the speed limit. He also suggested that the installation of speed humps would aid in slowing the traffic down. Chairperson Whitton asked Mr. Murray to respond to Mr. Werby’s suggestion. Mr. Murray responded that speed limit pavement markings are typically placed on the pavement as a secondary measure adjacent to an existing speed limit sign. Typically, pavement markings are not installed unless there is an on-going problem. He informed Mr. Werby that the Carlsbad City Council does not allow the installation of speed humps or speed bumps on any public street in the City of Carlsbad. The speed humps or speed bumps can be trip hazards to pedestrians and they slow down and impede emergency vehicles response times. In addition the speed humps or speed bumps can cause damage to lame frame vehicles, e.g. fire engines, trash trucks, etc. Mr. Werby asked if input had been received from the Aviara Master Association regarding this issue. Chairperson Frank Whitton replied that the Commission did not receive a response from the Association. Mr. Murray stated that a notice was sent to the Aviara Master Association informing the association of today’s meeting but no response has been forthcoming from the association. As there was no additional public testimony, Chairperson Frank Whitton closed public testimony. Chairperson Frank Whitton asked if there were questions of staff. Directing his comment to Mr. Werby, Commissioner Schall noted that the segment of street in question was a very short portion of the roadway; he speculated that the residents in the area might be causing the speeding problem. November 5,2001 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 Mr. Werby replied that upon observation it could be determined that the majority of the traffic on the roadway were drivers using the parking lot for the lagoon trail. Commissioner Schall noted that the Engineering and Traffic Survey was conducted on a Wednesday between the hours of 2 pm to 6 pm and reiterated that the residents might be causing the speeding problems. Mr. Werby replied that the excessive speeding problem was more evident on the weekends. He also indicated that parking was insufficient for the number of visitors to the lagoon trails, hence many visitors park in the cul-de-sac. Commissioner Gillfillan asked if the area in question was a low priority to the Carlsbad Police Department as related to enforcement of the speed limit. Lt. Mike Shipley, Carlsbad Police Department, replied that the posting would allow radar enforcement. He noted that the enforcement efforts on a particular street are based on the accident history and complaints. He speculated that half of the violators are local residents and noted that the street in question does not have an accident history and therefore fails into the lower half of the priority list. As there were no additional questions of staff, Chairperson Frank Whitton called for a discussion by the Commissioners. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Schall expressed his support for installing signage indicating the prima facie speed limit. Chairperson Frank Whitton closed discussion and called for a motion. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Schall, and duly seconded, that a prima facie 30-mile per hour speed limit be established upon Gabbiano Lane from Batiquitos Drive to the southerly terminus accompanied with the installation of adequate signage. VOTE: 3-0-0 AYES: Schall, Whitton, Gillfillan NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ITEM 7 None REPORT FROM TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS November 5,2001 ” TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 5 ITEM 8 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division, mentioned that the Traffic Engineering Workshop for Public Officials sponsored by the local section of the institute of Traffic Engineers would be held on Saturday, March 9, 2002 in San Diego. He noted that he would distribute preliminary information and registration information to each commissioner. When the final program information is available, Commissioners need to advise Mr. Johnson of their desire to attend the workshop and appropriate arrangements will be made. Mr. Johnson announced that the next regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission will be held on Monday, December 3,2001. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion the Regular Meeting of November 5,2001, was adjourned at 328 p.m. ad - Respectfully submitted, Dianna Scott Minutes Clerk