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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-05-05; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION May 5,2003 (Regular Meeting) 3:OO P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Jim Courtney called the Meeting to order at 3:Ol p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairperson Jim Courtney Vice-Chairperson Bob Mertz Commissioner Jerry Schall Commissioner Gordon Cress Absent: None Staff Members Present: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division Sgt. Marc Reno, Carlsbad Police Department, Traffic Division APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 7,2003 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Schall, and duly seconded by Commissioner Mertz, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 7, 2003 as presented. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Courtney, Mertz, Schall, Cress NOES: None ABSTAIN: None May 5,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 ITEM 4 -OW COMMUNICATIONS: None ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation, stated that on April 7, 2003 at the regular Traffic Safety Commission meeting, the Commission considered the staff request to authorize funding of a Transportation Development Act grant. He noted that the item would go before the Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday, May 6, 2003 for authorization to submit the application. It was recommend that the City Council endorse the Traffic Safety Commission recommendation and authorize staff to submit the application. NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A Establish a prima facie speed limit upon the portion of Carlsbad Village Drive from Tamarack Avenue to College Boulevard Referring to an overhead slide, Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division, stated that item 6A is a request to establish a prima facie speed limit upon a portion of Carlsbad Village Drive. This is an extension of the current speed zone on Carlsbad Village Drive. The prima facie speed limit currently exists as a 40 mile per hour prima facie speed limit. Mr. Johnson commented that this portion of Carlsbad Village Drive from Glasgow Drive to College Boulevard was built in early 2000, is approximately 0.03 miles in length and was built to a 4-lane configuration, e.g. 2 lanes in each direction, a bike lane, curb, gutter, sidewalks, street lights, and raised median. The roadway was built to the full City standards. The ordinance for the acceptance of this portion of Carlsbad Village Drive will be going before the City Council in the next several weeks. Continuing, Mr. Johnson informed the Commission that when a new road is opened, the speed limit is not immediately posted. There have been no reported traffic collisions on the subject segment in the past two years. A traffic count was conducted January 30,2001 on Carlsbad Village Drive between Glasgow Drive and College Boulevard and it was determined that the two-way 24-hour Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volume is 2,357 vehicles. A count has not been conducted since January 30,2001 on the subject road segment. Traffic volumes have increased since that time as the development of homes continues in the Calavera Hills, especially the portion of Calavera Hills east of College Boulevard, north of Tamarack Avenue and west of College Boulevard. Mr. Johnson mentioned that the road currently exists as a 90-degree turn at the intersection of Carlsbad Village Drive and College Boulevard. College Boulevard is under construction southerly from Carlsbad Village Drive to future Cannon Road, as is future Cannon Road from College Boulevard westerly to El Camino Real. Noting that this is called the CollegelCannon connection, Mr. Johnson stated that the construction would be completed in the summer of 2004. At that time the barricades that exist on College Boulevard, at two locations north of Tamarack Avenue and at the City boundary, will be removed. May 5,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 Mr. Johnson informed the Commission that currently the intersection of Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive is signalized and the intersection of Glasgow Drive at Carlsbad Village Drive is a four-way STOP controlled intersection. A traffic signal will be designed and constructed at the Carlsbad DrivelGlasgow Drive intersection when the CollegelCannon connection is open to traffic. In addition, at the intersection of Carlsbad Village Drive and College Boulevard, it becomes a 'T intersection; it will also be signalized when the road is opened. In summary, Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommendation, based upon the results of the Engineering and Traffic Survey, is to extend the existing 40 mile per hour prima facie speed limit on Carlsbad Village Drive from Tamarack Avenue easterly to College Boulevard and establish this short segment as a 40 mile per hour speed zone. Chairperson Courtney asked if there were questions of staff. Commissioner Schall requested clarification regarding how the speed survey portion of the Engineering and Traffic Survey is conducted. Mr. Johnson replied that surveys are typically conducted from a mid-block location; therefore, the flow of traffic is unimpeded by traffic controls. Commissioner Schall asked if it was obvious, to motorist, that a survey was being conducted. Mr. Johnson acknowledged that a City vehicle was used to conduct the speed survey, that that driver of the City vehicle used a radar-gun and vehicle operators whose speed is being measured generally do not know this is happening. Commissioner Schall mentioned that he drove the segment of road in question and could not understand how motorists were able to drive 45 mile per hour on the short stretch of roadway. Mr. Johnson noted that the critical speed of 45 mile per hour speed referred to in the Engineering and Traffic Survey was not in the segment of roadway in question, but at Victoria Avenue and another speed survey was 150 feet west of Santa Clara Way, which is in the existing speed zone. He noted that because the segment in question is of short length the speed portion of the Engineering and Traffic Survey was conducted in other locations on the roadway and the data extrapolated for the segment in question, in order to include it as a 40 mile per hour speed zone. As there were no additional questions of staff Chairperson Courtney opened public testimony. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: As there was no public testimony, Courtney closed public testimony and called for a discussion. DISCUSSION: As there was no discussion, Chairperson Courtney closed discussion and called for a motion. May 5,2003 MOTION: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Schall, and duly seconded by Chairperson Courtney, to accept the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee, establishing a prima facie 40 mile per hour speed limit upon the portion of Carlsbad Village Drive from Tamarack Avenue to College Boulevard. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Courtney, Mertz. Schall, Cress NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Mr. Johnson stated that an ordinance would be required to be adopted by the City Council to establish the speed limit as recommended. ITEM 7 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS None ITEM 8 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Johnson mentioned that Commissioner Cress attended a Commissioner’s training workshop on Saturday, May 3, 2003. He stated that the local Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and Sanc Diego Traffic Engineers Council (SANTEC) co-sponsored the workshop. A more advanced workshop will take place in the year 2004. Commissioner Cress remarked that he garnered a great deal of excellent information at the workshop. Mr. Johnson reported that the most current California Vehicle Code has been provided to each Commissioner to use as a reference. Mr. Johnson mentioned that the next regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission would take place on Monday, June 2,2003. ADJOURNMENT By proper motion the Regular Meeting of May 5,2003 was adjourned at 3:14 p.m. a- - Vnna Scott Minutes Clerk