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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-08; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION September 8, 2003 (Regular Meeting) 3:OO P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chairperson Jerry Schall called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Staff Members Present: Vice-Chairperson Jerry Schall Commissioner Jim Courtney Commissioner Gordon Cress Commissioner Steve Dorsey None Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division Lt. Mike Shipley, Carlsbad Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 7,2003 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Courtney, and duly seconded by Commissioner Cress, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 7, 2003 as presented. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Schall, Courtney, Cress, Dorsey NOES: None ABSTAIN: None September 8,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 There were no minutes to approve for August since the August 4, 2003 Traffic Safety Commission meeting was canceled due to a lack of agenda items. ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Mentioning a previous Traffic Safety Commission meeting, Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division, advised the Commission that the agenda item to establish a NO Parking Zone on the north side of Cassia Road will go before the City Council on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 for consideration of introducing an ordinance to establish a NO Parking Zone on the north side of Cassia Road. NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A Establish a prima facie speed limit upon Cannon Road from Faraday Avenue to El Camino Real and revise the existing prima facie speed limit upon Cannon Road from Paseo del Norte to Faraday Avenue. Referring to an overhead slide, Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division, stated that staff initiated agenda item 6A. Mr. Johnson explained the agenda item was to establish a prima facie speed limit upon a portion of Cannon Road that currently does not have a prima facie speed limit established and to also consider raising the prima facie speed limit upon the portion of Cannon Road, which currently has a 45 mile per hour prima facie speed limit. Mr. Johnson noted that the portion of Cannon Road from Faraday Avenue to Frost Avenue, a distance of approximately 3,900 feet, was opened to traffic on April 30, 2003. This allows traffic from Carlsbad Boulevard to use the entire length of Cannon Road to El Camino Real, where it terminates at a traffic signal and a T- intersection configuration. The portion of Cannon Road from Frost Avenue to El Camino Real has been open to traffic for several years. Continuing, Mr. Johnson reported the portion of Cannon Road easterly of El Camino Real is currently under construction, as well as the College extension from Calavera Hills. The College/Cannon connection will be completed in summer July 2004 and opened to traffic at that time. Cannon Road is designated as a major arterial on the Circulation Element of the General Plan. The road segment being considered for establishment of a 50 mile per hour prima facie speed limit is the portion of Cannon Road from Paseo del Norte easterly to El Camino Real. The road segment from Paseo del Norte to Faraday is approximately 6,800 feet in length; from Frost to El Camino Real the road segment is approximately 1,215 feet in length, making a total road distance of approximately 2 miles. September 8,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 Mr. Johnson mentioned that the 45 mile per hour prime facie speed limit on the road segment from Paseo del Norte to Faraday Avenue, was established several years ago when Cannon Road terminated at Faraday Avenue in a 90" turn. Although there are a number of factors which go into the Engineering and Traffic Survey, for example, adjacent land uses, traffic controls, conditions on the roadway with respect to sidewalks, bicycles lanes, turning lanes, driveway locations, pedestrian volumes, horizontal and vertical alignment, stopping sight distance; when determining a prima facie speed limit the three most important factors considered in the Engineering and Traffic Survey, in accordance with state law and the CALTRANS traffic manual, are collision history, critical speed, and conditions that are not readily apparent to drivers. Mr. Johnson noted that for this particular road segment speed surveys were conducted at three different locations as indicated below: SPEEDSURVEYDATAFORCANNONROAD As a result of the Speed Survey, vehicles were found to be traveling at or below 52-53 miles per hour. Mr. Johnson commented that during the past 2 years there have been 10 collisions, 4 of which are related to speed, on this road segment; hence the collision history on this road segment is very good. In calculating the collision rate on this segment of road, the accidents per million vehicle miles are 0.49, which is an extremely low rate. The statewide average for a comparable road is about 2.2 accidents per million vehicle miles. This particular road segment is operating very well from a traffic collision standpoint. In summary, Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee reviewed the results of the Engineering and Traffic Survey and recommends the existing 45 mile per hour prima facie speed limit be raised to 50 miles per hour to be in compliance with the Engineering and Traffic Survey. In addition, the segment of Cannon Road from Faraday Avenue easterly to El Camino Real should be posted at 50 miles per hour thereby establishing a uniform 50 miles per hour prima facie speed limit on the entire road segment. Concluding, Mr. Johnson noted that conditions change west of Paseo del Norte as drivers encounter the traffic and interchange at Interstate 5; it is a 35 mile per hour speed zone. Vice-Chairperson Schall asked if there were questions of staff. Commissioner Courtney requested clarification on the speed limit from the freeway to Carlsbad Boulevard. Mr. Johnson responded that the prima facie speed limit on that road segment is 35 miles per hour. Commissioner Courtney expressed his support for the agenda item, and questioned why the raising of the speed limit was not started at Car Country Drive. Mr. Johnson replied staff did look at that option and discovered the prevailing speeds on the road segment from Paseo Del Norte to from Car Country Drive were high. Notification of the traffic signal's via the signal ahead warning signs in place, therefore it was determined by staff that the lengths are appropriate. September 8,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 Vice-Chairperson Schall requested clarification regarding the traffic signal placement. Mr. Johnson mentioned that the future traffic signal for the intersection of Car Country Drive and Cannon Road has been awarded by City Council and will be installed and energized in approximately 6 months. Commissioner Cress mentioned that he drove the road segment in question and supported the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee. Noting that he drove the portion of road segment in question, Commissioner Dorsey also voiced his support for raising the prima facie speed limit to 50 miles per hour. Vice-Chairperson Schall concurred with the Commissioners. As there were no additional questions of staff, Vice-Chairperson Schall opened public testimony. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: As there was no public testimony, Vice-Chairperson Schall closed public testimony and called for a discussion. DISCUSSION: As there was no discussion, Vice-Chairperson Schall closed discussion and called for a motion. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Cress, and duly seconded by Commissioner Dorsey, to accept the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee, thereby establishing a prima facie 50 mile per hour speed limit. upon Cannon Road from Faraday Avenue to El Camino Real and to revise the existing prima facie speed limit upon Cannon Road from Paseo del Norte to Faraday Avenue to 50 miles per hour. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Schall, Courtney, Cress, Dorsey NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Mr. Johnson stated that an ordinance would be required to be adopted by the City Council to establish the 50 mile per hour prima facie speed limit upon Cannon Road, as recommended. September 8, 2003 ITEM 6B: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 5 Elect a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for the Traffic Safety Commission. Mr. Johnson stated that Bob Mertz was elected Chairperson by the Commission at the regular meeting of July 7, 2003. Mr. Mertz moved out of the City of Carlsbad and has resigned from the Commission as is mandated by the rules and regulations for Commissions. In addition to having a vacancy on the Commission, a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for the Traffic Safety Commission should be elected and the term of office should also be determined. Vice-Chairperson Schall called for a discussion. DISCUSSION: The Commissioners of the Traffic Safety Commission discussed the aforementioned in detail. It was the consensus of the Commissioners that the newly elected Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson term of office would be from September 9, 2003 through July 2004. Vice-Chairperson Schall closed discussion and called for a motion. MOTION: ACTION : Motion by Commissioner Cress, and duly seconded by Commissioner Dorsey, to elect Vice-Chairperson Schall as Chairperson. VOTE: 3-0- 1 AYES: Courtney, Cress, Dorsey NOES: None ABSTAIN: Schall MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Vice-Chairperson Schall, and duly seconded by Commissioner Courtney, to elect Commissioner Cress as Vice- Chairperson. VOTE: 3-0-1 AYES: Schall, Courtney, Dorsey NOES: None ABSTAIN: Cress September 8,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 6 Mr. Johnson stated Vice-Chairperson Schall would chair the next regular meeting as the Chairperson and Commissioner Cress would serve as the Vice-Chairperson to fill in if Mr. Schall were not present. Mr. Johnson noted that no City Council action was required for this action. ITEM 6C: Consider adoption of a Traffic Safety Commission Resolution of Commendation for Jim Courtney. Mr. Johnson stated this item is to consider a Resolution of Commendation for Jim Courtney for the time he served in the capacity of Chairperson on the Traffic Safety Commission. He mentioned that this type of recognition for the former Chairperson is something that the Commission routinely does to honor the former Chairperson. Vice-Chairperson Schall called for a discussion. DISC U SSlO N : The Commissioners of the Traffic Safety Commission discussed adopting a resolution. Vice-Chairperson Schall closed discussion and called for a motion. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Cress, and duly seconded by Commissioner Dorsey, to adopt a Traffic Safety Commission Resolution of Commendation for Jim Courtney for time served as Chairperson on the Traffic Safety Commission. VOTE: 3-0- 1 AYES: Schall, Cress, Dorsey NOES: None ABSTAIN: Courtney ITEM 7 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS None ITEM 8 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Johnson mentioned that the next regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission would take place on Monday, October 6, 2003, which is the normal first Monday of the month. September 8,2003 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 7 Noting that the Alga Road and Estrada de Mar intersection issue has previously been before the Planning Commission and the City Council, Mr. Johnson advised the Commission that it would be an agenda item at the October 6 regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission. The issue in question pertains to whether or not the Alga Road/Estrada de Mar intersection should be a fully operational signalized intersection or a median closure, which would allow a right-idright-out from Estrada de Mar. The Commission will be requested to provide a recommendation on the Alga Road/Estrada de Mar intersection issue and the recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council. Mr. Johnson specified that the road segment in question on Alga Road is east of El Camino Real. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion the Regular Meeting of September 8,2003 was adjourned at 3:22 p.m. Respectfully submitted, <*e;;? Dianna Scott Minutes Clerk