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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-12-06; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: December 6,2010 (Regular Meeting) TIME OF MEETING: 3:00 p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Chair Roney called the Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Chair Guy Roney Vice-Chair Steve Gallagher Commissioner Gordon Cress Commissioner Jack Gumming Absept: Commissioner Jairo Valderrama Staff Members Present: John Kim, Traffic Division Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 4,2010 ACTION: Motion by Chair Roney, and duly seconded by Commissioner Gumming, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on October 4, 2010, as presented. VOTE: 3-0-1 AYES: Gallagher, Cress, Gumming NOES: None ABSTAIN: Roney There was no Traffic Safety Commission meeting held in November 2010. ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. December 6, 2010 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None. ITEM 6 - NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A: Revise the prima facie speed limit upon Loker Avenue East, from El Fuerte Street to Palomar Airport Road. John Kim, Traffic Division Manager, stated Item 6A was initiated by himself to revise the prima facie speed limit upon Loker Avenue East, from El Fuerte Street to Palomar Airport Road. Currently, this portion of Loker Avenue East is posted at 30 miles per hour. The Engineering and Traffic Survey on file was approved on September 12, 2003 with a speed survey dated May 15, 2003. Based on the requirements contained in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the California Vehicle Code (CVC), this Engineering and Traffic Survey is considered expired and a new Engineering and Traffic Survey is required. Mr. Kim indicated the California MUTCD outlines the procedures to help establish speed limits in California that are uniform, rational, enforceable by the police, and are supported by the judicial system. Requirements of the standards as established by Caltrans are: (1) The speed limit shall be established at the nearest 5 mile per hour increment of the 85th percentile; and (2) If the 5 mile per hour reduction is applied, the Engineering and Traffic Survey shall document in writing the conditions and justification for the reduced speed limit and be approved by a registered Civil or Traffic Engineer. The 85th percentile speed, often referred to as the critical speed, is the speed which 85 percent of the drivers are traveling at or below. The premise implied in speed zoning is that the majority of drivers are operating their vehicles at or near the 85th percentile speed. Drivers that operate their vehicle at speeds higher than the 85th percentile speed should be the focus of the police as excessive speed is often a factor in a vehicle collision. Mr. Kim stated the subject portion of Loker Avenue East is approximately 0.53 miles in length and functions as an industrial street located in an industrial park and features many closely-spaced driveways on either side. The road follows a curvilinear alignment and has a curb-to-curb width of 52 feet. There is a single lane of traffic in each direction separated by a painted centerline. The subject segment has been improved with curb and gutter, sidewalk and street lights on both sides of the roadway. On-street parallel parking is allowed on the subject road segment. Traffic control on Loker Avenue East is provided by two-way Stop control at Loker Avenue East and El Fuerte Street. Traffic counts were obtained on Loker Avenue East on September 2, 2010. Two-way, 24-hour average daily traffic volumes were found to range from 1,650 to 3,448 vehicles per day. Staff conducted a speed survey on Loker Avenue East on October 7,2010 to determine the 85l percentile speed. A sample of 100 vehicles was measured to calculate the 85l percentile speed. The critical December 6, 2010 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 speed was found to be 38 miles per hour with a pace speed between 30 and 40 miles per hour. Staff also reviewed traffic collision reports for the two year period from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2010, and there have been no reported collisions on the subject segment of Loker Avenue East. Since the California MUTCD requires that the speed limit be established at the nearest 5 mile per hour increment of the 85l percentile and that no justification for a 5 mile per hour reduction is hereby presented, staff recommends that the speed limit be established at 40 miles per hour. Based upon the results of the Engineering and Traffic Survey, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends revising the prima facie speed limit upon Loker Avenue East, from El Fuerte Street to Palomar Airport Road, from 30 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Gumming stated he drove the subject section of roadway and set his speed control at 40 miles per hour, and the curvilinear description of the roadway is an understatement. He found in order to maneuver the curves at 40 miles per hour, he had to lean from side to side in his vehicle. He noticed the maximum observed speed was 41 miles per hour. He assumed these laws are federally mandated and filter through to the state level, and it raised a question for him of whether the Commissioners will participate in that process or is this just a mechanistic determination. He felt if there was no speed limit on this segment of roadway, it would make no difference because it would be difficult to drive more than 40 miles per hour. He found it a little confusing as to what the meaning is of local discretion on matters like this. Mr. Kim responded local agencies are required to abide by the procedures found in the California MUTCD. Failure to do so would result in a speed zone that would be found non-enforceable or otherwise known as a speed trap. This is something that staff and the Police Department wish to avoid. Commissioner Gumming asked how the deliberations took place. Who participated in them? Mr. Kim replied there is a Federal MUTCD document that the California version is derived from. The California Traffic Control Device Committee evaluates what portions of the federal document will be adopted for California. In prior years there have been some differences between the Federal MUTCD and the California MUTCD, but currently the speed zoning policy in both documents are essentially the same. December 6, 2010 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 4 ACTION: Motion by Chair Roney, and duly seconded by Commissioner Gumming, to revise the prima facie speed limit upon Loker Avenue East, from El Fuerte Street to Palomar Airport Road, from 30 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Roney, Gallagher, Cress, Gumming NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Vice-Chair Gallagher asked if staff had a copy of the speed survey that was completed in 2003, and what was the difference between the two speed surveys. There is a 10 mile per hour increase and he was wondering if the same conditions, such as the road width, were the same or what has changed. Mr. Kim indicated he did not have the 2003 speed survey with him, but based on his experience, in general the critical speeds don't vary much over time. Even if that speed survey was not expired in terms of time, the Police Department is telling him that a difference of more than 8 miles per hour from the critical speed to the posted speed limit is unenforceable. There are other speed zones in Carlsbad that fit that description, and as they expire or as the Police Department brings those speed zones to staff for re-evaluation, they will be brought to the Traffic Safety Commission. Vice-Chair Gallagher asked what the guideline for installing a two-way left turn lane on a road like the subject roadway was. There seemed to be enough road width where you could get two 12 foot travel lanes and a 12 foot two-way left turn lane and still have parking lanes. He felt if a two-way left turn lane were installed, traffic would move closer to the parked vehicles, which might effectively change the 85th percentile speed a little. On the subject roadway where the area is so commercial with a lot of businesses and driveways, has there been any thought of installing a two-way left turn lane? Mr. Kim stated he was not aware of consideration of a two-way left turn lane, but it is something that could be looked into. If a two-way left turn lane would alleviate some operational concern that is happening now, staff could consider it. He was not sure if there is an operational issue with the way the roadway is striped.. He has not heard of a problem with vehicles having left turn access issues on Loker Avenue East. Vice-Chair Gallagher did not know how requests were initiated by the Commission or if they had the authority to request work be done by staff, but it seemed to him this issue might lend itself just because of numerous driveways of the various commercial areas there. December 6, 2010 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 5 Mr. Kim felt that operationally the street works currently as it is. If a person wishes to turn left, they basically slow down, turn on their signal and wait for clearance. Now there is room on the right side of the turning vehicle for cars to go around them if they wish to do so. Based on the width of the street the two-way left turn consideration may or may not be a better option. Vice-Chair Gallagher asked what the procedure was for him, as a Commissioner, to find out if it would be appropriate to consider a two-way left turn lane on the subject roadway. Commissioner Cress indicated that type of request should probably come from the business owners or property owners in the neighborhood. Mr. Kim agreed that was normally how staff handles requests. They usually receive calls or letters from people who have been having difficulty accessing driveways on Loker Avenue East. Once staff receives the request to investigate, that is when they would evaluate the situation. He was not aware of any requests of that nature coming from the businesses in that area. He could double check his records to verify if that has ever been an issue. Vice-Chair Gallagher asked what type of response staff would receive from the businesses in that area from raising the posted speed limit. From his experience, he felt most people don't like to see posted speed limits increase. You typically get resistance and feedback from the neighborhood that is not very supportive. So when the speed limit is raised to 40 miles per hour, the situation could be mitigated a little by putting in a two-way left turn lane and even if the street is working operationally well now as it is, that is going to probably reduce the critical speed by a few miles. Mr. Kim responded that was a possible avenue in the future after this speed zone is approved by the Traffic Safety Commission. Then it would go to the City Council for introduction of an ordinance. If staff did receive complaints or concerns from residents, then they would do their best to explain how the speed limits are established. If there was a recommendation for a two-way left turn lane, staff could consider that. He would wait until the speed zone is established to see what the reaction is and to take the necessary steps at that point in time. ITEM 6B: Revise the prima facie speed limit upon Loker Avenue West, from Palomar Airport Road to El Fuerte Street. Mr. Kim indicated that item 6B was initiated by him to revise the prima facie speed limit upon Loker Avenue West, from Palomar Airport Road to El Fuerte Street. December 6, 2010 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 6 The subject portion of Loker Avenue West is approximately 0.69 miles in length and functions as an industrial street located in an industrial park and features many closely-spaced driveways on either side. The road follows a curvilinear alignment and has a curb-to-curb width of 52 feet. There is a single lane of traffic in each direction separated by a painted centerline. The subject segment has been improved with curb and gutter, sidewalk and street lights on both sides of the roadway. On- street parallel parking is allowed on the subject road segment. Traffic control on Loker Avenue West is provided by a traffic signal at the intersection of Loker Avenue West and Palomar Airport Road and by two-way Stop control at Loker Avenue West and El Fuerte Street. Mr. Kim stated traffic counts were obtained on Loker Avenue West on September 1, 2010 to determine the two-way, 24-hour average daily traffic volumes, which were from 4,009 to 8,508 vehicles per day. Staff conducted speed surveys on Loker Avenue West on September 29, 2010 to determine the 85{ percentile speed. As stated previously, the 85th percentile speed, commonly called the critical speed, is the speed at which 85 percent of the vehicles are traveling at or below. A sample of 100 vehicles was measured to calculate the 85th percentile speed. Critical speeds were found to be 39 miles per hour and 40 miles per hour at two locations. Staff reviewed the Police Department traffic collision reports for the two year period from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2010. There have been two reported collisions on the subject segment of Loker Avenue West of which none were speed related. Mr. Kim indicated since the California MUTCD requires that the speed limit be established at the nearest 5 mile per hour increment of the 85th percentile speed and that no justification for a 5 mile per hour reduction is hereby presented, staff recommends that the speed limit be established at 40 miles per hour. Based upon the results of the Engineering and Traffic Survey, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends revising the prima facie speed limit upon Loker Avenue West, from Palomar Airport Road to El Fuerte Street, from 30 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Cress stated he drives the subject area frequently and it has the two-way left turn lane in the area of the businesses around Palomar Airport Road and Loker Avenue West. He felt the increase in speed limit along that segment of the roadway is justified by the traffic he has observed. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Gumming, and duly seconded by Vice- Chair Gallagher, to revise the prima facie speed limit upon Loker Avenue West, from Palomar Airport Road to El Fuerte Street, from 30 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Roney, Gallagher, Cress, Gumming NOES: None ABSTAIN: None December 6, 2010 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 7 ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Gumming stated he thought it was customary to normally skip the Traffic Safety Commission meeting in January and wanted to know if that would be the practice this year. Mr. Kim stated that was correct and no Traffic Safety Commission meeting would be held in January. Chair Roney wished the Commissioners and staff a happy holiday and New Year. ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Kim mentioned that one of the items that will be on the agenda for the next scheduled meeting is a revision to the prima facie speed limit on Aviara Parkway. That was supposed to be part of the today's agenda, but it was determined by the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee (TSCC) to be continued until the next meeting. Based on the reaction that staff received from the Batiquitos speed revision, he elected to notify the Aviara Master Association that staff is considering revision of the speed limit. He would expect some public participation at the February meeting. Due to the New Years Day holiday, there will not be a January 2011 meeting and the next regularly scheduled Traffic Safety Commission meeting is scheduled to be held on February 7, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Vice-Chair Gallagher said that based on what Mr. Kim just mentioned about Aviara Parkway and that particular roadway, he got the impression that the speed zone would be proposed to be raised. The people that will be most affected by that will probably not understand. Mr. Kim agreed and felt that would be the case. He sent a letter prior to the TSCC meeting that Aviara Parkway would be on the December Traffic Safety Commission meeting agenda, not knowing that it would be continued and he had to retract that. Based on the requirements that staff is facing, he didn't see an option of keeping that street at the same speed limit of 40 miles per hour based on the critical speeds that they are finding. Vice-Chair Gallagher stated that Mr. Kim had mentioned at last month's meeting the possibility of bringing back the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program for the Commission to review. December 6, 2010 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 8 Mr. Kim said that was still in the works. The pilot projects on Donna Drive and Sierra Morena Avenue are wrapping up. Staff just installed a speed cushion on Donna Drive that will conclude the pilot project for that street. They still need to install one more speed cushion on Sierra Morena Avenue, but he wanted to get the speed cushion in on Donna Drive, have the Fire Department drive it, and get feedback from them before putting in the Sierra Morena Avenue speed cushion. Once that is done then staff can go forward with the revision of the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program. Chair Roney mentioned that he had a protocol question. Since the City is having a change in mayor, is there a need for the Commissioners to submit resignations or any thing for the new year to make a decision on? Mr. Kim stated he did not know but would look into that and get back to them. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, Chair Roney adjourned the Regular Meeting of December 6,2010 at 3:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ruth Woodbeck Minutes Clerk