HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-01; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING:
TIME OF MEETING:
PLACE OF MEETING:
CALL TO ORDER
MINUTES
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
April 1, 2013
5:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
Vice Chair Hope Wrisley called the Meeting to order at 5:06 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Absent:
Vice-Chair Hope Wrisley
Commissioner Chris Chauncey
Commissioner Kathryn Fox
Chair Jairo Valderrama
Commissioner Fred Muir
Staff Members Present: Bryan Jones, Deputy Director, City Traffic Engineer
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 4, 2013
ACTION:
VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
Motion by Commissioner Fox, and duly seconded by Commissioner
Chauncey, to approve the minutes of the meeting held on February
4, 2013, as presented.
3-0-0
Wrisley, Fox, Chauncey
None
None
There was no Traffic Safety Commission meeting held in March 2013.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
None.
April 1, 2013 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2
PREVIOUS BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
ITEM 6A: Chestnut Avenue -Pio Pico Drive to El Camino Real -Revise Prima Facie
Speed Limit
Mr. Jones presented to the staff report to reduce the speed limit on Chestnut Avenue from Pio Pico
Drive to El Camino Real. This past fall bike lanes and a buffer zone for bicyclists were added and the
automobile travel lane was narrowed. This particular street had a higher collision history than other
streets in the city before the bike lanes were installed and the travel lane widths reduced. A
majority of these collisions are from parked cars being sideswiped or hit. The roadway is also
adjacent to Carlsbad High School.
Mr. Jones stated that staff recommends that the speed limit on the street be reduced from 35 to 30
MPH. The critical speed measured by staff is 33 MPH. Exercising the option to round down from a
critical speed of 33 MPH, as allowable per the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices,
would result in a posted speed limit being reduced from 35 MPH to 30 MPH. Since the bike lanes
have been added, there have been fewer collisions on the street due to drivers slowing down by
approximately 4 MPH.
Commissioner Wrisley inquired as to whether there is a sign in this area that alerts drivers to an
upcoming intersection. Drivers seem to speed up then coming up to it.
Mr. Jones answered that he is not sure about a sign but did state that the traffic has already slowed
with the addition of the bike lanes.
Commissioner Fox asked if kids coming or going from the school make the area more of a problem.
Mr. Jones answered that during before school, lunch time, and after school hours there is an
substantial increase in traffic.
Commissioner Fox asked what prompted this recommendation to reduce the speed limit on
Chestnut Avenue.
Mr. Jones answered that when the bike lanes were put in, the speeds on this street were reduced.
When we make changes to a roadway such as striping we redo a speed survey so that our police
department has the most current information for enforcement.
April 1, 2013 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3
Commissioner Wrisley stated that the buffer makes a big difference. Some people don't realize the
bike lane is there but with the buffer in place, people are more aware.
ACTION:
VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
Motion by Commissioner Fox, and duly seconded by Commissioner
Chauncey, to revise prima facie speed limit on Chestnut Avenue
from Pio Pico Drive to El Camino Real.
3-0-0
Wrisley, Chauncey, Fox
None
None
ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS
None.
ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, Vice Chair Wrisley adjourned the Meeting of April 1, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
~~~-
Rose Williams
Secretary