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Home My WebLink About2016-11-07; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: CALL TO ORDER MINUTES TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION November 7, 2016 5:00p.m. City Council Chambers Chair Hunter called the Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Chair Chuck Hunter Commissioner Fred Muir Commissioner Kathryn Fox Commissioner Ervin Poka Commissioner Mona Gocan None Staff Members Present: Doug Bilse, City Traffic Engineer Craig Williams, Transportation Manager John Kim, Associate Engineer Jim Gale, Engineering Technician Lieutenant Greg Koran, Carlsbad Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 3, 2016 ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Commissioner Fox, and seconded by Commissioner Muir to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on October 3, 2016. 5-0-0 Hunter, Muir, Fox, Poka, Gocan None None November 7, 2016 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Gene Bellon, 2322 La Costa Avenue, Unit C: Gene is president of an HOA that includes 15 homes with driveways that access La Costa Avenue east of El Camino Real. He is concerned about the many motorists that speed on that section of La Costa Avenue and wants to know why no action has been taken to install traffic calming and improve the roadway even though the project has been on the books for many years. Catherine Bellon, 2322 La Costa Avenue, Unit C: Catherine said she is concerned about the increased volumes of traffic on La Costa Avenue east of El Camino Real. She said, years ago, funds were allocated to install several traffic signals along the roadway. She wants those funds allocated to conceptual designs of traffic calming features. She said safety is her primary concern and believes there should be public outreach. She wants to see the project get done. Sara McCarty, 2320 La Costa Avenue, Unit A Sara requests traffic calming in her neighborhood on La Costa Avenue east of El Camino ReaL She said she is very concerned since vehicle speeds are very high, bike lanes exist only on one side, and there are no marked crosswalks across La Costa Avenue. She said the roadway is not safe. She said there has been no response from the City. She would like to know what she can do to get her concerns addressed on La Costa Avenue. She requested improvements to make the street feel more residential, such as bike lanes on both sides of the street and crosswalks. Aaron McCarty, 2320 La Costa Avenue, Unit A Aaron reiterated the concerns of the previous three speakers and said he is frustrated with the lack of response from the city. He is concerned about the safety of residents, like himself, who live along La Costa Avenue. He said he is willing to help in any way he can to get the project done. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6B: BlueTOAD Automated Monitoring System -Information Item Only Doug Bilse presented the staff report explaining the new automated traffic monitoring system called Bluetooth Travel Time Orientation and Destination (BiueTOAD). The BlueTOAD system uses Bluetooth technology to track vehicles and estimate travel times on selected corridors in the city. The new system automates the collection of data (e.g., travel times and average speeds) while also providing new origin-destination information that was previous cost prohibitive. The travel time estimates created by the Blue TOAD system reflects a sample of vehicles using the corridor at a given time. The congestion maps generated by Blue TOAD were displayed and Bilse explained how these maps will help staff monitor the system and send alarms when unexpected traffic congestion occurs. November 7, 2016 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 Discussion: In response to inquiry from Commissioner Gocan, Doug Bilse explained that not all vehicles have Bluetooth signals that can be picked up by BlueTOAD and it only represents a sampling of vehicles on the road. ITEM 6C: Cadencia Street Traffic Calming Project Doug Bilse explained how speed limits are established and how driver behavior ultimately determines the posted speed limit on roadway sections that do not meet the strict criteria of a resident district. The staff report provided details ofthe traffic calming improvements proposed at five locations along Cadencia Street which is a roadway section that does not meet the resident district criteria. A public meeting was held on August 4, 2016 to present the conceptual plans for calming the roadway to the public. The public outreach included comments that both supported the project and recommended changes that could better serve the community. Staff will take into consideration these public comments while finalizing the plans, and the City Council will be notified before the project is implemented. After the improvements are installed, an online survey will be available for residents to provide input. Finally, a study to determine the critical speed along the roadway will need to be done in order to lower the speed limit. Mr. Bilse stressed that driver behavior will define what the new speed limit will be. Discussion: Commissioner Fox inquired as to how the delineators are applied to the roadway surface. Mr. Bilse explained that they are glued down using adhesive. In response to an inquiry from Commissioner Poka, Doug said there will not be a physical barrier in the center of the roundabout but there will be signs informing the drivers of the traffic calming features. Paul Marangos, 7402 Cadencia Street, asked if the delineators could be illuminated for the benefit of motorists driving at night. In response to the inquiry of Mr. Marangos, Mr. Bilse said the proposed ({in-pavement markers" do not come illuminated, but could be a future consideration if they become an industry standard. Mimi Sampson, 7555 Cadencia Street, said she appreciates everything the city has done so far including implementing a 25 mph speed zone between La Costa Avenue and Del Rey Avenue. She wants the project implemented as soon as possible. Cheri Kechter, 3128 Del Rey Avenue, said she appreciates what the city is doing on Cad en cia Street and hopes what the city does will solve the problem. November 7, 2016 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 4 Mr. Bilse read into the records a letter from Ron Haugland that reflected general concern for the project cost and the potential impacts to the community. Mr. Haugland recommended that a better use of limited transportation fund would be a pilot project in the residential area of Cadencia Street adjacent to Cadencia Park near Esfera Street. Commissioner Gocan asked how staff decides when to install a marked crosswalk at a particular location. Mr. Bilse explained that typical intersections have legal crosswalk that are both marked and unmarked. The industry guidance is to avoid using marked crosswalks indiscriminately. In the Cadencia Street pilot project area there is no location with significant pedestrian crossing to justify a marked crosswalk; a good candidate for a marked crosswalk would be near Cadencia Park. ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Commissioner Fox and duly seconded by Commissioner Poka to accept staff's recommendation for traffic calming treatments on Cadencia Street between La Costa Avenue and Perdiz Street. 5-0-0 Hunter, Muir, Fox, Poka, Mona None None ITEM 60: National Guidelines for Autonomous Vehicles-Information Item Only Doug Bilse presented the staff report which provided an overview of recently adopted national guidelines for use of autonomous vehicles. He said staff will keep the Traffic Safety Commission informed of new developments related to the topic. ITEM 6E: Elect a new Vice-Chair to serve from November 2016 to October 2017. ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Commissioner Fox and duly seconded by Commissioner Muir to elect Commissioner Poka as new Vice-Chair. 5-0-0 Fox, Hunter, Muir, Fox, Poka, Gocan None None ITEM 6F: Police Department Monthly Public Education Theme-Information Item Only Lt. Greg Koran said the focus of the Carlsbad Police Department's Traffic Division will be DUI enforcement for the months of November and December because of the holiday season. November 7, 2016 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 5 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS None REPORT FROM CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER Doug Bilse said he received a newspaper article from Commissioner Muir regarding red light enforcement in Vista. He explained that Carlsbad has no plans to initiate red light enforcement and added that more cities are doing away with the program. Mr. Bilse said that if the commissioners had any information they wished to share with other commissioners, to please send it to him and he would then distribute it to avoid issues related to the Brown Act. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, Commissioner Fox adjourned the meeting of November 7, 2016 at 6:12p.m. Respectfully submitted, James Gale Cadencia Street Residential Traffic Management ProjectTraffic Safety CommissionNovember 7, 2016 Traffic 101•Speed limit laws•Traffic calming basics•STOP sign applications•Collision management Speed Limits on Arterial StreetsCourts require that these laws be followed when enforcement is used:•25 mph speed limits can be posted in residential districts as defined by California Vehicle Code•When streets don’t meet 25 mph criteria, speed limits must be based on driver behavior (85thpercentile speed) Speed Limits on Cadencia Street Traffic Calming Basics5 Traffic Calming:A Simple Story•Speed limits are defined by driver behavior•Driver behavior influenced by roadway design•Drivers travel slower on curvy roads•Slower speeds mean safer conditions•Redesigning roads changes driver behavior, reduces speeds and enhances neighborhoods6 Drivers Behavior Defines Speed LimitsCVC §22348‐22366•Most drivers (85%) are rational and determine speed limit•Speed limit set within 5 mph of 85% speed•Some roadways have default speed limits–25 mph in residential districts•The speed limit reflects driver behavior‐it does not change it!7 Roadway Design Influences Driver Behavior Straight Roads = Higher Speed Traffic Calming:Making Straight Roads Curvy Horizontal Deflection thruTraffic Circle and Curb Extensions Location, Location, Location400‐700 Foot Spacing for 25 mph Time Value of SafetySpeed Travel Time Added Travel Time for Safety40 mph 39 seconds‐35 mph 44 seconds 5 seconds30 mph 52 seconds 13 seconds25 mph 62 seconds 23 seconds Slower Speeds Mean Safer Streets Do STOP Signs Calm Traffic?•STOP signs are for traffic control–Clarify right‐of‐way•STOP signs are not for traffic calming‐Interrupt traffic flow and create unnecessary conflicts‐Punish drivers traveling the speed limit‐Not environmentally friendly‐Not self‐enforcing Roundabouts Traffic Calming Objectives1) Roadway re‐design that changes driver behavior–promotes lower speeds–doesn’t penalize drivers–is self‐enforcing2) Consider safety of all roadway users3) Enhance residential character Cadencia Street Corridor Concept Cadencia Street Intersection Treatments Cadencia Street Intersection Treatments Cadencia Street Midblock Treatments SketchUp image here What we’ve heard•Poinsettia / Cassia curve •Speeding on Cassia•Oversize Trucks & Excessive Noise•Pedestrian Crossings What we’ve done to date•Poinsettia / Cassia curve–Speed reduction signs (15mph)–Lane reduction pavement markings, signs & reflectors–Concrete barrier–Routed bikes behind barrier Pilot Project•Cadencia is a good opportunity to evaluate new low‐cost traffic calming measures•These measures can be changed or redesigned as needed at a very low cost•This pilot project will guide future projects of a similar nature Next Steps•City Council notification•Installation•Online survey to collect/respond to feedback•Establish new speed limit Questions Speed Limits in California•Voluntary compliance is a primary goal•Drivers determine speed limit, except legally defined roadways (e.g., residential and business districts)•Most drivers are rational (85% of drivers)•Speed limits are established in 5 mph increments•Speed limit set within 5 mph of 85% speed, except…29 City Traffic Engineer Discretion5 MPH Reduction5 mph reduction is allowed if both of these conditions are met:A. There is a condition “not readily apparent to driver” (e.g., a relatively high collision rate)B. Speed limit is closest increment to 85thpercentile speed30 Speed Survey supports 45 mph speed zone31 Multi‐Way STOP Control Considerations•Minimum volumes (vehicles, vehicles/bikes/peds)•Five (5) or more collisions over 12 months•Need to control left turn conflicts•Need to control vehicle/ped conflicts•Resolve inadequate distance issue•Intersection of two residential neighborhood through streets of similar design to improve operations of the intersection•Where traffic signals are justified (interim solution)32 Guidance on STOP Control33•The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) •ALL‐WAY STOP control may be considered at “locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to negotiate the intersection unless conflicting cross traffic is also required to stop.”•The Caltrans Highway Design Manual •“At unsignalized public road intersections, corner sight distance values…should be provided” Autonomous Vehicles:Federal and State GuidelinesTraffic Safety CommissionNovember 7, 2016 Autonomous Vehicles (AV)•Self‐driving vehicles•Navigate roadways without direct human input or guidance•Sense their environment (radar, GPS)•Related to Connected Vehicles (CV)2 Benefits of Automated Vehicles•In 2015 32,200 fatalities occurred on the nations roadway network•Roughly 95% of these fatalities are attributed to human error•Autonomous vehicles eliminate “human” error, but not all collisions3 Benefits of Automated Vehicles (con’t)•Reduced cost of public transit•Promotes a “shared economy”•Reduced parking requirements•More ridesharing4 Government Agencies•Federal Department of Transportation (DOT)–Governed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation–Includes National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA)•California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA)–Governed by CalSTA Secretary–Includes Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Roles•Sets and enforces safety performance standards for motor vehicle equipment•Investigates safety defects•Sets fuel economy standards•Provides consumer information on motor safety California DMV Roles•Registering motor vehicles•Issuing driver’s licenses•Regulating Automobile dealerships Federal Automated Vehicles Policy:Accelerating the Next Revolution in Roadway Safety•Published by Federal DOT in September 2016•Provides guidance for safe & rapid development of autonomous vehicle safety•Living document: will change•“If we wait for perfect, we’ll be waiting a very, very long time.”8 How Does This Help•Feds take lead on standards for autonomous vehicle specifications•States can implement fed’s recommended policies•California had been struggling with this issue and required a driver to be available in driverless vehicles•This should help clarify some insurance issues9 What’s Next•The Feds should develop a checklist for automakers to ensure the vehicle meets standards•California should develop a policy that clarifies what agencies and auto manufacturers need to operate autonomous vehicles10