HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-01; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING:
TIME OF MEETING:
PLACE OF MEETING:
1. CALL TO ORDER:
MINUTES
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
May 1, 2017
5:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber
Chair Hunter called the Meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL:
Present: Chair Chuck Hunter
Vice-Chair Ervin Poka
Commissioner Fred Muir
Commissioner Mona Gocan
Absent: None
Staff Members Present: Doug Bilse, City Traffic Engineer
Craig Williams, Transportation Manager
Lt. Jason Jackowski, Police Department
Sgt. Matt Lowe, Police Department
Jennifer Horodyski, Assistant Engineer
Jim Gale, Engineering Technician II
· 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
April 10, 2017
ACTION:
VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Motion by Commissioner Muir and seconded by Commissioner Gocan to
approve the minutes of the special meeting held on April 10, 2017.
4/0
Hunter, Poka, Muir, Gocan
None
None
None
May 1, 2017 Traffic Safety Commission Special Meeting Page 2
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Michael Shannon, a resident on Harbor Drive, voiced his concern about excessive vehicle
speeds along Harbor Drive and suggested installing three speed 'bumps' on Harbor Drive. He
suggested a fourth speed bump at the intersection of Chinquapin Avenue and Harbor Drive. In
his view, the speed bump is preferable to a stop sign.
Debra Bodine (Harbor Drive resident) shared concerns regarding the speeding problems on
Harbor Drive.
Mike Maras, also a resident on Harbor Drive, supported the need to address vehicle speeding
on Harbor and noted much of the excessive speeding is associated with the condominiums at
the end of Harbor Drive.
Tim Sisk (Harbor Drive resident) also commented on high vehicle speeds on Harbor and
suggested installing speed bumps to improve the safety.
Andre Aganza (Harbor Drive resident) supported the idea of installing speed bumps on Harbor
Drive.
5. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None
6. NEW BUSINESS:
a) Pavement Management Program
Senior Traffic Engineer Doug Bilse presented the report, including a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). The Pavement Management Program
improves the roadway surface and provides an opportunity to restripe travel lanes to
improve bike facilities. The new standard of 11-foot auto travel lanes allows staff to increase
the bike lane width and add buffers when possible. Recent pavement management work
was conducted on Carlsbad Village Drive (from Tamarack to College) and College Boulevard
(from the north city limit to Cannon Road) and resulted in wider bike lanes and a 3-foot
crosshatched buffer. Mr. Bilse also discussed pavement management projects on El Camino
Real between Arena I Road and La Costa Avenue (wrapping up work from late 2016), as well
as work scheduled for the '17-'18 fiscal year.
During the public comment period, Chris Duddy, of the North County Transit District (NCTD),
requested that the City maintain 12-foot travel lanes in order to accommodate busses with
wide mirrors (which can be 10-foot wide when mirrors are included). Mr. Bilse responded
that there is a balance between vehicle and bike users and the resulting buffers on the
roadway allow the busses to better travel the narrowed lanes.
b) Beech Avenue Back-in Diagonal Parking
May 1, 2017 Traffic Safety Commission Special Meeting Page 3
Senior Traffic Engineer Doug Bilse presented the report, including a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). The proposed "back-in" diagonal parking
layout is an alternative to the "head-in" design previously presented to the Traffic Safety
Commission at the March 2017 meeting. Mr. Bilse indicated that the back-in diagonal
parking is limited to the north side of Beech Avenue between Carlsbad Boulevard and
Washington Street. The benefits of back-in diagonal parking include: 1) more parking spaces
compared to parallel parking, 2) improved safety for bicyclists when compared to head-in
parking and 3) easier cargo loading and unloading directly from the curb. Staff recommends
implementing back-in diagonal parking at this location as a pilot project.
Commissioner Gocan asked if a painted median could be installed on the roadway to keep
eastbound motorists from pulling head-in into the parking spaces. Mr. Bilse explained that
the median would block driveway access.
Chair Hunter recalled that staff had earlier recommended implementing back-in parking at
an alternative (yet to be determined) location. Mr. Bilse said staff reviewed the TSC
discussion and decided Beech Avenue is a good location for a pilot project due to the low
volumes, low vehicle speed, and (relatively) level roadway.
Vice-Chair Poka asked if there is back-in parking anywhere else in Carlsbad or other nearby
cities. Mr. Williams said Oceanside has installed it on Mission Avenue and Del Mar has also
installed it attwo locations (Coast Highway and Via De La Valle). It has been well-received in
both cities.
During the public comment period Peter Penseyres, a resident who lives near this location,
noted his positive experience with back-in parking in Tucson. His research indicated the
change to back-in angled parking resulted in a significant reduction in the number of
collisions involving bikes and vehicles. Mr. Penseyres noted that there could be issues as
motorists adjust to the new parking configuration, but supports the location for the pilot
project.
ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Muir and seconded by Vice-Chair Poka to recommend
City Council approval of the Beech Avenue Back-in Parking Plan.
VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
4/0
Hunter, Poka, Muir, Gocan
None
None
None
c) Resolution of Commendation for Kathryn Fox
Senior Traffic Engineer Doug Bilse presented this item and read aloud the Resolution of
Commendation for Kathryn Fox. ,
ACTION: Motion by Vice-Chair Poka, and seconded by Commissioner Muir, to adopt a
Resolution of Commendation for Kathryn Fox.
May 1, 2017
VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Traffic Safety Commission Special Meeting
4/0
Hunter, Poka, Muir, Gocan
None
None
d) Resolution of Commendation for Mychal Dourson
Page 4
Senior Traffic Engineer Doug Bilse presented this item and read aloud the Resolution of
Commendation for Mychal Dourson.
ACTION:
VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Motion by Vice-Chair Poka, and seconded by Commissioner Gocan, to adopt
a Resolution of Commendation for Mychal Dourson.
4/0
Hunter, Poka, Muir, Gocan
None
None
e) July TSC Meeting Schedule
Chair Chuck Hunter stated thatthe JulyTSC meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 3rd, which
raises the possibility that there might not be a quorum. Chair Hunter suggested cancelling
the July meeting. Senior Engineer Bilse agreed to cancel the July meeting.
f) Police-Related Matters
Sergeant Matt Lowe made a presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk) regarding
efforts that the Traffic Division of the Carlsbad Police Department is undertaking during the
month of May:
• Motorcycle and Bicycle Safety
• Traffic Safety Enforcement & Education near school grounds
• Continued OTS Grant implementation for DUI Checkpoints
• Daisy Avenue Patrol
7. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS:
a) Chair Hunter asked Senior Engineer Bilse for an update on the Harbor Drive project. Mr.
Bilse stated that the staff is proposing to install speed cushions on Harbor Street and the
next step is to prepare plans. The appropriate number of cushions will be determined
during the engineering process.
May 1, 2017 Traffic Safety Commission Special Meeting Page 5
b) Commissioner Muir inquired about the need for the traffic signal at the intersection of
Aviara Parkway/Kingfisher Drive. Mr. Bilse said he'll return with an update and
recommendations at a future meeting.
c) Chair Hunter commented about excessive queues at the two eastbound left-turn lanes from
La Costa Avenue to El Camino Real. Mr. Bilse said there is a CIP project planned to improve
that situation by extending this left turn lane.
d) Vice-Chair Poka asked if staff had data on the recently installed traffic circles on Cassia
Road. Mr. Williams stated before and after data indicates motorists are now traveling
around 27 or 28 mph near the circles compared to 41 mph in the same vicinity before the
circles were installed.
8. REPORT FROM CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER:
a) Mr. Bilse explained that staff met with residents of Daisy Avenue and came to a consensus
on which traffic-calming features to utilize in calming the roadway.
9. ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, Chair Hunter adjourned the meeting of May 1, 2017 at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
~~
Engineering Technician II