HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-19; Request for Purple Crosswalks at Aviara Parkway and Ambrosia Lane; Gomez, PazTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
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Feb. 19,2019
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Via:
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Paz Gomez, Public Works Director J\ ,
Elaine Lu key, Chief Operations Officer y---_
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Carlsbad
Re: Request for purple crosswalks at Aviara Parkway and Ambrosia Lane
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an overview of the city's response to a
resident's request to paint purple crosswalks at the intersection of Aviara Parkway and
Ambrosia Lane.
Background
A resident contacted the city via email on Feb. 5, 2019. Referring to an article in the San-Diego
Union-Tribune about the city of San Diego's new creative crosswalk pilot project, the resident
requested that the city of Carlsbad consider painting the marked crosswalk at the intersection
of Aviara Parkway and Ambrosia Lane purple to match the school colors of nearby Aviara Oaks
Elementary and Middle Schools.
Discussion
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) publishes the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (MUTCD), which contains all national design, application, placement, standards,
guidance, options and support provisions for traffic control devices. The purpose of the MUTCD
is to provide uniformity of these devices, which include signs, signals and pavement markings,
to promote highway safety and efficiency on the nation's streets and highways. The MUTCD is
adopted by reference in accordance with Title 23, United States Code, Section 109(d) and Title
23, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 655.603 and is approved as the national standard for
designing, applying and planning traffic control devices. Title 23 of the Code of Federal
Regulations allows states to adopt a State MUTCD that is in substantial conformance with the
national MUTCD.
The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) is the governing
document that local agencies such as the city of Carlsbad uses to guide staff's choices for traffic
control devices. The primary consideration is safety, and compliance with the CA MUTCD is
intended to provide clear and concise information to drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and other
users to safely navigate our roadways. The use of these standardized traffic control devices also
limits the City's potential liability for crosswalk-related injuries to persons or property.
Crosswalk markings are described in Chapter 3 of the CA MUTCD. Section 3B.18(04) clearly
states that "When crosswalk lines are used, they shall consist of solid white lines that mark the
crosswalk." The only allowable exception is found in Section 3B.18(19) and states that,
Public Works Department
Faraday Center 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2730
Memo ID #2019014
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Feb. 19,2019
Page 2
"Crosswalk markings near schools shall be yellow as provided in CVC (California Vehicle Ccide)
21368."
To ensure compliance with the CA MUTCD, staff does not support the request to paint
crosswalks purple at the intersection of Aviara Parkway and Ambrosia Lane. Should the city
adopt a proposal to paint any color other than yellow or white, the city would not be in
compliance with the CA MUTCD.
Next Steps
The city has recently adopted the high visibility "continental" style crosswalks as allowed per
the CA MUTCD. See Figure 1 below.
Spacing of lines
. selected to avoid
wheel path
• *High v1sibilhy Crosswalk.Marking
Figure 1
As streets are resurfaced as part of the Public Works Department's pavement maintenance
program, marked crosswalks are being updated from the standard to continental configuration.
The crosswalks at Aviara Parkway and Ambrosia Lane will be updated when the street is
resurfaced.
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Gary Barberio, Assistant City Manager
Paz Gomez, Public Works Director
Debbie Fountain, Community & Economic Development Director
Marshall Plantz, Transportation Director
John Maashoff, Public Works Manager