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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-04; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: CALL TO ORDER MINUTES TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION February 4, 2013 5:00p.m. City Council Chambers Vice Chair Hope Wrisley called the Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Vice-Chair Hope Wrisley Commissioner Fred Muir Commissioner Chris Chauncey Commissioner Kathryn Fox Chair Jairo Valderrama Staff Members Present: John Kim, Associate Engineer, Transportation Department Bryan Jones, Deputy Director, City Traffic Engineer APPROVAL OF MINUTES November 5, 2012 ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Lt. Kelly Cain, Carlsbad Police Department Motion by Commissioner Chauncey, and duly seconded by Commissioner Muir, to approve the minutes of the meeting held on November 5, 2012, as presented. 3-0-1 Wrisley, Muir, Chauncey None Fox There were no Traffic Safety Commission meetings held in December 2012 or January 2013. February 4, 2013 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Sue Frasier, 1070 Buena Vista Way, spoke regarding the crosswalk across Las Flores Drive at the 1-5 Northbound off-ramp. She has concerns about the safety of the children walking home. Although the crossing is STOP controlled, Mrs. Frasier stated that sight distance is an issue crossing east to west due to vegetation. Mrs. Frasier shared some pictures with the commissioners. She would like to see someone look into possibly cutting back the vegetation and possibly install flashing lights during hours when children would be present. Vice Chair Wrisley thanked Ms. Frasier for speaking and informed her that her concerns would be forwarded to staff. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A: Las Flores Drive at Pio Pico Drive-Request to establish ALL-WAY STOP control Mr. John Kim presented the staff report to establish ALL-WAY STOP control on Las Flores at Pio Pico Drive. The original request was from residents who live on Las Flores Drive. Based on staff findings and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which recommends consideration of ALL-WAY STOP control due to vehicle/pedestrian conflicts in high pedestrian locations and when there is Ii m ited sight d ista nee at an intersection, Mr. Kim stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended installation of the ALL-WAY STOP on Las Flores Drive at Pio Pico Drive. Vice Chair Wrisley inquired if an intersection in the city does not meet requirements, but all of the citizens agree on a traffic calming measure like a STOP sign can they get one? Mr. Kim answered that staff will usually not support a request for a STOP sign that is not justified but City Council can direct staff to install it. Commissioner Fox asked why the city is not following the Phase 1, 2 and 3 steps for this STOP sign request. Mr. Kim explained that those phases are part of the city's traffic calming program, the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program. The program was specifically created to address speeding on residential streets. When residents contact the city with concerns about speeding on February 4, 2013 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 residential streets, staff uses the traffic calming program to address those concerns. This request, however, was focused on the safety of children and other pedestrians crossing this intersection and, therefore, was not evaluated as part of the traffic calming program. Commissioner Fox asked if the school is in support of request. Mr. Kim answered that the requester did state that the school is in support of the installation of the ALL-WAY STOP. Commissioner Chauncey asked if this school will be closed in the future. Mr. Kim stated that the city is not aware of the school closing in the foreseeable future. Commissioner Chauncey asked what prompted this request if there have not been any accidents. Mr. Kim explained that the physical occurrence of a traffic accident does not have to occur in order for a request to be made by residents. Mr. Kim stated that Mr. Berry could respond directly as originator of this request. Greg Berry, 1290 Las Flores, stated that he was the originator of this request. Mr. Berry stated that prior to the last 4 years of no recorded accidents there was a child that was struck by a vehicle after being dropped off by the bus and then attempting to cross the street. There is so much child and pedestrian activity around this school, not only during school hours but for activities after school and on weekends. Mr. Berry is extremely concerned for the safety of the children. Mr. Berry is also concerned that some people mistakenly think there is an existing STOP sign Las Flores Drive when there is not and they stop, which leads to people behind locking up their brakes trying to stop unexpectedly. Jennifer Deem, stated that she is the morning school crossing guard. Ms. Deem stated that there are vehicles speeding up and down the hill and vehicles will roll into the crosswalk and just barely stop short of pedestrians, mostly children. A particular recent incident occurred when a white Chevy van almost rear ended a car stopped for the crossing guard. There have been numerous near accidents and the intersection is very unsafe for the crossing guard and the children. Sue Frasier, 1070 Buena Vista Way, stated that she is a parent of a child that attends Buena Vista Elementary School. Ms. Frasier is hopeful for an ALL-WAY STOP that will also help on weekends. Commissioner Chauncey said that he visited intersection and witnessed vehicles going at least 45 mph and would like to see a 4-way STOP at this intersection. February 4, 2013 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page4 Commissioner Muir thanked all of the speakers and asked where other STOP signs or signals are located on Las Flores Drive. He brought up stops on Aviara Oaks where there is a lot of congestion due to so many stops. Mr. Kim stated that there are no existing STOP signs on Las Flores Drive. There is a traffic signal on the west end at Jefferson Street but that is very far from the subject intersection. Commissioner Muir asked what the protocol is to have a traffic light installed rather than a STOP sign. Mr. Kim explained that staff normally takes a step-by-step approach to solutions. A traffic signal is significantly more expensive than STOP signs and may be considered if STOP signs were found to be inadequate. Since there were some concerns about vehicle speeding, a traffic signal may not be a viable solution since it would not address that issue. ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Commissioner Fox, and duly seconded by Commissioner Muir, to establish an ALL-WAY STOP at Las Flores and Pio Pico Drive. 4-0-0 Wrisley, Muir, Chauncey, Fox None None ITEM 6B: Request to establish STOP control on Buttercup Road at Carnation Drive Mr. John Kim presented this staff report. The streets function as "local residential". Based on the field measurements made by staff and the criteria that a STOP sign should be considered on the stem leg of a T-intersection, if the safe approach on the minor street (stem leg) is less than 10 miles per hour, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended the installation of a STOP sign on Buttercup Road at Carnation Drive. Commissioner Muir asked if there are only around 13 homes in the immediate area, how many cars are using the intersection? Mr. Kim clarified that this area consisted of town homes and had multiple dwelling units for each building. Traffic counts were not conducted nor required because this issue was based sight distance at the intersection, which is independent of vehicle volume. Commissioner Wrisley visited location and she did not see a need for a STOP sign. Commissioner Fox asked if this intersection was qualified for the traffic calming program. February 4, 2013 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 5 Mr. Jones stated that the purpose of the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program (CRTMP) is to manage traffic on residential streets needing calming. It is focused more on street segments whereas this issue is about sight distance and right of way at the intersection. Commissioner Fox asked if a YIELD sign would work. Mr. Kim stated that when there the a safe approach speed is greater than 10 mph, a YIELD sign would be appropriate but in this case the safe approach speed is less than 10 mph and, therefore, a STOP sign would be appropriate. Commissioner Fox inquired to what the reason was for the resident to bring this up as an issue. Mr. Kim answered that the problem was with the issue of right of way for vehicles turning from Buttercup to Carnation conflicting with vehicles on Carnation. There was also some concerns about vehicle speeds on both streets. Commissioner Chauncey asked why there was not a STOP sign there already. Mr. Kim answered that he did not know the specific history of the area but it is common for developments to specify STOP signs on the stem legs of T-intersections when the streets are designed and built. Most of the otherT-intersections in this area have a STOP sign on the stem leg but this intersection did not. Commissioner Muir stated that he was not comfortable with having a STOP sign installed. ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Commissioner Fox, and duly seconded by Commissioner Chauncey, to deny the request for a proposed STOP on Buttercup Road at Carnation Drive. 4-0-0 Wrisley, Muir, Chauncey, Fox None None ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS None. February 4, 2013 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 6 ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Kim announced that the Phase 2 traffic calming projects on Levante Street, Esfera Street, and Magnolia Avenue were approved by the City Council at the January 29th City Council Meeting. Vice Chair Wrisley asked when those would be completed. Mr. Jones explained that the STOP signs associated with the Phase 2 traffic calming projects were introduced as ordinances. They are required to be adopted at the next City Council meeting and will go into effect 30 days after adoption. Mr. Kim said that he was working with the Streets Department and thinks the work should be done in the next 2 months. Mr. Jones also announced that the ordinance for parking restrictions on recreational vehicles and oversize vehicles was also introduced at the same meeting and will go into effect at the same time. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, Vice Chair Wrisley adjourned the Meeting of February 4, 2013 at 5:56 p.m. Respectfully submitted, t?~~- Rose Williams Secretary