HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-24; City Council; ; Report on Traffic Safety in Carlsbad, Including Trends, Improvements Completed and Next Steps Following the Traffic Safety EmergencyCA Review CKM
Meeting Date: Oct. 24, 2023
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Staff Contact: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
geoff.patnoe@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2820
Subject: Report on Traffic Safety in Carlsbad, Including Trends, Improvements
Completed and Next Steps Following the Traffic Safety Emergency
Districts: All
Recommended Action
Receive a report on traffic safety in Carlsbad, including trends, improvements completed and next
steps, following the conclusion of the local traffic safety emergency proclaimed Aug. 23, 2022.
Executive Summary
The City of Carlsbad proclaimed a local emergency on traffic safety Aug. 23, 2022, to address a
more than 200% increase in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes since 2019. Under an emergency
proclamation, a city can more easily redeploy staff and resources, expedite projects and increase
engagement with community partners to address conditions threatening the community’s safety.
When ratifying the emergency proclamation on Aug. 30, 2022, the City Council approved
emergency funding of $2 million to immediately launch education, engineering and enforcement
actions to enhance traffic safety in Carlsbad. In addition to these immediate actions, the City
Council approved a comprehensive Safer Streets Together Plan on Sept. 27, 2022, which included
dozens of short- and long-term traffic safety-related programs and initiatives.
Although the emergency proclamation ended Sept. 8, 2023, traffic safety remains a top city
priority. This report highlights:
• Data regarding what was accomplished as a result of the traffic safety emergency
• Projects currently underway
• Work that will continue as a part of day-to-day city operations to ensure city streets are
safe for all users
Explanation & Analysis
City staff have initiated a wide variety of programs, projects and initiatives to enhance the safe use
of city streets. Some could be completed immediately while others are longer term in nature. All
are described in the Safer Streets Together Plan that was approved by the City Council.
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 1 of 10
Decreases in injury collisions
Data on injury collisions has informed the emergency proclamation, the Safer Streets Together
Plan and the actions by the city to improve the safe use of local roads.
City staff analyzed injury collision data from Sept. 1, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2023, the 12-month period
between the beginning and end of the emergency proclamation. The analysis found Carlsbad saw
a measurable reduction in injury collisions over this time period:
•13% decrease in injury collisions across all modes of travel.
•20% decrease in injury collisions involving bikes and e-bikes.
•22% decrease in injury collisions involving pedal bikes.
•18% decrease in injury collisions involving e-bikes.
Program overview
The city has achieved these results through a comprehensive program focused on the “three Es” of
traffic safety, education, engineering and enforcement:
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 2 of 10
The city has made significant progress in each of these areas by focusing on the actions approved
by the City Council in the Safer Streets Together Plan, as well as expediting existing traffic safety
related projects and initiatives. The following sections provide a summary of the city’s efforts in
the 12-month period from Aug. 23, 2022, to Aug. 22, 2023.
12-month progress at a glance
Nearly all of the initiatives approved as part of the Safer Streets Together Plan have been
completed, with others in progress.
All 3 Es Status
Adopt a Vision Zero resolution
Education Status
Safer Streets Together roll out
Community commitment campaign
School collaboration
Business, non-profit partnership program
Mobility organization partnership program
Video public service announcements
Carlsbad Village Faire outreach
Police officer Smart Cycling instructor program
Engineering Status
Bike lane enhancements In progress
Digital roadway messaging
Upgrade high-pedestrian signal locations
Expanded street resurfacing and restriping In progress
Tamarack Avenue traffic calming
Reconfigure arterials In progress
Expanded street resurfacing and restriping (Palomar Airport Road, Rancho Santa
Fe/Olivenhain Road) In progress
Review citywide speed limits for potential reduction Ongoing
Enforcement Status
Enhanced enforcement Ongoing
Legislative advocacy for e-bike licensing requirement In progress
School e-bike certification/permit program
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 3 of 10
The following sections are highlights from each of the key areas covering the period from Aug. 23,
2022, to Aug. 22, 2023:
Program Highlights | Education
City staff developed and implemented a multimedia public education and behavior change
campaign that included partnering with local schools, businesses, faith-based groups and mobility
organizations. To date, nearly 12,000 residents have made a public commitment to do their part to
keep Carlsbad’s streets safe for everyone, and these public commitments have helped create a
new social norm around traffic safety in Carlsbad.
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 4 of 10
Traffic safety outreach will remain a high priority for city staff, focusing on key times of year and
events when traffic safety is top of mind. Staff will also continue to work with the partners
developed through this campaign to share information and collaborate on traffic safety events.
Program Highlights | Engineering
Expanded green bike lane treatments
Green paint or bike lane improvements have been added at the following 43 locations to highlight
the areas where bicycle and vehicle traffic may conflict:
• Carlsbad Boulevard at 16 intersections
• State Street and Laguna Drive
• Rancho Santa Fe Road at 14 intersections
• La Costa Avenue and Levante Street
• Poinsettia Lane and Avenida Encinas
• Palomar Airport Road and Paseo Del Norte
• College Boulevard and Cannon Road/Bobcat Boulevard
• El Camino Real and Faraday Avenue
• Poinsettia Lane and Cassia Road
• College Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue
• Carlsbad Village Drive and Celinda Drive/Rising Glen Way
• Harding Street and Oak Avenue
• Tamarack Avenue and Jefferson Street
• Chestnut Avenue and Madison Street
• Southbound Carlsbad Boulevard, from Manzano Drive to Island Way
• Jefferson Street, between Las Flores Drive and the I-5 overpass
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 5 of 10
The first green paint applications at the beginning of the emergency declaration last year have
faded and are planned to be repainted by the end of November 2023.
Review of citywide speed limits
The city has started its study of citywide speed limits after Caltrans released the recent update of
the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices based on Assembly Bill AB 43, legislation
which gives cities additional flexibility in determining how speed limits can be set. The consultant
study is expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2024 with recommendations to begin
enacting changes by summer of 2024.
Approved a Vision Zero resolution
On March 21, 2023, the City Council approved a Vision Zero resolution, affirming the city’s
commitment to traffic safety. City staff will use existing City Council-approved plans and strategies
to work toward the Vision Zero goal of zero serious injuries and deaths on city roadways by 2035,
the target year established by the state of California’s Vision Zero plan.
Restriped southbound Carlsbad Boulevard from Manzano Drive to Island Way
The project is completed and helped address speeding while creating more space for pedestrians
and cyclists. The restriped lanes created:
• A shoulder on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard that can be used by pedestrians
• One vehicle lane and a buffered bike lane between Solamar Drive and Island Way
• Space for bicycle parking and up to 13 new vehicle parking spots
The restriping included new green paint to highlight potential conflict points between cars and
bikes at intersections along with other bike lane improvements.
As a result from the changes to the roadway and the associated lower speeds, the City Council was
able to approve a reduction in the speed limit along this road segment from 50 mph to 45 mph last
month.
Upgraded high-pedestrian signal locations
The city has reduced vehicle-pedestrian conflicts by allowing pedestrians to begin crossing while
vehicles still face a red signal. Countdowns display the pedestrian crossing times to reduce
confusion and ambiguity. Thirty-two locations have been upgraded, and staff will continue to
evaluate whether additional locations are candidates for this phased timing.
Expanded street resurfacing and restriping, reconfiguring arterial streets
The City Council approved a plan to resurface and reconfigure the lanes on Carlsbad’s major
streets, called arterial streets, on Feb. 7, 2023. The project will seal the roadways to improve
pavement condition as part of the city’s pavement management program and improve conditions
for all users on the roads. Several sections of these streets will be reconfigured, with the number
of vehicle lanes reduced and lane widths made more appropriate for the roadways to help manage
speeds, improve the line of sight and access conditions for side street users and further improve
conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. This project will also reduce the city’s long-term
pavement maintenance costs.
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 6 of 10
This program will be completed in phases. The construction contract for the first phase was
awarded in June 2023, and construction began in July 2023. This phase focuses on 16 miles worth
of improvements on six of the city’s east/west arterial corridors:
• Olivenhain Road - from the Encinitas city limits to Rancho Santa Fe Road intersection
• La Costa Avenue - from the Encinitas city limits near Interstate 5 to Fairway Lane
• Poinsettia Lane - from Carlsbad Boulevard to Melrose Drive, including a reconfigured
section between Avenida Encinas and Carlsbad Boulevard
• Cannon Road - from Avenida Encinas to Faraday Avenue
• Tamarack Avenue - from Carlsbad Boulevard to Carlsbad Village Drive including a
reconfigured section between Carlsbad Village Drive and Skyline Drive
• Carlsbad Village Drive - from I-5 to College Boulevard, including an improved line of sight
for side street users
An example of a roadway reconfiguration was completed this spring on southbound Carlsbad
Boulevard. The reconfiguration is designed to improve the balance of the roadway for all users
while not causing any additional delay for vehicles. This is achieved by keeping the vehicle lanes
essentially the same at the intersections. While it helps address the speeding along the segment,
the reconfiguration also greatly improves the conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists along this
heavily travelled coastal route.
The other arterial streets to be reconfigured as part of this project are:
• Carlsbad Boulevard - from Pine Avenue to the southern border near La Costa Avenue
• El Fuerte Street - from Faraday Avenue to the existing one vehicle lane in each direction
south of Rancho Pancho, excluding the segments approaching Loker Avenue to Bressi
Ranch Way
• Grand Avenue - from Ocean Street to Hope Way. This would implement the first phase of
the Grand Avenue Promenade Project to provide short-term benefits until the final
promenade improvements are completed.
• Cannon Road - from Avenida Encinas to El Arbol Drive
Two other arterial streets will be resurfaced and restriped in a subsequent phase:
• Palomar Airport Road - from Avenida Encinas to the eastern city border
• Rancho Santa Fe Road/Olivenhain Road - from the eastern city border to the western city
border
The schedules for the work on those two remaining project road segments are being developed;
the projects are still being designed and will warrant additional public vetting. On several of the
segments, the work will require coastal development permits, or coordination with utility projects
that require trenching planned within the foreseeable future, before the work can begin. These
projects will be reviewed by the Traffic & Mobility Commission later this year.
Tamarack Avenue traffic calming
New speed tables and raised crosswalks (raised portions of a roadway) between Skyline Drive and
Adams Street were completed in August. Following unanticipated delays in supplies and
contracting, the installation of the additional new rectangular rapid flashing beacons was
completed in September.
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 7 of 10
Planned projects
In addition to our work on the actions described above, city staff continue to make progress on
over 100 other traffic and mobility related projects already planned over the next 15 years,
estimated at a cost of over $350 million.
Program Highlights | Enforcement
Stepped-up enforcement
The Police Department has continued its enhanced enforcement of traffic laws, with a focus on
high collision areas, reported areas of concern for residents, as well as times where heavier than
usual traffic is expected, such as holidays.
School e-bike safety training and permit program
At the outset of the emergency proclamation, the city sought input from the community on ideas
and priorities to improve traffic safety. The top response was to create more accountability and
regulation for e-bikes. Since that time, the city has actively engaged with state lawmakers (as
detailed below) and collaborated with local schools to develop an e-bike permit program.
Working with all school districts serving Carlsbad, the Police Department explored ways to help
schools establish programs in which students riding e-bikes must complete a tailored safety
course. The department arranged for several officers to become certified American League of
Bicyclists safety instructors, who have since conducted 22 training courses reaching over 1,000
students, coinciding with the start of the fall 2023 semester.
The Carlsbad Unified School District has implemented an on-campus e-bike parking permit,
contingent on students completing the safety training, and other districts have promoted the
safety training classes to their students. These school programs are ongoing.
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 8 of 10
Electronic citation program expanded
The department is purchasing the printers and installing the software needed to enable all officers
to issue citations electronically, using their assigned mobile phones, rather than writing them by
hand. With this change, the department will no longer have to manually collate hand-written
citations to record and track traffic enforcement data. Modernizing the citation process will make
it more efficient, reduce the potential for errors and create a single database of citations for easier
data extraction, which will help the department in its data-driven decision making and statistical
reporting.
Legislative advocacy for e-bike licensing
The city worked with its state lobbyists and elected representatives to advocate for legislation that
would address concerns about e-bikes. The legislature considered two bills related to e-bike safety
this year, and one of the bills completed the legislative process:
• Assembly Bill 1188 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, which would direct the
California State Transportation Agency to develop and distribute, on or before Sept. 1,
2024, the Bike Smart Handbook, a bicyclist and e-bike safety handbook based on
evidence-based practices and emerging trends. This bill did not pass out of the
Assembly Appropriations Committee and will not be moving forward this year. The bill
may be reconsidered when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2024.
• Senate Bill 381 by Senator Dave Min, which would require the Mineta Transportation
Institute at San Jose State University to conduct a study on electric bicycles to inform
efforts to improve the safety of riders and pedestrians, on or before January 1, 2026.
This bill passed out of the Legislature and is awaiting a signature, or veto, from
Governor Newsom.
The city’s Intergovernmental Affairs Director will continue to monitor opportunities to promote
legislative actions to address local concerns about e-bike safety.
Fiscal Analysis
No additional funding is required related to the actions in this report.
On Aug. 30, 2022, the City Council authorized the Deputy City Manager of Administrative Services
to appropriate $2 million from unspent funds from the fiscal year 2021-22 General Fund budget to
address the traffic safety emergency.
To date, nearly 75% of this amount has been allocated to the city’s emergency response:
$1,238,663 has been spent, and $214,524 is currently encumbered, meaning it has been dedicated
to a specific contract to complete planned work, leaving $546,813 available to fund continued
implementation of the Safer Streets Together Plan.
The total available budget was approved as part of the budget carryforward report on Sept. 26,
2023, and may be expended for appropriate uses.1
Next Steps
Although the emergency proclamation has ended, traffic safety remains core to the city’s mission.
Staff will continue to carry out programs and initiatives identified in the Safer Streets Together
Plan, as directed by the City Council.
1 Carryforward budget items carry unspent funds budgeted to have been spent in one fiscal year into the budget for
the following fiscal year.
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 9 of 10
Environmental Evaluation
In keeping with California Public Resources Code Section 21065, the receipt of this report does not
qualify as a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act in that it has no
potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable
indirect physical change in the environment, and therefore does not require environmental
review. Any future direction to undertake individual projects will undergo a separate evaluation.
Exhibit
None.
Oct. 24, 2023 Item #5 Page 10 of 10
Oct. 24, 2023
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1.Receive a report on traffic safety in Carlsbad, including trends,
improvements completed and next steps, following the conclusion of
the local traffic safety emergency proclaimed Aug. 23, 2022
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TONIGHT’S PRESENTATION
1.End of the local emergency proclamation
2.Recap what has been accomplished
3.How traffic safety will continue to be prioritized
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BIKE + E-BIKE COLLISIONS
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PAST ACTIONS
•Carlsbad specific e-bike safety laws
•Public education program
•Increases in spot enforcement
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BACK TO SCHOOL
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EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
Government Code Section 8630
Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 6.04
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“actual or threatened existence of
conditions of extreme peril to the public
safety within our city.”
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Activate the Emergency Operations Center
Immediately redeploy resources
Streamline procurement and other processes
Increase focus and collaboration among our
residents, businesses, other agencies and our
business community
Emergency Proclamation
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Safer Streets Together Plan
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Three Es of Traffic Safety
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INJURY COLLISIONS: BIKES AND E-BIKES
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Safer Streets Together Plan
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Safer Streets Together Plan
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Safer Streets Together Plan
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EDUCATION
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ENGINEERING
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ENGINEERING
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ENFORCEMENT
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SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS
24 trainings1,000+ students
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AB 1188
Statewide Bike Smart
Handbook
SB 381
Study on e-bikes and
efforts to improve safety
E-bike licensing
Potential statewide
training and licensing
E-BIKE LEGISLATION
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CARLSBAD AND BEYOND
Regional
Safe Streets and Vision Zero Award
Statewide
Outreach & Education Campaign
National
Outreach & Education Campaign Plan
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CARLSBAD AND BEYOND
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ONGOING PRIORITY
Safer Streets Together comprehensive plan continues to be implemented
•100+ major road projects planned over next 5 years
•Ongoing education and outreach
•Continued enforcement
•Strategic plan
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
•City Council
•Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission
•Community members
•Partners
•City staff
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TAMARACK AVENUE
•Traffic calming from Skyline Drive to Adams Street
•Evaluation of Tamarack Avenue and Valley Street pedestrian
signal
•Tamarack Avenue Complete Streets Plan
NEXT STEPS
•Complete restriping and collect data as part of the Tamarack Avenue Complete Streets Plan
•Begin public outreach effort mid-2024 on the
Tamarack Avenue Complete Streets Plan
•Evaluate speed limits
COMPLETE STREET CONCEPTS
•Wide straight streets promote high speeds
•Speed correlates to fatality of collisions
•City Mobility Element focuses on providing
livable streets that improve mobility and
connectivity for all users
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