HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-07; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Update Carlsbad Municipal Code (CMC) Chapter 10.32 by the revision of section 10.32.091 to designate El Fuerte Street from Palomar Airport Road to Faraday Avenue as a tru(
CITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF: July 7, 2008
LOCATION:
INITIATED BY:
El Fuerte Street north of Palomar Airport Road
City Engineer
ITEMNO.6A
REQUESTED ACTION: Update Carlsbad Municipal Code (CMC) Chapter 10.32 by the
revision of section 10.32.091 to designate El Fuerte Street from
Palomar Airport Road to Faraday A venue as a truck route.
BACKGROUND:
Truck routes in Carlsbad were first established by ordinance in 1972. Several revisions to
the truck route ordinance have subsequently been made as new streets serving the
Carlsbad transportation network have been constructed. The most recent revision was in
2005.
Intercity commercial vehicles exceeding a gross vehicle weight rating (G.V.W.R.) of
seven tons (14,000 pounds) are restricted to using streets in Carlsbad designated as a
truck route. However, drivers in vehicles exceeding this weight rating may deviate from
the established truck route to a destination in Carlsbad served by the vehicle at the
intersection nearest to the destination point. All commercial vehicles considered as
through traffic shall be operated on designated truck routes with the following exceptions:
• operation on street of destination
• authorized emergency vehicles
• waste management or other authorized vehicles
• detoured vehicles
Construction vehicles over seven tons G.V.W.R. may use non-truck route streets only
when an approved haul route permit or approved oversize load permit is first obtained
from the Carlsbad Engineering Department. These permits specify the date and time that
the route may be used plus other conditions, as appropriate.
Carlsbad's Circulation Element of the General Plan provides a comprehensive plan for
the circulation of people, goods, and services. The Circulation Element also identifies
how the transportation system in Carlsbad will link with surrounding jurisdictions.
Because of the interrelationship of the transportation network between adjacent
communities, established truck routes should be logical and reasonably "self-enforcing".
Cooperation with the trucking industry is an important factor for compliance. This effort
minimizes the need for continuous police presence and enables trucking operations to be
conducted in a time saving and fuel efficient manner while reducing air pollutants.
Through the determination of properly established truck routes, vehicle operators may be
less inclined to use inappropriate streets as a "short-cut" through Carlsbad.
CITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF: July 7, 2008
( continued)
ITEMNO. 6A
Large vehicles such as trucks, or other vehicles over seven tons G.V.W.R., serve an
important purpose in the community by delivering goods, services, and products.
Through the adoption of a truck route ordinance, the Carlsbad City Council may
regulate commercial vehicles by weight to designated streets established in the
Carlsbad Municipal Code, however, the Council cannot regulate the type of trucks or
commercial vehicles using city streets. Posting of the truck routes enables the police
department to more effectively enforce truck route restrictions.
Carlsbad acknowledges that all types of vehicles should have the ability to access each
road on which they are legally allowed to travel upon. To minimize impacts, roads are
functionally classified in the Circulation Element of the General Plan as to the roadway
cross-section and the volume of traffic the road is projected to carry. Travel by any class
of vehicle on any road in Carlsbad should be restricted only upon demonstration that
using the road will result in the need for safety improvements and that it will result in
unacceptable operating characteristics. When a reasonable alternate route is provided,
certain streets may be restricted to use by commercial vehicles over seven tons G.V.W.R.
The Carlsbad City Council recognizes that restricting through commercial vehicles from
using a segment of the roadway could reduce potential conflicts. However, the intention
of the ordinance is to provide through truck routes within the City that logically support
truck routes established in other jurisdictions as well. Identification of these routes will
balance efficient commercial vehicle movements and public safety.
The authority to restrict commercial vehicles to designated roads in Carlsbad is found in
the Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 10.32. By the designation of appropriate streets as
truck routes, there is recognition of the need to provide for the management of truck
operations (vehicles over seven tons G.V.W.R.) and to address community concerns about
quality of life. The objective for establishing truck routes is to minimize the intrusion of
trucks on local residential streets and to keep commercial vehicles on designated routes to
the greatest extent possible. This is accomplished through a coordinated effort of
engineering, educational, informational, and enforcement means.
In general, the criteria for restricting commercial vehicles over seven tons G. V.W.R. from
use of certain streets is the demonstration that it will promote the health, safety, and
welfare of the public and not create an undue hardship on other users of the transportation
network. Specific criteria to consider includes, but is not limited to:
1. Reasonable alternate route is provided. The proposed route is evaluated upon
acceptable operating characteristics and/or any safety related concerns. The route
should be engineered to accommodate heavier vehicles and be appropriate for
designation as a truck route. Alternate routing should not create an undue hardship
for drivers of commercial vehicles to reach their destinations when a time and
distance comparison is conducted between the two routings.
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CITY OF CARLSBAD i.
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF: July 7, 2008 ITEMNO. 6A
( continued)
DATA:
2. The character and frequency of commercial vehicle traffic on the proposed truck
route is compatible with the affected area to the greatest extent possible.
An evaluation may include safety issues, accident history, engineering of the
roadway, vehicle composition, the presence of traffic controls at intersections, and
any other related traffic engineering issues.
3. The roadway should be functionally classified on the Circulation Element map
( copy attached) as either a collector road or arterial road.
4. One portion of the community should not be unduly burdened with commercial
vehicle traffic at the expense of relieving other portions of the community from
commercial vehicle traffic.
From Palomar Airport Road to Faraday Avenue, El Fuerte Street is 0.72 miles in length
and presently is used by industrial park truck traffic and employees working in the
industrial park. Although designated as a Secondary Arterial on the Circulation Element
of the General Plan, El Fuerte Street was constructed with two different roadway widths.
El Fuerte Street has a curb-to-curb width of 82 feet between Palomar Airport Road and
Loker Avenue East/West and has a curb-to-curb width of 64 feet from Loker Avenue
East/West to the intersection of Faraday Avenue. A curb-to-curb width of 64 feet is typical
for a secondary arterial roadway in Carlsbad.
The subject segment of El Fuerte Street meets or exceeds the design standards for a
secondary arterial. The constructed pavement section for this segment of El Fuerte Street
can handle trucks in excess of 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating.
Designating El Fuerte Street as a truck route from Palomar Airport Road to
Faraday Avenue will result in a logical connection to two existing truck routes,
Palomar Airport Road and also Faraday Avenue. The proposed truck route would serve
truck traffic in the Carlsbad Airport Business Center on the southerly terminus of this
road segment and industrial park uses located adjacent to Faraday Avenue in the
Carlsbad Oaks North development.
The proposed truck route designation of the subject segment of El Fuerte Street is
compatible with existing land uses, can safely accommodate truck traffic, utilizes the
engineered aspects of a secondary arterial to provide for efficient vehicle operations, and
provides an additional truck route option.
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CITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF: July 7, 2008
( continued)
ITEMNO. 6A
Existing truck routes designated in section 10.32.091 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code are
indicated on the attached Exhibit "A".
RECOMMENDATION:
The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends designating El Fuerte Street as
a truck route from Palomar Airport Road to Faraday Avenue.
NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
Section 10.32.091 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code will require a revision to add a portion
of El Fuerte Street as a truck route by City Council adoption of an ordinance.
LOCATION • MAP
AVE.
PROPOSED
TRUCK ROUTE
AIRPORT
NOT TO SCALE
PROJECT NAME PROPOSED TRUCK ROUTE
EL FUERTE STREET
DRAYrN BY: SCOTT £VANS, CARLSBAD ENG/NtERING DEPT. 6 17 118 C: TRAFFIC SPEED ZONES SP££0 ZONE-El FUERTf STREET..2.DWG
EXHIBIT
1
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EXHIBIT A
10.32.090 Truck routes-Generally.
The use of all streets within the city, excepting those streets described in
Section 10.32.091, is prohibited as to all commercial vehicles exceeding a maximum
gross vehicle weight of fourteen thousand pounds. (Ord. 3210 § 1 1987; Ord. 3005 § 50)
10.32.091 Truck routes-Streets designated.
The prohibition set forth in Section 10.32.090 shall not apply to the following
streets and portions of streets which are designated and established truck routes,
as follows:
(a) Carlsbad Boulevard from the northerly city limits to the southerly city limits;
(b) Carlsbad Village Drive from Carlsbad Boulevard east to Interstate 5 Freeway;
( c) Tamarack Avenue from Interstate 5 Freeway to Carlsbad Boulevard;
(d) Cannon Road from Carlsbad Boulevard to El Camino Real;
( e) Interstate 5 Freeway from the northerly city limits to the southerly city limits;
(f) Palomar Airport Road from Carlsbad Boulevard to the easterly city limits;
(g) El Camino Real from the northerly city limits to the southerly city limits;
(h) Repealed by Ord. 3216 § 1;
(i) La Costa Avenue from the westerly city limits to El Camino Real;
G) Rancho Santa Fe Road from the southerly city limits to the northerly city
limits;
(k) Olivenhain Road from the westerly city limits to Rancho Santa Fe Road;
(1) Deleted;
(m) Melrose Drive from Palomar Airport Road to the northerly city limits;
(n) Faraday Avenue from Cannon Road to the easterly city limits;
(o) College Boulevard from Palomar Airport Road to El Camino Real. (Ord.
NS-781 § 1, 2005: Ord. NS-534 § 9, 2000: Ord. 3216 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3209 §
1, 1987; Ord. 3198 § 1, 1986; Ord. 3146 § 1, 1982; Ord. 3090 (part), 1972)
10.32.092 Truck routes-Vehicles allowed.
Section 10.32.090 shall not apply to the following vehicles:
(a) Vehicles subject to the provisions of Sections 1031 to 1036 inclusive of the
California Public Utilities Code;
(b) Vehicles described in Section 35703 of the Vehicle Code; and
( c) Vehicles traveling to or from permanent commercial parking facilities
provided for them within the city. (Ord. 3090 (part), 1972)
10.32.093 Truck routes-Posting.
All streets and portions thereof established by this chapter as truck routes, shall be
posted with appropriate signs displaying in letters not less than four inches in height, the
words "truck route." (Ord. 3090 (part), 1972)
PACIFIC
OCEAN
CITY OF CARLSBAD
CIRCULATION PLAN
+++-RAILROAD
-"FREEWAY
-PRIME ARTERIAL
CIRCULATION PLAN
MAJOR ARTERIAL
SECONDARY ARTERIAL
COLLECTOR STREET
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