HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-07; Traffic Safety Commission; ; To implement pedestrian improvements on Carlsbad Boulevard to enhance safety and improve beach accessCITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF: November 7, 2011 ITEMNO.6B
LOCATION:
INITIATED BY:
Carlsbad Boulevard from Carlsbad Village Drive to Tamarack Avenue
Deputy Transportation Director
REQUESTED ACTION: To implement pedestrian improvements on Carlsbad Boulevard to
enhance safety and improve beach access.
BACKGROUND:
Pedestrian access across Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and
Tamarack Avenue has historically been an area of concern for residents and visitors.
Although the intersections at Carlsbad Village Drive, Pine Avenue and Tamarack Avenue
are signalized and offer signal-controlled pedestrian crossings, the approximately half-
mile distance between Walnut Avenue and Redwood Avenue do not offer such amenities
for pedestrians. Pedestrians wishing to cross the roadway on this portion of Carlsbad
Boulevard must negotiate two directions of travel and cross five vehicles lanes. Due to
the speed of vehicles and the inattention of drivers distracted by the ocean view, yielding
compliance to crossing pedestrians can be compromised. Pedestrians can have a difficult
time judging adequate gaps in traffic to cross safely and delays or compromises in safety
can result. Based on these concerns, the city council has asked staff to implement
pedestrian safety enhancements on this portion of Carlsbad Boulevard.
DATA:
Carlsbad Boulevard is classified as a Major Arterial in the Circulation Element of the
Carlsbad General Plan. The road follows a relatively straight alignment with moderate
grades and has a curb-to-curb width between 70 and 73 feet. There are two traffic lanes
in each direction separated by a painted median or left tum lane. Traffic signals control
traffic on Carlsbad Boulevard at Carlsbad Village Drive, Pine Avenue and Tamarack
Avenue. The other intersections are minor-street STOP controlled. There are four
marked but uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks across Carlsbad Boulevard at Sycamore
Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Juniper Avenue.
Surrounding land use is primarily single-family and multi-family residential on the east
side of the roadway. Direct access to beach areas exists along the west side of Carlsbad
Boulevard. Carlsbad Boulevard moves approximately 21,000 vehicles per day just north
of Tamarack Avenue. The speed limit is currently posted at 30 miles per hour with an
85th percentile speed of 33 miles per hour. This roadway is regularly enforced by the
Carlsbad Police Department. Over the past three years, there have been 32 reported
traffic collisions, of which 18 were rear-end type collisions, 17 were speed-related and 7
involved pedestrians and/or bicyclists.
Page I
CITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF:
( continued)
November 7, 2011
RECOMMENDATION:
ITEMNO.6B
To address the issues of pedestrian safety along Carlsbad Boulevard, staff have identified
the following improvements (see Exhibit 1 ).
• Installation of raised medians and marked pedestrian crosswalks on Carlsbad
Boulevard at Oak Avenue (see Exhibit 2), Sycamore Avenue (see Exhibit 2),
Maple Avenue (see Exhibit 3), Cherry Avenue (see Exhibit 3) and Hemlock
Avenue (see Exhibit 4).
• Installation of high visibility marked pedestrian crosswalks at the signalized
intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Pine Avenue (see Exhibit 4).
• Installation of pedestrian-activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (see
Exhibit 5 and 6) to augment marked crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard at Oak
Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Hemlock
Avenue.
• Installation of pedestrian crossing signs on proposed raised median locations.
• ALL-WAY STOP control at the intersections of Lincoln Street/Pine Avenue,
Garfield Street/Chestnut Avenue, and Garfield Street/Juniper Avenue.
• Removal of marked pedestrian crosswalk across Carlsbad Boulevard at Juniper
Avenue (replaced by median/crosswalk at Hemlock Avenue).
• Provision of ADA-compliant accessibility at all crosswalks on Carlsbad
Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack Avenue.
These proposed improvements will result in the following safety enhancements:
• Raised medians will create a two-stage crossing for pedestrians by providing a
pedestrian refuge in the middle of the roadway. This will also reduce the crossing
distance and allow pedestrians to negotiate a single direction of traffic at a time
rather than both directions. In addition to improving pedestrian safety, this will
reduce pedestrian delay ( see Exhibit 7).
• Raised medians will completely eliminate conflicts between left-turning vehicles
and crossing pedestrians. Elimination of potential conflict points will increase
safety.
• The Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons will draw driver's attention to crossing
Page 2
CITY OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF:
( continued)
November 7, 2011 ITEMNO.6B
pedestrians and thereby increase compliance of yielding to pedestrians within
crosswalks (see Exhibit 8).
• The ALL-WAY STOP installations within the neighborhood east of Carlsbad
Boulevard will provide traffic calming by introducing friction along Garfield
Street and Lincoln Street. This will balance the potential increase in vehicle
demand due to the left-tum prohibitions caused by the raised medians. City staff
does not expect any additional traffic volume on these streets from being diverted
from Carlsbad Boulevard itself but rather the re-routing of internal neighborhood
traffic that may have to use the adjacent street to make a westbound left turn from
the neighborhood to southbound Carlsbad Boulevard.
Based on these findings, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends
approval of the proposed improvements to improve pedestrian safety on Carlsbad
Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Tamarack Avenue.
NECESSARY CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
Ordinances will be required to be adopted by the City Council to install the ALL-WAY
STOP control at Lincoln Street/Pine Avenue, Garfield Street/Chestnut Avenue, and
Garfield Street/Juniper Avenue as recommended.
Page 3
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Carlsbad Boulevard at Oak Avenue (Proposed Improvements)
Carlsbad Boulevard at Sycamore Avenue (Proposed Improvements)
Exhibit 2 -Proposed Improvements
Carlsbad Boulevard at Maple Avenue (Proposed hnprovements)
H • A
Carlsbad Boulevard at Cherry Avenue (Proposed hnprovements)
Exhibit 3 -Proposed Improvements
Carlsbad Boulevard at Hemlock Avenue (Proposed Improvements)
Carlsbad Boulevard at Pine Avenue (Proposed Improvements)
Exhibit 4 -Proposed Improvements
Exhibit 5 -Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
Description
Installed at mid-block crosswalks, the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
(RRFBJ remains dark until a pedestrian presses a pushbutton to activate the
system. When activated, the RRFB emits rapid, alternating bursts of light to warn
motorists that pedestrians are crossing the roadway. Proven compliance rates
exceed 80%, the highest of any amber light warning device. Unlike competing
devices which use off-the-shelf em~rgency flashers that were designed for other
purposes, Spot Devices RRFB lights are designed and built in-house to maximize
effectiveness. The result is a RRFB with a light emitting surface area and bright-
ness that far surpasses FHWA minimum standards. The RRFB also saves time
and money by employing solar and spread spectrum wireless technologies, elimi-
nating costly trenching and the need to pull power from an AC source. -
Highlights System Components
► Brightness -surpasses FHWA minimum ► (3) SC310 or SC315 Network Controller, solar
standards for size and brightness
► (1) SIMA remote management, online accessible
► Easy Installation -spread spectrum radio and (4) 58435 High Performance or 58430 Standard RRFB optional solar power eliminate the need for ►
►
►
►
trenching and bringing AC power to the site
Remote Management -configure systems and
get activation reports from any computer with an
internet connection
System Alerts -email notification of beacon
outage, low battery voltage and loss of
communication (knockdown)
Power Option -solar (AC also available)
1455 Kleppe Lane
Sparks, NV 89431
888.520.0008 Toll Free
► (3) 20W or 45W solar panel, 22 AHr battery
► (3) Spread spectrum wireless radio
► (3) Polara Bulldog Pushbutton
► (4) Pedestrian and down arrow crosswalk signs
► (3) 2.5n or 4" ID pole with mounting hardware
► (1) Two year warranty
....
032111
~/!_Ot
DEVICES
,:, ....
888.520.000~ Fax _ . . A .... ,·,1e Sa &.e/y www.spotdev1ces.com , 1 1 1 " ' I i
Exhibit 6 -Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
Carlsbad Boulevard at Sycamore Avenue (After Improvements)
Carlsbad Boulevard at Oak Avenue (After Improvements)
Exhibit 7 -Photo Simulations of Proposed Improvements
Carlsbad Boulevard (Existing Conditions)
Carlsbad Boulevard (After Improvements)
Exhibit 8 -Photo Simulations of Proposed Improvements