CA Review _RK
Meeting Date: Dec. 6, 2022
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Staff Contact: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
[email protected], 442-339-2820
Subject: Update on the City’s Efforts to Improve Traffic Safety, Reviewing Commission Feedback and Extending the Emergency Proclamation Districts: All
Recommended Actions
1. Receive a report on actions taken to date relating to a local emergency proclaimed Aug. 23, 2022.
2. Receive feedback provided by the Planning and Traffic & Mobility commissions on the Safer Streets Together Plan options.
3. Adopt a resolution extending the Proclamation of Bicycle, E-Bicycle and Motorized Mobility Device Safety Local Emergency until Feb. 3, 2023, at 5 p.m., unless otherwise extended or terminated earlier by the City Council.
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. Following the emergency proclamation, city staff immediately launched new public education, engineering and enforcement initiatives while developing a comprehensive set of additional short, mid- and long- term actions for the City Council’s consideration. These actions are described in the Safer Streets Together Plan, which staff presented to the City Council at its Sept. 27, 2022, meeting.
At this meeting, the City Council directed staff to implement 18 actions identified in the plan and to request feedback from the Planning Commission and Traffic & Mobility Commission on the remaining options. This report includes the feedback received from these two commissions. In addition, City Council shall consider adopting a resolution extending the traffic emergency, which must be done at least every 60 days unless the City Council wishes to end the emergency.
Discussion
When the city proclaimed a local emergency Aug. 23, 2022, city staff immediately implemented new initiatives addressing the three Es of traffic safety: education, engineering and enforcement:
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 1 of 26
City
staff began by accessing and validating available collision data so decisions could be made based on the most recent information. Staff developed a heat map to show areas with the highest numbers of collisions (see below) between 2017 and 2022. Traffic safety enhancements were then made first in these areas, including green bike lanes, message boards and re-striping roads to better balance the different uses, by car, biking or walking).
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Item #12 Page 2 of 26
1111 EDUCATION
~~ Raise awareness of traffic safety rules and create a .I.a& strong social norm around traffic safety behaviors. 9 ENGINEERING
Design roads and other infrastructure to support the
safe movement of people through all modes of travel.
ENFORCEMENT
* Hold all users accountable for following the rules of the road and engaging in safe behaviors.
Resurfacing and
Restriping
0 Traffic Circles
£ Funded Improvements
Green Bike Lane
Enhancements -
Completed
Green Bike Lane
♦ Enhancements - In
Progress ___ !
• ----- ===:::::iM1les NORTH
Public input
Community feedback has also helped to shape the city’s response to the traffic emergency. Since proclaiming a local emergency, the city has received 235 comments from the public, including many ideas that were subsequently included in the Safer Streets Together Plan.
Top topics
Actions to date
Over the past 14 weeks, the city’s emergency response has included a wide variety of programs, projects and initiatives:
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 3 of 26
100
90 80
70 60
so
40 30
20 10
0 -More regulation More street Concerns about More
design changes driver behavior enforcement
EDUCATION
-
1,170,975
Times social media
users saw information
Public
comments
55,464
Social media
engagements
News
stories
New traffic safety
videos
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 4 of 26
ENGINEERING
1 8
New green bike
lane locations
5 Traffic calming projects
started in new neighborhoods
•
t 200+
Street segments restriped
ENFORCEMENT
2,525
Enforcement actions
Warnings vs. citation s
17 Speed feedback
signs installed
12 Digital message
boards
Citat ions by mod e
City Council actions
The City Council has supported these efforts by taking the following 12 specific actions related to the city’s traffic emergency response, including approving new and expedited projects, increased educational efforts and enhanced enforcement:
Aug. 30 Ratified the local traffic safety emergency and allocated $2 million in funding for immediate traffic safety efforts.
Sept. 13 Approved a contract to develop a detailed implementation and funding plan to advance a broad array of programs and projects to help people move around the city in a safe, sustainable and convenient way.
Sept. 27 Approved plans and awarded a contract to restripe southbound Carlsbad Boulevard from Manzano Drive to Island Way, addressing speeding and creating more space for walkers and cyclists.
Sept. 27 Approved 18 traffic-safety related projects and initiatives as part of a new Safer Streets Together Plan.
Sept. 27 Approved plans and awarded a contract to make bike lane improvements along La Costa Avenue, Jefferson Street and Paseo Del Norte.
Sept. 27 Approved plans and awarded a contract to make bike lane improvements at five locations along south Carlsbad Boulevard.
Oct. 18 Extended the local traffic safety emergency proclamation for an additional 60 days.
Nov. 15 Approved the city’s first Local Roadway Safety Plan, a comprehensive assessment of citywide collision data that identifies, analyzes and prioritizes roadway safety improvements to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
Nov. 15 Accepted a $113,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to increase enforcement during fiscal year 2022-23.
Nov. 15 Approved plans and authorized staff to advertise for bids for a project that will build sidewalks at three locations in the city.
Nov. 15 Adopted an ordinance to reduce the speed limit on portions of Cadencia Street and Gateway Road following successful traffic safety projects on those streets.
Nov. 15 Approved a contract for Carlsbad Boulevard pedestrian improvements that will upgrade six crosswalks along the beach with curb extensions and in-pavement lighting and improved bicycle striping, including green paint in car-bike conflict areas.
Safer
Streets Together Plan
When the emergency proclamation was ratified by the
City Council Aug. 30, 2022, city staff committed to
return within 30 days to present a comprehensive
menu of additional actions for consideration. On
Sept. 27, 2022, city staff presented the Safer Streets
Together Plan, which featured 44 options, broken
into short-term, mid-term and long-term
timeframes (Exhibit 2).
At that meeting, the City Council directed staff to
proceed with 18 actions and seek feedback on the
remaining actions from the Planning Commission
and Traffic & Mobility Commission. City staff
presented the Safter Streets Together Plan to both
commissions on Oct. 27, 2022.
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 5 of 26
Feedback from commissions
The Planning Commission approved a motion with the following actions and feedback:
1. Receive the report on the Safer Streets Together Plan.
2. Support the direction of the City Council, including the three Es of traffic safety, education, engineering and enforcement.
3. Recommend the actions identified in the chart below.
4. Focus on hot spots for traffic collisions, emphasizing engineering and strategy.
5. Review ideas from the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition.
The minutes from this meeting are attached as Exhibit 3.
The Traffic & Mobility Commission approved a motion with the following actions and feedback:
1. Recommend the actions identified in the chart above.
2. Update the Sustainable Mobility Plan to reflect new goals related to Vision Zero, including:
a. Eliminating all preventable traffic related severe collisions by a certain year designated by staff.
b. Consider equity when planning transportation projects. c. Conduct root cause analysis of all severe and fatal collisions.
The minutes of this meeting are attached as Exhibit 4.
Commission feedback on Safer Streets Together Plan options The table below shows the actions each commission recommends to the City Council. * Items marked with asterisks were approved and funded by the City Council on Sept. 27, 2022.
Potential action Estimated
one-time cost Pla
nning
Traffic &
Mobility
3 Es
area of
focus
1. Safer Streets Together roll out* $30,000
2. Bike lane enhancements* $421,000
3. Digital roadway messaging* $215,000
4. Enhanced enforcement* $635,000
5. Adopt a Vision Zero resolution* n/a
6. Community commitment campaign* $42,000
7. School collaboration* $27,000
8. Business, non-profit partnership program* $22,000
9. Mobility organization partnership program* $12,000
10. Video public service announcements* $20,000
11. Upgrade high-pedestrian signal locations* $60,000
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Item #12 Page 6 of 26
v v • v v • v v • v v • v v • v v • v v • v v • v v • v v • v v • Potential action Estimated
one-time cost Pla
nning
Traffic &
Mobility
3 Es
area of
focus
12. School e-bike certification/permit program* n/a
13. Carlsbad Village Faire outreach $5,000
14. Police officer Smart Cycling instructor program $2,000
15. Install high-visibility crosswalks near schools $800,000
16. Evaluate roadway design treatments $50,000
17. Explore opportunities to acquire real-time
data $100,000
18. E-citation expansion $55,000
19. Juvenile traffic safety incentive program $1,000
20. Expanded street resurfacing and restriping* $3,700,000
21. Tamarack Avenue traffic calming* $200,000
22. Reconfigure arterials* $2,000,000
23. Expanded street resurfacing and restriping
(Palomar Airport Road, Rancho Santa
Fe/Olivenhain Road)*
$2,000,000
24. Review citywide speed limits for potential
reduction* $40,000
25. Legislative advocacy for e-bike licensing
requirement* None
26. Complete Vision Zero plan $150,000
27. Paid advertising campaign $105,000
28. Teen engagement program $34,000
29. Messages on city assets $16,500
30. Travel Safe visitors program $34,000
31. Mobile digital signage $15,000
32. Expedite infrastructure projects $620,753
annually
33. Develop access plans for all schools $150,000
34. Safer Streets data analytics and visualization
program $50,000
35. Speed cushions on streets around schools $1,300,000
36. Update Carlsbad Residential Traffic
Management Program $150,000
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Item #12 Page 7 of 26
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Potential action Estimated
one-time cost Pla
nning
Traffic &
Mobility
3 Es
area of
focus
37. Community service project plan $20,000
38. Entry signage $2,500 -
$250,000
39. Activate Community Emergency Response
Team, Citizens Academy alumni, trail
volunteers
$12,000
40. Experiential community art $38,000 -
$150,000
41. Update the Mobility Element in the General
Plan $150,000
42. Explore school busing program $44,000,0001
43. Construct Transformative Corridor projects TBD
44. New community-oriented policing team $914,484
Annually
1. Cost for 110 electric buses. Does not include administration, staffing, other costs Education Engineering Enforcement All 3 Es
Continuing the state of emergency
The California Emergency Services Act allows cities to proclaim a local emergency when needed to protect public safety in extreme circumstances. Carlsbad’s emergency proclamation went into effect Aug. 23, 2022, and was ratified by the City Council Aug. 30, 2022. California Government Code Section 8630, subdivision (c), requires the City Council to review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency.
The City Council extended the state of emergency on Oct. 18, 2022. The proclamation of local emergency will expire on Feb. 15, 2023, at 5 p.m., unless it is extended or terminated earlier by the City Council. Staff recommend continuing the state of emergency to allow the city to continue its emergency efforts to remove conditions of extreme peril due to traffic safety.
Fiscal Analysis
Costs estimates are included for the options in the Safer Streets Together Plan. Should the City Council direct staff to move forward with the actions recommended by the Planning Commission and Traffic & Mobility Commission, additional funding would need to be appropriated. The total cost of unfunded actions recommended by the Planning Commission is $5,134,737. The total cost of unfunded actions recommended by the Traffic & Mobility Commission is $3,436,253. One option does not yet have a cost estimate. Actions 32 and 44 are new ongoing annual costs while the rest are primarily one-time costs.
This funding comes from unspent funds from the fiscal year 2021-22 General Fund budget allocation which the City Council approved to be carried forward to fiscal year 2022-23 on Sept. 27, 2022.
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Item #12 Page 8 of 26
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Next Steps
Staff will continue to respond to the local emergency as directed by the City Council.
Environmental E valuation
The allocation of funding for anticipated actions intended to mitigate the emergency, which includes infrastructure and safety improvements, and education and enforcement efforts focusing on safe driving behavior are a Class 1 categorical exemption under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities. Specifically, Section 15301(c) exempts existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety), and other alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including but not limited to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes, transit improvements such as bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, street trees and other similar alterations that do not create additional automobile lanes.
The anticipated improvements to the city’s existing mobility network under this action will improve public safety and address the critical issues raised in the emergency declaration. Actions are anticipated to involve negligible expansion of the current facilities and infrastructure beyond existing and will not result in additional automobile lanes. The actions are not expected to increase vehicular use of a roadway, will occur within the existing public right-of-way, and will not change the overall facility use of the mobility network. No exception to the exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies.
For the reasons stated above, the action is categorically exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304(e), which applies to the minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment, and CEQA Guidelines Section 15304(h), which covers the creation of bicycle lanes on existing rights-of-way.
Public Notification
This item was noticed in keeping with the Ralph M. Brown Act and it was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
1. City Council resolution
2. Sept. 27, 2022, Safer Streets Plan staff report (on file in the Office of the City Clerk)
3. Minutes of Oct. 27, 2022, Planning Commission meeting
4. Minutes of Oct. 27, 2022, Traffic & Mobility Commission meeting Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 9 of 26
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-277
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING THE PROCLAMATION OF BICYCLE, E-BICYCLE AND
MOTORIZED MOBILITY DEVICE SAFETY LOCAL EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD UNTIL FEB. 3, 2023, AT 5 P.M., UNLESS OTHERWISE EXTENDED
OR TERMINATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, on Aug. 23, 2022, the Carlsbad City Manager/Director of Emergency Services proclaimed a state of local emergency in response to an alarming increase (233%) in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes since 2019; and
WHEREAS, on Aug. 30, 2022, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Resolution No. 2022-214, ratifying the Proclamation of Local Emergency (Attachment A); and WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630, subdivision (c), requires the City Council to review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency; and
WHEREAS, on Oct. 18, 2022, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Resolution No. 2022-214, ratifying the Proclamation of Local Emergency; and WHEREAS, the Proclamation of Local Emergency will expire on Dec. 17, 2022, at 5 p.m., unless earlier extended or terminated by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the plan to address the local emergency is being reviewed and implemented and there remains a bicycle, e-bike, and motorized mobility device safety local emergency throughout the City of Carlsbad.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. The Proclamation of Local Emergency issued by the Director of Emergency Services (Attachment A) is extended and shall expire on Feb. 3, 2023, at 5 p.m., unless otherwise extended or terminated earlier by the City Council.
Exhibit 1
Dec. 6, 2022 Item #12 Page 10 of 26
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 6th day of December, 2022, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Norby.
None.
Hall.
MATT HALL, Mayor
for
�AVIOLA MEDINA, City Clerk Services Manager
(SEAL)
Dec. 6, 2022 Item #12 Page 11 of 26
PROCLAMATION OF BICYCLE, E-BICYCLE AND
MOTORIZED MOBILITY DEVICE SAFETY LOCAL EMERGENCY
IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, the California Emergency Services Act, including California Government Code Section 8630, and th e City of Carlsbad’s Emergency Services Ordinance, including Carlsbad Municipal C ode Section 6.04.100(A)(1), empower the City Manager, as the City of Carlsbad’s Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence of a local emergency, subject to rati fication by the City Coun cil, when the re exists, or there is threatened to exist, conditions of extreme peri l to safety of persons and property within the City of Carlsbad.
WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services finds:
1. Conditions or threatened conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within the City of Carlsbad caused by the increased prevalence of e-bicycles (e-bikes), other similar electric or motorized mobility devices, and traditional bicy cles on ci ty streets, w hich has led to increased collisions resulting in injury or death.
2. In 2019 there were 30 c ollisions involving bicycles or e -bikes reported in Carlsbad.
3. In 2020 there were 6 2 collisions involving bicycles or e -bikes reported in Carlsbad.
4. In 2021 there were 100 collisions involving bicy cles or e- bikes reported in Carlsbad.
5. To date in 2022, 57 collisions involving bicycles or e -bikes were reported in Carlsbad.
6. U.S. traffic fatalities began climbing in 2020 and the deadly trend is continuing.
7. According to estimates by the National Highway T raffic Safety Administration, U.S. roadway deaths rose 10.5% in 2021 a nd an additional 7% during the first three months in 2022, the highest numb er for the first quarter in two decades.
8. The increase in de aths is due to speeding, impaired or distracted driving and other reckless behavior.
9. E-bikes are faster and heavier than traditional bicycles and e-bike injuries are more likely to be more seve re and re quire hospitalization than tr aditional bicycle injuries.
10. E-bikes and si milar electric or motor ized mobility devices are i ncreasingly used by school age children to go to and from school and for other activities on local streets.
11. Schools in the Carlsbad Unified School District will be o pening on August 24, 2022, joining the other schools in Carlsbad and additional education facilities Attachment A
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 12 of 26
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 13 of 26
Bicycle, E-Bicycle and Motorized Mobility
Device Safety Local Emergency
in the region that have already opened or will be opening in the coming days, causing increased traffic on local streets and the potential for additional bicycle, e-bike or other vehicular collisions.
12. To counter the increasing number of bicycle ore-bike collisions, the Carlsbad Police Department increased enforcement and education efforts and, in April 2022, th.e city adopted an ordinance regulating mobility devices, including e-bikes.
13. On June 22, 2022, the Carlsbad Police Department hosted an interagency traffic enforcement day in Carlsbad where 240 traffic citations were issued.
14. Despite these efforts, the city continues to experience e-bike or bicycle collisions with vehicles, including two fatal collisions occurring within the past 17 days.
15. The city needs to continue these efforts and proactively seek out and implement additional measures to reduce the number of collisions involving bicycles or e-bikes while also educating the residents of Carlsbad about the dangers of impaired or distracted driving on our local streets and roads.
16. The City Council of the City of Carlsbad is not in session and will not hold its next meeting until August 30, 2022.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS PROCLAIMED that a bicycle, e-bike, and motorized mobility device safety local emergency now exists throughout the City of Carlsbad, California.
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of the local emergency, the powers, functions and duties of the emergency organization of the City of Carlsbad are those prescribed by state law, by ordinances and resolutions of the City of Carlsbad and by the City of Carlsbad Emergency Plan.
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that all City of Carlsbad officials and employees cooperate and coordinate efforts with officials and employees of other political subdivisions and officials and employees of the state and federal government in bringing the conditions underlying the local emergency under control.
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERE emergency shall
continue to exist for the next 7 days, and thereafter y r tification of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, until its termination is proclaime b the City Council.
Dated: _ __ ?_...~~f\J-=-:,,6)""'-=2=2=-
adwick, City Manager &
Director of Emergency Services
Exhibit 2
Sept. 27, 2022, Safer Streets Plan staff report
(on file in the Office of the City Clerk)
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 14 of 26
Oct. 27, 2022, 5 p.m.
City Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
CALL TO ORDER: 1 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Commissioners Stine, Lafferty, Meenes, Merz, and Sabellico.
Absent: Commissioners Luna and Kamenjarin.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Meenes led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. PRESENTATION ON THE SAFER STREETS TOGETHER PLAN
Provide feedback to staff regarding various options in the Safer Streets Together Plan for staff to present to City Council.
ACTION TYPE: Discussion
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Receive report and provide direction PLANNER: N/A ENGINEER: Tom Frank
Assistant Community Development Director Mike Strong introduced the item and announced that there were five public correspondences that were received, distributed to the Commissioners and published on the city’s website. He then introduced City Manager Scott Chadwick and Transportation Director Tom Frank to provide a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the Clerk).
City Manager Chadwick explained staff is making a recommendation to receive the report regarding our S afer Streets Together Plan and to provide feedback to staff related to the proposal. He further explained that the City Council has asked for input from the Planning Commission and Traffic & Mobility Commission to determine what additional actions should be considered during our traffic safety emergency.
City Manager Chadwick provided a timeline overview, highlighting the following:
• On Aug. 23, 2022, the City of Carlsbad declared a local emergency on traffic safety. • On Aug. 30, 2022, the City Council ratified and appropriated $2 million of unspent funds from previous fiscal year budget.
• On Sept. 23, 2022, staff drafted a Safter Streets Together Plan options for the public as well as City Council to review.
• On Sept. 27, 2022, staff presented to City Council the options for their review and approved all the items in Option A and refer red the actions in Options B and C to the Traffic & Mobility Commission and Planning Commission for input.
Exhibit 3
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 15 of 26
PLANNING COMMISSION
Minutes
Oct. 27, 2022 Planning Commission Special Meeting Page 2
• On Oct. 3, 2022, staff presented to the Traffic & Mobility Commission with options and focused on engineering and infrastructure elements. • On Oct. 18, 2022, City Council voted to extend the local emergency.
City Manager Chadwick explained the Emergency Declaration and staff’s overall approach on traffic and safety. He explained that Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries and is a nationwide movement. He added that staff is working on a sustainability mobility plan which will establish timelines and that Engineering staff will be reviewing citywide speed limits that need to be lower ed based on Assembly Bill 43. City Manager Chadwick explained that staff is working on upgrading pedestrian traffic signals to provide more time for people to cross the street. He further explained that s taff has identified 30 signals, has selected 22 intersections for this upgrade and is in the process of selecting 8 more. He added that staff is proposing traffic calming strategies along Tamarack between Skyline Road and Adams Street with speed cushions as well as restriping east and west arterial corridors to balance all modes of travel.
In response to Commissioner Meenes’ inquiry of how Assembly Bill 43 is changing the way staff establishes speed limits, Transportation Director Frank explained that it allows the city flexibility to not have to base the speed limit on the 85 percentile rule.
In response to Commissioner Lafferty’s inquiry, Police Chief Mickey Williams explained the City’s Diversion Program. He added that the City Council approved a change to the City’s municipal code regarding e-bikes, making it easier for police officers to enforce the law. He explained that the in-house Diversion Program is available to anyone who is cited for their first-time violation. He added that this program allows them to take either an in-person or online course to teach them best practices on how to operate mobility devices safe ly and after completing the course, their fine is waived in-lieu of going to court.
In response to Commissioner Lafferty’s inquiry asking if only bike rider violators are taking this course , Police Chief Williams responded that the City does not have a Diversion Program for vehicles but that there are opportunities for education for those individuals with vehicle code violations through the court system.
In response to Chair Stine’s inquiry if staff has noticed an increase of accidents particularly with e -bikes at the local schools on peak times , Chief Innovation Officer David Graham responded that the data the city has is from a five-year collision map and hot spots have been identified. He added that staff has looked at school sites and there was not a specific increase around schools. He further added that staff will continue to track that data.
In response to Commissioner Lafferty ’s concern on the increase of bicycle use on the arterial roadways, Transportation Director Frank confirmed that there are alternates routes being considered and that there is an extensive trail system throughout the city to provide safe separated pathways.
In response to Commissioner Lafferty’s inquiry if the placement of message boards are helping and what the data is, Communication and Engagement Director Kristina Ray explained that this cannot be measured in isolation.
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 16 of 26
Oct. 27, 2022 Planning Commission Special Meeting Page 3
Chair Stine opened the duly noticed public hearing at 1:25 p.m.
Hearing no one wishing to speak, Chair Stine closed duly noticed public hearing at 1:26 p.m.
Motion by Commissioner Sabellico, seconded by Commissioner Meenes, to support the City Manager’s recommendation and the direction of the City Council, supportive of the three E’s (Education, Engineering, and Enforcement), and supporting Options B & C minus the city funding school buses, focusing on hot spots for traffic collisions, emphasizing on engineering and strategy, and review ideas from the bike co alition. Motion carried, 5/0/2 (Commissioners Luna and Kamenjarin absent).
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER RE
PORTS:
Commissioner Lafferty reported that the Historic Preservation Committee meeting has been rescheduled to Nov. 9, 2022.
Chair Stine reported that the next Growth Management Committee meeting will be held on Nov. 30, 2022. He added that he anticipates the Committee will have recommendations for the City Council in the Spring.
Chair Stine announced Assistant City Attorney Ron Kemp has been promoted to Senior Assistant City Attorney.
CITY PLANNER REPORT:
Assistant Community Development Director Strong reported that the next Regular Planning Commission Meeting will be held on Nov. 16, 2022.
CITY ATTORNEY RE PORT: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Stine adjourned the duly noticed meeting at 3:11 p.m.
Michele Hardy
Secretary
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 17 of 26
9 Council Chambers
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
SPECIAL MEETING Carlsbad, CA 92008
Oct. 27 , 202
2, 5:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: 5:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Perez, Linke, Penseyres, Fowler, Coelho, Proulx and Newlands PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Perez led the Pledge of Allegiance DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
PRESENTATION ON THE SAFER STREETS TOGETHER PLAN - 1.) Receive a presentation regarding the Safer Streets Together Plan; and, 2.) Provide feedback to staff regarding various options in the Safer Streets Together Plan for staff to present to City Council. (Staff Contact: Scott Chadwick and Tom Frank, City Manager and Public Works)
Staff’
s Recommendation: Receive a presentation and provide feedback City Manager Chadwick presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk)
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Mark Embree spoke in favor of Option C. We need to be proactive instead of reactive. Adding Chicanes in many locations would force traffic to slow down.
Allen Manzano spoke about his concerns regarding no sidewalk on Highland Drive which runs from Tamarack Avenue to Adams Street. He would like to propose that staff add a stop sign at the intersection of Highland Drive and Chinquapin as this would solve a major problem with the ability to cross due to lack of visibility. Another stop sign heading north on Highland Drive where it meets Hoover Street would solve this same problem. Please also restore the four-way stop at the intersection of Hoover Street and Adams Street. This will help in terms of slowing traffic down.
Jason Oziel spoke about the HAWK signal at Tamarack Avenue and Valley Street. The neighborhood has been to many meetings to discuss how dangerous the HAWK signal is and even a few of the Commissioners came out to see this themselves. Residents are sick of this HAWK signal and want change.
Brian Connor spoke about being proactive when it’s related to traffic safety. He had been involved in a car accident four years ago and was hit by a driver that could not see a stop sign as it was wrapped in vegetation. This stop sign is located at Oak Street and is still not clearly visible to drivers at 300 feet which is DOT standards.
Christina McGoldrick spoke about her concerns with the Sustainable Mobility Plan and the Safer Streets Exhibit 4
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 18 of 26
TRAFFIC AND MOBILITY COMMISSION
Minutes
Plan. She requested that middle school crossing guards be added to the city contract. She is specifically concerned about College B oulevard which has four schools and three miles of residential homes but has become a commuter thoroughfare to the Faraday businesses. School zones need to be re -evaluated. She requested that for all future housing developments that there be a specific, separate corridor for the bikes and pedestrians to have a direct route to reach the school where they do not have to be on the public roads.
Andy Hanshaw, Director of San Diego Bike Coalition, spoke about the 200 percent increase in bicycle crashes in Carlsbad since 2019. He asked the Traffic and Mobility Commission to recommend Option C to City Council. There are three engineering proposals in the plan that he wanted to highlight. The first would be to update the residential traffic calming plan to prefer roundabouts over stop signs. Studies have shown that roundabouts reduce fatal and serious crashes by over 80 percent. Second, install more speed cushions near schools. Third, update the Carlsbad Street Design Manual to use NACTO standards. The NACTO Urban Street Design guide is the safest manual for street design and Carlsbad should be following these recommendations.
Commissioner Newlands inquired about the part of the presentation where staff says that going down a one-way street does not have any impact on traffic. He ask ed if these are major arteries or are they low volume streets?
Transportation Director Frank responded that the streets are typically arterial but could be a lower -class arterial like a neighborhood collector arterial. Typically, we would be looking at a four -lane arterial and most of these have turn lanes. When we talk about doing an arterial reconfiguration, we would be considering a lane reduction within the segment portion of the roadway. We would leave intersection control the same as it is today. If it is a four-lane roadway and we did an arterial reconfiguration, we may drop a lane after an intersection and then transition back to a four-lane roadway at the next intersection.
Commissioner Coelho ask ed about the list of planned projects and their timeline on page 17 of the document. The timeline of these projects is over fifteen years. Can you tell us when some of these projects are planned for? There are some major areas in this list that are important to the community.
City Manager Chadwick respond ed that on page 17 and 18 the midterm category means that we expect the project to be completed in the next twelve months. We do not have specific timing identified but we will keep the Commission updated on all of those efforts as we move forward.
Commissioner Coelho sa id that he would like to understand in more depth the timeline that the city is considering for these projects.
Transportation Director Frank responded that the timeline will vary. The most current timeline for these projects can be referenced in the Semiannual Transportation Report which we present every six months.
Commissioner Coelho asked about digital signage and how the marketing team measures the effectiveness of the placement of a specific sign.
City Manager Chadwick responded that it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of a message boards because they were rolled out at the same time as other efforts. The point is that people see it and that it is visible to drivers. The message is brief so as not to distract drivers from the road.
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 19 of 26
Commissioner Coelho ask ed if this was intended to be a long -term solution or are we looking for ot her solutions in key areas?
City Manager Chadwick responded that the intent was to get everyone thinking about traffic safety.
Having bigger signs which are more visible is a good way to make a connection with the drivers.
Commissioner Coelho inquired about the lists of options, the fact that some are funded, and some are not. Does the commission get to voice their opinion on the projects that are already funded? What type of recommendation do you want the Commission to make to City Council?
City Manager Chadwick responded that City Council is asking for input from the options presented, what does the Commission consider a higher priority than others. This is specifically for Options B and C in those columns. City Council authorized and approved everything in Option A.
Commissioner Coelho said that under Option C there is a line item for expediting infrastructure projects of $620,000 annually. What does that represent as an expansion of traffic related capital improvement projects on an annual basis? Is that a 60 % increase?
Transportation Director Frank responded that the allotment for street related capital projects varied by the year depending on the City Council’s direction.
Commissioner Coelho asked about street parking on specific street areas where it is problematic to pedestrian safety. Is this analysis included in any of the actions that are being proposed?
Transportation Director Frank respond ed that this is not included in any of the options or actions being brought forward today. However, when staff designs Capital Improvement Projects, as a part of designing an intersection we would look at line of sight and if there are issues we might consider removing street parking so we can adequately provide safe intersections.
Deputy City Manager Gomez said that usually the annual budget for Capital Improvement Projects is about 50 m illion dollars and approximately 40% of that would be for transportation and mobility related projects. The question asked before regarding the percent age increase of the $620,000 would be about
2.5%.
Commissioner Proulx inquired about the vi sion zero plan and the $150,000 to complete that project.
What does this bring that is above and beyond what we already have in our mobility and traffic plan? Transportation Director Frank respond ed that both options are available to the Commission and that is why we are meeting here today. The City Council will take this into consideration while doing the budget.
This will include outreach to disadvantaged communities and partnering with regional partners.
Commissioner Fowler asked about Community Oriented Policing. What does this look like for traffic?
Police Chief Williams responded that the Community Oriented Policing team is a team that we had within the Police Department in the early 2000’s. It was disbanded around 2012. Th is team will have the opportunity to deal with community emergent needs and they would be able to respond to community concerns and address programs which need a more consistent touch from law enforcement.
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 20 of 26
Commissioner Fowler inquired Community Oriented Policing team would address issues like the H AWK signal at the intersection of Tamarack Avenue and Valley Street and the community that is trying to remove the HAWK signal. Would they meet with the community to listen to their concerns? How would this new team help in this type of situation?
Police Chief Williams replie d that this new team would have the flexibility and time to devote to the community regarding their concerns. The team would hear the concerns, bring people together to decide long term decisions.
Commissioner Fowler would like to understand better the c onsequential things of the City of Carlsbad adopting Vision Zero. What are the consequences regarding the way that Carlsbad does business?
Commissioner Penseyres asked Police Chief Williams about having some Police Officers become certified instructors under the League of American bicyclists. Five officers have completed the first step and passed the test. Is this still the plan for the Police Department?
Police Chief Williams answered yes and said that t hey have been in discussion with the schools on how they will utilize these officers once they are certified instructors. We are in the planning phase now.
Commissioner Penseyres inquired about the diversion program. What is the process when you stop an e- bike rider who is nine years old?
Police Chief Williams replied that there are restrictions based on age. If they issue a citation or a warning to a child aged 14 or older then they will also call the parents and let them know what led to the citation.
We can issue a written warning to a child aged 13 and below. We also try to change the behavior by calling the parents and waiting for parents to arrive and take custody of the child.
Commissioner Penseyres asked how the parents respond when being called by the officer? Are we getting a good response from the parents?
Police Chief Williams replied that his personal account with parents has been exceptional most of the Time. Parents are thankful that we took the time to call them and welcome the explanation of what the child was doing wrong.
Commissioner Penseyres asked about re-striping a road that has parked cars on the side. When we have been doing this recently on Tamarack, when we had room for a buffer then we put the buffer alongside the car doors rather than towards the traffic lane.
Transportation Director Frank responded that the buffer is meant to be along the door zone. We would preferentially put the buffer along the door zone as long as there is room.
Commissioner Penseyres brought up the possibility of using rumble strips. Are they supposed to make a lot of noise as you approach the intersection or are they used to notify drivers that they are drifting off the road into buffered bike lanes?
Transportation Director Frank responded that the purpose is not to make noise but to alert the driver of the upcoming intersection. Rumble strips are in C ALTRANS guidelines as well as METCD. Regarding Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 21 of 26
longitudinal and where we would place them in a high -speed arterial in a buffered bike lane, it would be to the right of the first bike lane buffer line which separates the vehicle into the buffer. It would be just to the inside of the first white line. This is something we would do a pilot study on and then ask for feedback from the Commission. On a high -speed arterial we wouldn’t want to put the rumble strip underneath the first 6-inch white line because people do veer off a little while driving. The though t is to move it to the inside of the first white line to alert the driver they are nearing the buffer zone.
Vice-Chair Linke inquired about education for e-bike riders and drivers. Most bad drivers aren’t going to attend the Village Fair and go to the safety booth. The juvenile action safety program is another outreach effort that has small rewards. The paid advertising campaign for $105,000 doesn’t have much detail but he isn’t sure this is cost effective. Is there an assessment on how effective these actions will be? How will they add value to the messaging signs that we are already using?
City Manager Chadwick responded that the messaging signs work and anytime we have the opportunity to enhance the messaging whether that be a wrapped vehicle that talks about a safe street initiative or signage will be a very effective way to communicate.
Vice-Chair Linke brought up the travel safe visitor program mobile and digital signage program. Is this different than what we already have?
Communication and Engagement Director Rey respond ed that it is similar to a mobile billboard with images and information. It would not be near a street but would be at a farmers’ market or a concert in the park.
Commissioner Coelho asked if this is part of the paid advertising effort that is $105,000?
Communication and Engagement Director Rey respond ed that it is a separate effort. The digital advertising is on websites via banner ads or pop ups on your phone.
Vice-Chair Linke commented on Actions 28, 37 and 38 that are on the more expensive side but could make more of an impact. Is there more detail that can be added?
Communication and Engagement Director Rey respond ed that they are as described in the documents.
As City Manager Chadwick described, the city has a robust program especially after City Council just added it to the Safer Streets Togeth er Program. We are doing a pilot program with middle schools. These are just some of the tools in the toolbox that can be used.
Vice-Chair Linke said that he is in favor of the Smart Cycling Instructor Program. The teen engagement program, community service project plan and entry signage he would like to look into more closely but not to be implemented immediately.
Vice-Chair Linke moved on to the Planning related actions like Vison Zero. It is hard to argue with wanting zero fatal collisions. However, the goals that we already have in our mobility element are very similar to the ones in Vision Zero. The pace which we have been moving these past few years has been frustrating.
The problem is not that we don’t have a planning document that tells us how to accomplish these goals.
We don’t need a new plan to be written up by consultants. We just need to expedite the projects that we already have lined up. He asked if there is anything that we can’t do now that we could do if we were to Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 22 of 26
adopt the Vision Zero Goals and Strategies? And can we just add those new goals to the beginning of the Sustainable Mobility Plan and not spend the money going through the complications of creating a whole new plan.
Transportation Director Frank replied that the Vizion Zero document which we would craft would be tailored to our specific needs. There is nothing that says at the moment that if we took the vision zero document and added it to our current Sustainable Mobility Plan , or SMP, or an upda te to the Mobility Element that we couldn’t achieve those goals without the Vision Zero Plan.
Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt agreed and said that we have to look to traffic engineering solutions to address the traffic collisions. We are already doing a lot of that in the SMP. The cost estimate provided in the report would be for a full plan to be created addressing all of the elements that the city manager described. We could reduce it down and create an ordinance. We do have flexibility with using the previous planning work. Once we would adopt the resolution, we would then need to create the plan to address the actions outlined in the Vision Zero resolution.
Vice-Chair Linke proposed that we take the Sustainable Mobility Plan and add a goal that states, “Eliminate all preventable traffic related fatal and severe crashes by a specific year”. This would cover the vast majority of the Vision Zero plan. We could also add additional goals to the Sustainable Mobility Plan such as “To conduct Root Cause Analysis of all severe and fatal collisions”. Also , we could address the equity issue with a goal that says when we are doing transportation projects that we take equity into account.
We should do the engineering projects that will actually protect people.
Vice-Chair Linke br ought up Action 32, expediting infrastructure projects. He sa id this is important and that the $620,000 is not part of the Capital Improvement Project but is for increase in staffing.
Transportation Director Frank replied that is correct, the monetary amount is for increase in staffing.
Vice-Chair Linke said that the critical way to make people safer is to get the projects done faster. He is in support of adding more staff to oversee the projects so we can get them done quickly. Would be possible to increase staffing for the next year or two to get more projects in the pipeline but not make this staff increase permanent?
City Manager Chadwick responded that with transportation staff we would be talking about a low number of staff so we could establish limited positions, limited for the budget cycle of two or three years. Keeping in mind that would be an ongoing expense that impacts the city’s budget for that set amount of time.
Vice-Chair Linke brough up data collection, specifically Action 17 which is obtaining real time data which is parallel to the Active Transportation Monitoring Program that we have. We just had data from that a few months ago which is excellent. He is wondering if real time collection of this type of data provides enough value over and above the once annual collection that is going to change how we prioritize projects.
Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt responded that we don’t have access to that data yet, so it is a tough question to answer. The real time data would allow us to get data throughout the entire year. It would give us access to speed data, vehicle volume data, bicycle volume data and pedestrian data. This will allow us to understand how travel patterns fluctuate over a period of several years versus a small sample of a few days.
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 23 of 26
Vice-Chair Linke said that the city has been using Blue Toad technology that tracks the blue tooth signal of cars as they travel which allows us to create a congestion map. Google maps also shows the congestion map. Could we use google and these other technologies for a more quick and inexpensive solution.
Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Schmidt respond ed that the value of the data outlined in Action 17 is much more precise and detailed. The google data does not provide any specific speed data or any data that would be useful for staff or engineering studies.
Transportation Director Frank added that one advantage to having real time data is if we do implement a new arterial configuration with a lane drop and expanded bike lanes, we could collect real time data as soon as it is operational. This would allow us to collect data on the difference the new configuration has made over a course of a month or three months. This is something we could consider and evaluate for further projects, and this would provide data to support that.
Acting Chief Data Officer Van Gilluwe stated that one of the things we think about when we collect data via a study is what else that we could do with that data if we had it in real time or all the time. Some of these projects that were presented to the commission today are based off point of time data. As we implement these projects the traffic patterns will change over time. I f we saw how traffic patterns were changing as we implement the project then that might affect which projects are being prioritized. The cost associated with this would be a lower ongoing cost but a large upfront capital cost. Having the live data at our fingertips to know what implementations are working and how fast would be game changing for the city.
Vice-Chair Linke said that he does not think that the Commission should recommend the dat a solutions immediately but would put them in his second category of things that he would like to hear more about at a later date.
Commissioner Proulx asked if the commission is supposed to support either Option B or Option C or do we have the opportunity to pick the items on this list that we would like to support?
City Manager Chadwick responded that the direction that was received from City Council was to solicit input from the Commissions. So, if the Commission wants to say they are supportive of specific actions they can do that. They can also state which items they are not in support of. We are looking for consensus on the items. The commission can also place priority on the items. Some of the individual comments that were made will also be shared with Council.
Vice-Chair Linke br ought up school bussing and says in the Planning Commission meeting it was unanimous that they felt that the cost was too expensive. He says that some schools have tried to implement a ride-sharing program among parents. He recommends that the city work with the schools to promote parents creating ride-sharing arrangements. This is not as effective as a bus but is still important.
Vice-Chair Linke sa id that Action 15, 33 and 35 are very important. We should recommend crosswalks, elevated crosswalks and speed cushions. Each school will have something that works best for them. This and the temporary increase of staff to implement these projects are most important. Action 36 is updating the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program, or CRTMP, which he thought was already happening.
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 24 of 26
City Traffic Engineer Kim clarifie d that the C arlsbad Residential T raffic Management Program is being updated as Vice-Chair Linke noted. The $150,000 would be the cost associated with including more neighborhoods into that program. The changes that we are considering would essentially lower the bar and allow the city to evaluate more streets for the program.
Vice-Chair Linke brought up Action 16 which is evaluate rumble strips and he would not recommend. One controversial issue that came is the quick build approach which is rapidly constructing protective bike lanes by putting up plastic bollards. He has concerns about this as these quick builds have unintended consequences. He asks if staff has any comments on the Vision Zero quick build approach?
Transportation Director Frank commented that the design process is complex for a reason. They want to make sure any changes being made to the roadway are being done in a very safe manner and that is embraced by the community. The city actually has quite a bit of quick build projects in our plan. The sealing and re-striping is a quick build project, and you will see a lot of gains from that. The collisions which we see from the data are typically at intersections and driveways. The quick builds that you see are typically done along the segments of the road and that is not where we are seeing the collisions occur .
Many of our projects are quick build and will be accomplished within six months. Even projects that are completed within twelve months can be considered quick build as it is a short time frame to be changing characteristics of a roadway.
Chair Perez sa id that the focus at this time is on engineering with 36% out of the 44 action items .
Education is getting 30% of the focus and only 13% is going toward law enforcement. There are a lot of community members asking for additional enforcement and changes in the law. California Vehicular Code 39002A says that as a city we can adopt a bicycle licensing ordinance or resolution. Maybe the nominal fee could help with education.
Chair Perez brought up installing high visibility crosswalks near schools which he supports. He thinks this is part of the school zone and part of the Safe Routes to School program.
Chair Perez stated that he would like an alternate option where we could get all of the i tems in Option B and Option C and put them together, minus the busses.
City Manager Chadwick state d that he wants to emphasize that the role or task of the Commission is to provide input. The Commission is not approving but only recommending the items they want to prioritize.
This body does not have the ability to approve expenditures but can recommend an appropriate course of action to City Council. The budget will be a unique challenge and the city will have to find a way to make everything work.
Commissioner Proulx ask ed how we determine which projects become expedited on the expedite infrastructure projects?
Transportation Director Frank said it is on projects that are not currently expedited. Any traffic and safety projects that are not currently expedited are candidates for this.
Motion by Commissioner Coelho, seconded by Commissioner Newlands the Traffic and Mobility Commission recommended to City Council Option B with the exception of Item 26 (Complete Vision Zero Plan). Motion carried: 6/1 (No: Commissioner Penseyres)
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 25 of 26
Motion by Vice -Chair Linke, seconded by Commissioner Fowler the Traffic and Mobility Commission recommended to City Council to update the Sustainable Mobility Plan to reflect new goals related to Vision Zero including eliminating all preventable traffic related severe collisions by a certain year designated by staff and consider equity when planning transportation projects and conduct root cause analysis of all severe and fatal collisions. Motion carried: 7/0
Motion by Commissioner Coelho, seconded by Commissioner Newlands the Traffic and Mobility Commission to recommend City Council to adopt the following items: 29 (Messages on city assets); 31 (Mobile digital signage); 33 (Develop access plans for all schools); 35 (Speed cushions on streets around schools); 36 (Update Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program); 37 (Community Service Project Plan) and 39 (Activate Community Emergency Response Team, Citizens Academy alumni and trail volunteers). Motion f ailed: 2/5 (No: Chair Perez; Vice -Chair Linke; Commissioner Penseyres; Commissioner Proulx; Commissioner Fowler)
Motion by commissioner Coelho, seconded by Vice -Chair Linke the Traffic and Mobility Commission recommended to City Council to adopt the follo wing items designated under Option C: 29 (Messages on city assets); 31 (Mobile digital signage); 32 (Expedite infrastructure projects); 33 (Develop access plans for all schools); 35 (Speed cushions on streets around schools); 36 (Update Carlsbad Residentia l Traffic Management Program); 37 (Community Service Project Plan); and 39 (Activate Community Emergency Response Team, Citizens Academy alumni and trail volunteers). Motion carried: 6/1 (No: Commissioner Penseyres)
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Perez adjourned the Traffic & Mobility Commission Special Meeting on Oct. 27, 2022, at 8:21 p.m.
___________________________
Eliane Paiva, Minutes Clerk
Dec. 6, 2022
Item #12 Page 26 of 26
From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
christina mcqoldrick
Traffic ; Council Internet Email; Treasury ; !::!.e[Q; City Clerk; Planning; Police All Receive - Agenda Item # \ ~
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Nathan Schmidt; Eric Lardy: Andrea Dykes; Scott Chadwick; Geoff Patnoe; Lindy Pham; James Wood; John Kim; Tom Frank; Miriam Jim
12/06 - City Council Meeting - 3 minute - non-age nda item speech - Christina McGoldrick Monday, December 5, 2022 12:03:37 PM
Dear City Council Members,
' Thank you for the opportunity to speak during the open non-agenda item tonight. I I
I would like to submit my comments in writing and request a follow-up for my questions.
I My name is Christina McGoldrick. I have been a homeowne r and tax payer in I Carlsbad for 7 years. I am a Mother to 3 sons that attend 3 different schools in the 3 I
mile stretch on College Blvd.
I
; First, thank you to the City Counc il Members, Traffic & Mobility Commissioners , and '
: City Staff for the due diligence that has been given in responding to all of the traffic issues.
Second, the Carlsbad state of emergency for bicycle safety is making a difference 1 by creating safer streets together for everyone. _ Benefits from the work completed I can already be seen. However, the 2 million dollars that was authorized to fund these critical projects on public roads and education outreach is not enough. There 1 are multiple reasons for this:
1. 2.
3. The State of Emergency was dec lared on August 23, 2022. The first day of school for the Carlsbad Unified School District was the next day, on August 24, 2022 . The population of minors that rode bicycles to school prior to the pandemic is not the same population that are riding e-bikes to school today.
The number of minors riding e-bikes to school has significantly increased.
Mino rs are not required to complete any education to learn the rules of the road prior to operating an e-bike as a motor vehicle on a public road, so the number of crash accidents has also significantly increased. In locations where schools are located on arterial roads that are used as commuter thoroughfares, this creates a recipe for disaster.
4. One example is the intersection of College Blvd and Cannon Road in front of Sage Creek High School. My public records requests for crash data sets have not been completed yet. However, eye witnesses (including myself) have witnessed adult drivers in vehicles crashing into minors on e-bikes in the intersection numernus times. The average is every single week since school started. This is a problem that has become a pattern and it is not going away.
We requested a traffic investigation for a "no turn on red" to help prevent a tragedy, however there is a long line of projects to be completed before us.
The Department of Traffic and Mobility currently has 7 staff members. These 7 City Staff do not have enough resources to complete their baseline jobs and the additional work created by the state of emergency in a timely manner.
I am requesting that the City Council vote to authorize additional funds for the bicycle State of Emergency. These additional funds would include the hiring of new I staff so critical public road projects, safety projects, and educational outreach can i be completed in a timely manner. This is imperative in intersections such as College Blvd and Cannon Road where it has been documented that there have been numerous crashes between a vehicle and a minor on an ebike.
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives every citizen the right to travel on public roads - pedestrians and bicyclists . Roads are for people, not just vehicles .
At any given time, there can be over 7 different modes of transportation in the road - all being operated by people. The public policy should provide all minors with safe direct routes to school - especially the intersection in front of a school. Any public policy that puts children in danger while they are trying to get to and from school is a bad policy .
Thank you for your time, expertise, and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Christina McGoldrick
i Resident, District 2, Carlsbad
Proud Mom of 3 Boys (ages 10, 12 & 14)
(949) 433 -4397
[email protected]
CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Tammy Cloud-McMinn
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Diana A <[email protected]>
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 12:28 PM
City Clerk
All Receive - Agenda Item # LJ...
For the Information of the:
CllYCOUNCIL
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12. UPDATE ON THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY, REVIEWING
COMMISSION FEEDBACK AND EXTENDING THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION Dear City Council Members,
Please support the extension of the emergency proclamation. In addition, it would be great if the traffic & mobility commission could assess the speeding issue & lack of bike/walking signs on Camino de las ondas feeding into the school. This section of road is high traffic without any bike lanes and lacks speed controls.
Thank you,
Diana Aguirre, D3 Resident
CAUTION : Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe.
1 Tammy Cloud-McM inn
From: christina mcgoldrick <christina [email protected] > Tuesday, December 6, 2022 1 :34 PM Sent:
To:
Cc:
Traffic; Council Internet Email; Treasury; Help; City Clerk; Planning; Police Nathan Schmidt ; Eric Lardy; Andrea Dykes; Scott Chadwick; Geoff Patnoe; Lindy Pham; James Wood; John Kim; Tom Frank; Miriam Jim; christina mcgoldr ick Subject: Revised re: 12/06 - City Council Meeting - 3 minute - Agenda Item #12 speech - Christina McGoldrick
Dear City Council Members ,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak regarding Item #12 on the agenda today. I would like to submit my revised comments in writing and request a follow-up for my requests.
My name is Christina McGoldrick. I have been a homeowner and tax payer in Carlsbad for 7 years . I am a Mother to 3 sons that attend 3 different schools on College Blvd.
First, thank you to everyone in the City for all of the due diligence that has been given in responding to the traffic issues . We are grateful.
Second, the Carlsbad state of emergency for bicycle safety is making a difference by creating safer streets for everyone. Benefits from the work completed can already be seen. However, the 2 million dollars that was authorized to fund these critical projects is not enough. There are multiple reasons for this:
1. 2.
3. The State of Emergency was declared on August 23, 2022. The first day of school for the Carlsbad Unified School District was
4. the next day , on August 24, 2022 . The population of minors that rode bicycles to school prior to the pandemic is not the same population that are riding e-bikes to school today. The number of minors riding e-bikes to school has significantly increased. This
5. is great news for sustainability and the Carlsbad climate action plan, however it is not great news for the historical design of Carlsbad roads.
6. 7.
8. 9. Minors are not required to complete any education or licensing prior to operating an ebike as a motor vehicle on a public road,
10. so the number of crash accidents has increased. In locations where schools are located on arterial roads that are used as commuter thoroughfares , this creates a recipe for disaster. 11 .
12. 13.
14. One example is the intersection of College Blvd and Cannon Road in front of Sage Creek High School. Since the first day of school,
1 15. the public record data sets show that two 911 calls were reported for an adult driver in a vehicle crashing into a minor on an ebike. However, during the same time, there is anecdotal data and witnesses for 12 separate crashes. This shows an underreporting
16. of crash data occurring. The average is that these crashes are happening every week since school started. Additionally, this intersection has been declined a crossing guard because the company stated that the intersection is not safe for an employee. This
17. is a problem that has become a pattern and a public health crisis that is not going away.
18. 19.
20. 21. We requested a traffic investigation for a "no turn on red" to help prevent a tragedy, however there is a long line of projects
22. to be completed before us. The Department of Traffic and Mobility currently has 17 staff members. These 17 staff do not have enough resources to complete their baseline jobs and the additional work created by the state of emergency in a timely manner.
23. I am requesting that all City Council Members vote to approve additional funds to be allocated for the bicycle State of Emergency. These additional funds would include the hiring of new staff so critical public road projects, safety projects, and educational outreach can be completed in a timely manner.
This is imperative in intersections such as College Blvd and Cannon Road, and in the 3 mile stretch of College Blvd where over 2,000 students go to and from school for 5 days a week.
The Carlsbad Police Department has provided regular weekly traffic control and increased visibility in an effort to encourage all citizens to follow the laws and prevent a tragedy. This has made a difference, is greatly appreciated, and we need it to continue until traffic solutions are implemented.
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives every citizen the right to travel on public roads.
Roads are for. people, not just vehicles . At any given time, there can be over 7 different modes of transportation on the road being operated by people. The public policy should provide all minors with safe direct routes to school. Any public policy that puts children in danger while they are trying to get to and from school is a bad policy.
Thank you for your time, expertise, and conside ration. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Christina McGoldrick
Resident, District 2, Carlsbad
Proud Mom of 3 Boys (ages 10, 12 & 14)
(949) 433-4397
[email protected]
On Mon, Dec 5, 2022 at 12:03 PM christina mcgoldrick <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear City Council Members,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak during the open non-agenda item tonight. I would like to submit my comments in writing and request a follow-up for my questions.
My name is Christina McGoldrick. I have been a homeowner and tax payer in Carlsbad for 7 years.
I am a Mother to 3 sons that attend 3 different schools in the 3 mile stretch on College Blvd. 2 First, thank you to the City Council Members, Traffic & Mobility Commissioners, and City Staff for the due diligence that has been given in responding to all of the traffic issues.
Second, the Carlsbad state of emergency for bicycle safety is making a difference by creating safer streets together for everyone. Benefits from the work completed can already be seen. However, the 2 million dollars that was authorized to fund these critical projects on public roads and education outreach is not enough. There are multiple reasons for this:
1. The State of Emergency was declared on August 23, 2022. The first day of school for the Carlsbad Unified School District was the next day, on August 24, 2022. The population of minors that rode bicycles to school prior to the pandemic is not the same population that are riding e-bikes to school today. The number of minors riding e-bikes to school has significantly increased.
2. Minors are not required to complete any education to learn the rules of the road prior to operating an e-bike as a motor vehicle on a public road, so the number of crash accidents has also significantly increased. In locations where schools are located on arterial roads that are used as commuter thoroughfares, this creates a recipe for disaster.
3. One example is the intersection of College Blvd and Cannon Road in front of Sage Creek High School. My public records requests for crash data sets have not been completed yet.
However, eye witnesses (including myself) have witnessed adult drivers in vehicles crashing into minors on e-bikes in the intersection numerous times. The average is every single week since school started. This is a problem that has become a pattern and it is not going away.
4. We requested a traffic investigation fo'r a "no turn on red" to help prevent a tragedy, however there is a long line of projects to be completed before us. The Department of Traffic and Mobility currently has 7 staff members. These 7 City Staff do not have enough resources to complete their baseline jobs and the additional work created by the state of emergency in a timely manner.
I am requesting that the City Council vote to authorize additional funds for the bicycle State of Emergency. These additional funds would include the hiring of new staff so critical public road projects, safety projects, and educational outreach can be completed in a timely manner. This is imperative in intersections such as College Blvd and Cannon Road where it has been documented that there have been numerous crashes between a vehicle and a minor on an ebike.
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives every citizen the right to travel on public roads - pedestrians and bicyclists. Roads are for people, not just vehicles. At any given time, there can be over 7 different modes of transportation in the road - all being operated by people. The public policy should provide all minors with safe direct routes to school - especially the intersection in front of a school. Any public policy that puts children in danger while they are trying to get to and from school is a bad policy.
Thank you for your time, expertise, and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Christina McGoldrick
Resident, District 2, Carlsbad
Proud Mom of 3 Boys (ages 10, 12 & 14)
(949) 433-4397
[email protected]
3 Dec. 6, 2022
12. Update on the City’s Efforts to Improve
Traffic Safety, Reviewing Commission Feedback
and Extending the Emergency Proclamation
1. Receive an update on actions to date
2. Receive commission feedback
3. Extend the emergency proclamation
{city of
Carlsbad
Three Es of Traffic Safety
CARLSBA'iSTATE OF EMERGENCY ~ ~ lfOX::5} ..
FORTUNE
MAGAZINE · E·BIKES
a kpbs
Local
Carlsbad declares
emergency amid rise in
bike, e-bike collisions
By City News Service
Published August 23, 2022 at 12:04 PM PDT
Collisions and close calls: Thee-bike
boom is getting increasingly
dangerous, creating a push for stricter
cycling mies
BY YV ONNE LAU
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Carlsbad approves $2
million to target e-bike
problems
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Carlsbad e-bike emergency
efforts focus on schools ' • collision 'hot spots'
Oc1obe1 7, 2022 al 8:00 AM POT Carlsbad declares local emergency for traffic safety, cyclists
ACTIONS TO DATE
EDUCATION
1,170,975
Times social media
users saw information
Public
comments
14 211
55,464
Social media
engagements
News
stories
New traffic safety
videos
ACTIONS TO DATE
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Carl,bad Villa\le AHociation,v✓
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What 's New in Downtown Carlsbad
UPDATE ON CITY OF CARLSBAD'S
SAFER STREETS TOGETHER
Blog Pou• November U, 2022
Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday weekend with a side of
traffic safety
With Thanksg1v1ng, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday just around the corner , we'll be seeing more people walk, bike and drive In the VIiiage and throughout Carlsbad. Here Is an important update from the City of Carlsbad .
• Slow down and allow extra time to get where you need to go • Eliminate distractions. Phones. music, kids. pets - there are so many things that vie for our attention every day
• It's getting dark out earlier. Wear bright clothing and reflective gear when you're walking or biking at night and make sure your family's bikes have working front and rear lights • Talk to your family about the rules of the road, including rules for pedestrians and bicyclists and Carlsbad-specific e-b1ke rules
• Stay alert for people backing out of driveways, pulling out of parking spots and people walking and biking
• If you're planning a road trip, make sure your vehicle is ready to go. Check your me pressure and swap out wiper blades 1f they are brittle
In this season of giving thanks. please be kind and patient. We are all part of the Carlsbad communn:y. and working together. we can make sure our streets are safe for everyone .
CHS Newsletter 11/14/22
Carlsbad High School
As we are approaching the Thanksgiving Break, the City of Carlsbad would like to remind everyone to take care and share the road whether you're driving, biking or walking. I am grateful for our community partnersh ip and wish you all a very safe and wonderful Thanksg iving break . Please see the Safety Tips for more information .
Sincerely,
Julie Redfield
Principal
ACTIONS TO DATE
Resurfacing and
Restriping
0 Traffic Circles
A Funded Improvements
Green Bike Lane
Enhancements -
Completed
Green Bike Lane
♦ Enhancements - In
Progress
0 ½ 1 2
Oceanside
San Marcos
Miles A NORTH
ACTIONS TO DATE
ENGINEERING
1 8 New green bike
lane locations
5 Traffic calming projects
started in new neighborhoods
• 200+
Street segments restriped
17 Speed feedback
signs installed
12 Digital message
boards
ACTIONS TO DATE
ACTIONS TO DATE
ACTIONS TO DATE
86 ENFORCEMENT
2,525
Enforcement actions 27
Warnings vs. citations Citations by mode
• ifo
ACTIONS TO DATE
ACTIONS TO DATE
4days ago
E-Bike Safety
Great job Carlsbad PDt I took my
daughter to CHS this morning and saw
a significant change in E-Bike safety
enforcement. On my way to the high
school I saw an E-Biker blow through a
4 way stop and the officer lit him up
and hopefu\\y wrote a citation. On my
way back another bike was pulled over
for no helmet and was receiving a
citation. If this was my kid I would want
you to write them up to keep them
safeU!
Great job keeping our kids safe1 I hope
this enforcement continues.
Boys in bl
been th ue Car/sb
Takin e brighte ad!!! Th·
P g my k. St Sp . IS rn D he/ . tds to ot of rn ay have on. Th Ping a kid Schoo/ a Y Year,
M ank out h , nd c . · ayer, You @c Ood ch . arf sbad . ar/sbad _a,n back Po/,ce SRo
• Ratified emergency, allocated $2 million in funding
• Approved restriping several road segments
• Approved bike lane improvements
• Approved the city’s first Local Roadway Safety Plan
• Accepted California Office of Traffic Safety grant to increase enforcement • Approved a project that will build sidewalks at three locations in the city • Adopted an ordinance to reduce the speed limits on two major streets • Approved a contract for Carlsbad Boulevard pedestrian improvements
ACTIONS TO DATE
City Council Actions
ACTIONS TO DATE
Safer Streets Together Plan
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Options Worksheet
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A C
COMMISSION INPUT
Estimate d
Traffic&
3 Es
Potential action
area of
one-time cost Planning Mob ility focus
1. Safer Streets Togelher roll out•
$30,000 v v e
2. Bike lane enhancements•
$421,000 v v e
3. Digital roadway messaging•
$215,000 v v e
4. Enhanced enforcement•
$635,000 v v e
5. Adopt a Vision Zero resolution•
n/a v v Ci)
6. Community commitment campaign•
$42,000 v v Ci)
7. School collaboration•
$27,000 v v Ci)
8. Business, non-profit partnership program•
$22,000 v v Ci)
9. Mobility organization partnership program•
SU,000 v v Ci)
10. Video public service announcements•
$20,000 v v Ci)
11. Upgrade high-pedestrian signal locations•
$60,000 v v e
12. School e•bike certifica tion/pe rmit program• n/• v v Ci)
13. Carlsbad Village Faire outreach
$5,000 v v Ci)
14. Police officer Smart Cycling Instructor program $2,000 v v e
15. Install high-visibility crosswalks near schools $800,000 v v Ci)
16. Evaluate roadway design treatments
sso,ooo v v Ci)
17. Explore opportunities to acquire real-time $100,000 v v e data
18. E-cltation expansion
$55,000 v v Ci)
19. Juvenile traffic safety incentive program
$1,000 v v Ci)
20. Expanded street resurfacing and restrlplng•· $3,700,000 v v Ci)
21. Tamarack Avenue traffic calming·•
$200,000 v v Ci)
22. Reconfigure arteria ls•
$2,000,000 v v Ci)
Expanded street resurfacing and restrlping
23. (Palomar Airport Road, Rancho Santa
$2,000,000 v v e
Fe/Olivenhaln
8:mtd::l!:
24. Review cityw ide speed limits for potent ial $40,000 v v e reduction•
Commission Input
Planning Commission
• Support the direction of the City Council, including the three Es of traffic safety, education, engineering and enforcement • Focus on hot spots
• Review ideas from the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition Traffic & Mobility Commission
• Update the Sustainable Mobility Plan to reflect new goals related to Vision Zero
COMMISSION INPUT
EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
Government Code Section 8630
Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 6.04
{ City of
Carlsbad
12. Update on the City’s Efforts to Improve
Traffic Safety, Reviewing Commission Feedback
and Extending the Emergency Proclamation
1. Receive an update on actions to date
2. Receive commission feedback
3. Extend the emergency proclamation
{city of
Carlsbad