CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
August 20, 2024 {{section.number}}e
REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 2020, 2021, AND 2022 ANNUAL TRAFFIC REPORTS RECOMMENDATION:
Review and accept the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Annual Traffic Reports; direct staff to complete the annual report for 2023 in coordination with the Mobility Commission, analyzing collision data by neighborhood, if feasible.
BACKGROUND:
Section 56.03.014 of the Coronado Municipal Code states that “the City Engineer, in cooperation with the Police Department, shall annually prepare a traffic report which shall be filed with the City Council. Such a report shall contain information on traffic matters in this City as follows:
A. Traffic accident data, including the number of traffic accidents, the number of persons killed, and the number of persons injured;
B. The number of traffic accidents investigated and other pertinent data on the safety activities of the City; and
C. The plans and recommendations of the City staff for future traffic safety activities.” Completion of the annual traffic reports (reports) for 2020, 2021, and 2022 was delayed for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing and workload constraints. With the assistance of a consultant, these three reports have been drafted in a similar form and depth as prior annual traffic reports, and work on the 2023 report is underway.
On June 13, 2024, the 2020, 2021, and 2022 reports were presented to the City’s Mobility Commission. The Mobility Commission unanimously recommended the reports be modified to include recommendations “influenced by neighborhoods” and make specific recommendations for safety improvements at Bayshore Bikeway intersections before presenting them to the City Council. Staff did not receive a definition or scope of analysis for “influenced by neighborhoods”.
Overhauling the reports to incorporate the recommendation for “influenced by neighborhoods” would delay the reports until the end of the year at a minimum. With staff’s prior commitment to the City Council to deliver the reports by August, the reports continued with the review process.
On June 27, 2024, the traffic reports were presented to the City‘s Traffic Operations Committee (TOC). The TOC voted 4-0 (with the City Engineer abstaining from the vote) to recommend the reports be considered final for presentation to the City Council without reanalyzing and redrafting them per the Mobility Commission’s motion. The TOC by separate vote, approved the Mobility Commission’s request of traffic analysis "influenced by neighborhoods” to be considered for inclusion into the 2023 Annual Traffic Report and for staff to conduct an assessment of the vehicle right of way crossings with the bike path along the Silver Strand.
ANALYSIS:
The 2020, 2021, and 2022 reports are attached for review. The City’s Public Services and Engineering Department and Police Department staffs monitor accident records on a regular basis and formally report these statistics for each calendar year as required by the Municipal Code.
Each report contains an Executive Summary section and more detailed sections outlining traffic volume and collision analysis. Each report found average annual traffic volumes had significantly decreased from 2019 volumes, most likely due to the COVID pandemic and subsequent changes in the work force allowing more people to work from home. The overall number of traffic collisions experienced had also decreased from 2019, most likely due to the reduction in traffic volume.
Recommendations from all three reports include the following:
• Intersection of Orange and First: replace signal head backplates with backplates featuring yellow reflective borders.
• Intersection of Orange and Fourth: recommend Caltrans review signal operations and signs, and install signal head backplates with backplates featuring yellow reflective borders.
• Intersection of Orange and B / Loma: recommend Caltrans review the intersection for pedestrian safety improvements and ADA upgrades.
• Bayshore Bikeway: consider reviewing policies related to use of the Bayshore Bikeway pertaining to speed limits, right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections, and use of atintersection and advance warning signage and pavement markings.
It is important to note that Coronado residents can contact the City at any time to request consideration of various improvements to improve safety within the right-of-way for all modes of transportation. For example, requests for the installation of stop signs, red curb zones, crosswalks, etc., can be submitted to the Engineering Division of the Public Services and Engineering Department. Written requests can be made via email or on-line through “Ask Coronado.” In most cases, such requests are analyzed by Engineering staff with findings and recommendations presented to the City’s Traffic Operations Committee.
The Traffic Operations Committee (TOC) (consisting of the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Directors of the Community Development Department and Public Services and Engineering Department, and the City Engineer) is scheduled to meet the fourth Thursday of each month to consider such requests and make recommendations to the City Council. TOC meetings are open to the public, posted at least 72 hours prior on the City webpage, with courtesy notices typically sent to residents living within 300’ of any location where improvements are being considered.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
ALTERNATIVE:
The City Council may direct staff to re-analyze data, edit the reports or provide other direction.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT:
Categorically exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 regarding basic information collection, research, and analysis.
PUBLIC NOTICE:
No notice required.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) 2020 DRAFT Annual Traffic Report
2) 2021 DRAFT Annual Traffic Report
3) 2022 DRAFT Annual Traffic Report
Submitted By: Public Services and Engineering Department / Jim Newton