Transportation Commission Meeting

CITY OF ESCONDIDO MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMISSION January 6, 2014 The regular meeting of the Escondido Transportation and Community Safety Commission was called to order at 3:05 p.m., Thursday, by Vice-chairman Dumey, in the City Council Chambers, 201 North Broadway, Escondido, California. Commissioners present: Commissioner Leone, Commissioner Berkstresser, Vice-chairman Durney, Commissioner Maes, and Commissioner San -o. Commissioners absent: Chair Blackstock and Commissioner Dayani. Staff present: Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer; Beth Kassebaum, Department Specialist; Julie Procopio, Assistant Public Works Director; Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer; Sergeant Woodward, Escondido Police Department; and Ty Paulson, Minutes Clerk. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Kimberly Mayerhofer, Escondido, expressed her concern with vehicles speeding between Avenida Del Diablo and Harmony Grove Road. She stated that she was aware of three accidents occurring during 2013, noting her concern for the students at the preschool. She asked that this item be agendized and that the City consider traffic calming measures such as installing a stop sign on Avenida Del Diablo, flashing slow down lights, or anything else the City felt would be appropriate to slow speeds in the subject area. Presentation from Bike-Walk Escondido Gary Onstad, Bike-Walk Escondido, noted that they were a fairly new organization that had been meeting for the last eight months. He stated that their mission was to ensure that bicycling and walking in Escondido was both pleasant and safe. He noted that their goals were supported by the Bicycle Master Plan and the Escondido Creek Commission. He indicated that their priorities included improving the Escondido Creek Trail, implementing traffic calming around schools, creating safe routes to schools, starting with Escondido High School, and help implement the Complete Streets Program. He also stated that they had received tremendous support from the youth of Escondido. 1 Valeria Hernandez, Escondido, noted that she attended Escondido High School. She stated that there was a need for bike and walk lanes for students to access Escondido High School. She also felt a mid-block crossing was needed along with wider sidewalks. Carlos Hernandez, Escondido, noted he attended San Pasqua! High School. He stated that that many of the students either walked or rode bikes to school, noting this was very dangerous due to not having wide enough sidewalks or mid-block crossings. He also felt educating the students to become more involved would help. Mr. Onstad noted that the creek trail bike path had over 14 street crossing that were uncontrolled, noting his concern for the safety of the trail users. He stated that the Reveal Escondido Creek group was also working to improve the bike trail. He noted that the bike trail needed signage, parking restrictions at the trail entrances, and exits. He elaborated that they created a survey of the trail, which outlined the challenges. In conclusion, he noted that their goal was to partner with the City and other organizations to create the best solution. Judy Frankel, Carlsbad, Bike/Walk North County, noted that she helped established bike/walk groups in San Diego. She felt Escondido was a destination for bicyclist both in town and in the outlying areas for mountain bikers. She suggested that a connection be provided from the transit center to the bike path and that the bike paths be widened. She encouraged that the Commission have a representative attend the February 13 th Caltrans workshop. MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Leone, seconded by Commissioner Berkstresser, to approve the minutes of the October 10, 2013, meeting. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT ITEMS: 1. New Striping Plan for Mission Avenue from North Broadway to Fig Street and for East Valley Parkway from Midway Drive to Citrus Avenue. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Berkstresser, seconded by Commissioner Dumey, to approve the consent item. Motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS: Taken out of order. 2 2. Feasibility Study — mid-block pedestrian crossing on North Broadway north of Sheridan Avenue. Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended including Alternatives 2 and 3 as outlined in the staff report (optimizing signal timing plan and constructing sidewalk improvements to allow for more pedestrian storage capacity) in the Traffic Management Plan List (TMPL) for prioritization at the April 2014 Transportation Commission meeting. Commissioner Durney and staff discussed the timing for repaving North Broadway. Commissioner Dumey expressed his concern with the 47 MPH average speeds of vehicles traveling in front of the school. He then asked whether active controls could be used. Mr. Bandegan noted that the only active control device that might work would be HAWK Signals, which cost approximately $150,000. Commissioner Dumey asked if grant funding was available. Mr. Bandegan noted that Safe Routes to School Fund might be an avenue for funding. Greg Birch, Rancho Bernardo, noted his son lived in Escondido. He expressed his view that the speed limit around the schools needed to be 25 MPH during school hours. He also felt the City needed to create bike and walk lanes for all of the high schools in Escondido. Valeria Hernandez, Escondido, noted that Escondido High School had more and more students riding bikes and walking to school. She felt a mid-block crossing was needed. Carol Rea, Escondido, President of the Old Escondido Historic District, thanked the Commission for the stop signs at Juniper and 9 th Avenue. She asked that the City take measures to create traffic calming for Escondido High School. Patricia Borchmann, Escondido, asked that the City create traffic calming measures near Escondido High School. She noted that the vehicle speeds were too high near the schools. Maya Rosas, Escondido, BikeNValk San Diego, noted that the issues associated with bicycle traffic and student traffic was very serious. She asked why a passive stop sign was not warranted. She also noted that they could help with grant writing for the City. Commissioner Berkstresser noted that the speed limit at all high school sites was 25 MPH during school hours. He also stated that the reason for not installing passive crosswalks was due to creating a false sense of security for pedestrians. He noted that the Police Department was very active in the Escondido High School area. He indicated that staffs recommendation would help keep the students from overflowing into the street. He suggested repositioning the bicycle parking at 3 Escondido High School in the vicinity of Bud Quade Way. He also stated educating and making the bicyclists and parents dropping off and picking students accountable was key for creating better safety. Commissioner Maes noted that part of the issues was educating the students. She stated that she was opposed to mid-block crossings due to creating a false sense of security. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Berkstresser, seconded by Commissioner Maes, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 1. Review and Approve a Policy for Prioritizing Traffic Management and Traffic Calming Policy. Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended the Commission approve the policy on prioritizing and implementation of traffic management projects. Commissioner Dumey and Mr. Bandegan discussed the timing for reviewing the projects. Discussion ensued regarding adding smaller projects after the April deadline. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Berkstresser, seconded by Commissioner Dumey, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Approve new batch of speed surveys, including changes to posted limits Beth Kassebaum, Department Specialist, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended the Commission recommend approval to the City Council of updated Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS) for posted speeds on various street segments Citywide as outlined in the staff report. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Leone, seconded by Commissioner Berkstresser, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Rural Residential Roadway Standards — Alternative Roadway Standards to be recommended for Approval to the City Council All Shahzad, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff 4 recommended approval to City Council of the Rural Residential Roadway Standards. Commissioner Dumey and Mr. Shahzad discussed the difference between the current residential standards and the proposed standards. Trudy Pachoin, Escondido, asked what the accommodation would be for the bicyclists. Mr. Shahzad noted that residential streets did not require bicycle lanes due to residential streets already having traffic calming. He also noted that the ADTs were very low for the proposed areas. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Leone, seconded by Commissioner Berkstresser, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Project Status Update — An overview of various projects involving the City a. Truck Route signage — installation complete b. Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Funding Awarded for two (2) Top Priority Traffic Signals All Shahzad, Associate Engineer, provided the updates to the Commission and requested input. SCHOOL AREA SAFETY 1. Pedestrian Safety — Reidy Creek School — Traffic Congestion - Received ANY OTHER BUSINESS: 1. Future Agenda Items — A briefing of future agenda items proposed to be presented to the Transportation Commission. Mr. Shahzad noted that Commissioner applications were due. Commissioner Dumey asked for an agenda item to discuss installing directional hospital signage in the area where Citracado dead ended, noting he had witnessed individuals not being able to find the hospital on Citracado on a regular basis. Commissioner Dumey asked for an agenda item to discuss how the Commission could be more involved with the bike/walk program. 5 Mr. Bandegan noted that the Commission would be hearing the Traffic Management Project List at the next meeting. COUNCIL ACTION: None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONERS: No discussion. ADJOURNMENT: Vice-chairman Dumey adjourned the meeting at 4:43 p. m. The next meeting of the Commission would be held on April 10, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 201 North Broadway, Escondido. Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer Ty , Minutes Clerk 6