Commission endorses Coastal Rail Trail Segment 3 plans; asks staff to review right‑turn and bike conflict markings
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Summary
The commission supported staff recommendations to endorse plans and specifications for Coastal Rail Trail Segment 3, the final and most complex segment tying Palomar Airport Road to the Coaster station, and asked staff to review right‑turn lane and green‑paint conflict treatments near the station before finalizing.
The Traffic Safety Mobility Commission voted 6-0 to support staff's recommendation that City Council approve plans and specifications for Coastal Rail Trail Segment 3, the most technically complex section of the regional Coastal Rail Trail that will connect Palomar Airport Road in the north to the Coaster station and tie into the already completed Segment 2.
Brandon Miles and city traffic staff described the project as an addition to the regional bikeway network that includes new sidewalks in locations where none currently exist, enhanced buffered bike lanes, 54 upgraded pedestrian ramps, new crosswalks, raised medians with landscaping, traffic calming elements and intersection improvements. Staff said final environmental clearance, utility coordination and permitting are ongoing; the plans are 100% complete in engineering and the team hopes to take the project to bid later this year with construction in spring or summer 2026 if funding and permits align.
Commissioners raised a specific design question about the approach to the Poinsettia/Embarcadero/Coaster station area shown in plan exhibits: earlier pages in the agenda packet depict a solid green bike lane approaching a right‑turn area while the staff slide showed a dashed green marking. City traffic engineer John Kim said the standard practice is to use dashed green markings at right turns; staff agreed to verify and correct the striping or to study whether a dedicated right‑turn lane might be feasible at that location. The approving motion included an instruction that staff look at feasibility of a right‑turn‑only lane into the Coaster station or correct the green paint to standard dashed green conflict markings.
The commission's approval advances the project to City Council for formal authorization to bid and, ultimately, construction. No public comments were received on this item at the time of the meeting.
Votes at a glance: Approved 6-0.
Ending: Staff will report back on any stripe/turn‑lane revisions and will forward the project to City Council for action on bidding and contract award.
