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Council selects limited intersection improvements for Carlsbad Boulevard–Tamarack after grant timeline, commission briefed on scope
Summary
City transportation staff told the commission that City Council chose a reduced‑scope set of intersection improvements at Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue and that the city will proceed with design and environmental review for that option.
Tom Frank, transportation director and city engineer, updated the commission on the Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue intersection project and the city council decision to pursue a reduced‑scope alternative.
Why it matters: the intersection serves coastal access and heavy pedestrian demand; council selected a lower‑cost, limited‑scope option that retains safety and coastal access improvements while reducing capital cost and permitting timelines.
What staff described: Frank reviewed the project’s grant history back to 2016 and explained that SANDAG extended the grant twice. City Council recently reviewed three design alternatives — a larger corridor project (option 1), a traffic signal (option 2), and a smaller intersection improvement (option 3) — and selected option 3. Frank said SANDAG will consider the item on its board agenda on the upcoming meeting.
Scope of option 3 (as described to the commission): constructing new ADA access ramps at three corners of the intersection; reconstructing existing medians to provide ADA‑compliant pathways; installing a pedestrian signal with push buttons and pedestrian heads to facilitate the crosswalks; and removing guardrail south of the intersection on the west side to free approximately 1.5 feet of space (a small portion of guardrail near the bridge would remain for crash attenuation). Frank said options 1 and 2 had much larger price tags — staff cited figures in the tens of millions (option 2 was described as roughly $17 million, option 1 roughly $19 million in a later fiscal year estimate) — and that funding shortfalls were a factor in council’s decision.
Commission concerns and public commentary: commissioners asked about sidewalk widths and pedestrian crowding where a narrow stretch forces single‑file walking; Frank said lane widths vary (about 10 to 11 feet in places) and that removing the guardrail would not likely increase unsafe use of the bike lane. There were no public comments on this item at the commission meeting; Frank noted the project will proceed with environmental review, permitting and final design consistent with the council‑chosen option.
Next steps: staff will continue environmental review and design for option 3 and coordinate required permitting; SANDAG’s board consideration is imminent.
Ending: The commission received the update and asked staff follow up questions; no commission vote was required.
