Carlsbad pauses El Fuerte lane reduction, orders review of Barrio traffic-circle parking impacts

Mayor Blackburn and the Carlsbad City Council unanimously directed staff to return with alternatives to a planned lane reduction and asked Public Works to study parking replacement options after residents raised concerns about the project’s impact.

The council’s action came during consideration of a consent calendar item that included slurry-seal work and striping changes on El Fuerte Street. Tom Frank, the city’s transportation director and city engineer, told the council the striping change had been reviewed last May and that staff had received “a lot of comments on particular sections of El Fuerte restriping and the elimination of a vehicle lane.” He said lane reductions can improve sight lines and manage speeds but acknowledged community concern around converting two lanes to one.

The council’s motion directs staff to return with a plan showing an option that would retain two lanes on…