Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Mobility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission backs diagonal parking and an all‑way stop on Grand Avenue to improve village safety and parking supply
Summary
The commission supported staff proposals to convert parallel parking to diagonal parking on Grand Avenue (net +11 spaces) and to install an all‑way stop at Grand and Madison to improve pedestrian safety; staff will present the measures to city council for implementation.
The Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission voted Feb. 3 to support two staff recommendations intended to calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety in the Carlsbad Village area: converting on‑street parallel parking to diagonal parking on a segment of Grand Avenue and installing an all‑way stop at Grand Avenue and Madison Street.
Senior staff described a lane‑reduction plan that would convert westbound parallel parking to diagonal parking between Tyler Street Alley and Jefferson Street, narrowing lane widths to 11 feet and adding a two‑way left‑turn lane. Staff said the configuration would yield a net gain of 11 parking spaces while keeping operations at an acceptable level of service. Gary Nesem, a public commenter, supported the lane reduction and urged the city to consider broader parking solutions such as a parking garage; he also asked staff to reassess one corner parking space near Madison.
On the all‑way stop, associate engineer Lindy Pham presented an always‑stop warrant analysis per the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Staff said primary signal/volume/collision criteria were not fully met but that optional criteria — notably high pedestrian crossing volumes observed on a typical weekday and a planned nearby grocery store — justified all‑way stop control and that the measure would restore about three parking spaces currently occupied by red‑curb sight‑distance treatments. Commissioners discussed lighting and sign visibility and asked staff to coordinate the stop sign implementation with village lighting efforts.
Votes and implementation: The commission voted to support the diagonal parking proposal and separately supported staff recommendation for all‑way stop control; staff will present ordinances and implementation plans to the city council for adoption and installation of signs and pavement markings once council acts.
Sources: Presentations by John Kim and Miriam Jim, associate engineer Lindy Pham, and public comment by Gary Nesem and Steve Linke during the Feb. 3 commission meeting.
