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Carlsbad council approves Safe Routes planning and near-term safety measures for Kelly Drive
Summary
The Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously to direct staff to pursue a Safe Routes to School plan and immediate near-term safety measures on Kelly Drive, including restriping the median and creating a queue lane to improve student drop-off safety at Kelly Elementary.
The Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday unanimously directed city staff to pursue a Safe Routes to School planning process for Kelly Drive and to implement near-term safety measures aimed at reducing conflicts around Kelly Elementary School.
Transportation Director and city engineer Tom Frank told the council the recommended near-term actions include restriping the median in front of the school to discourage left turns and adding red curb southwest of the Hillside Drive intersection to create a queue lane into the school parking lot. He said those near-term measures would be implemented regardless of which long-term option the council chose and that re-striping could be completed during the school's winter break.
“I should note that it also takes time,” Frank said of the Safe Routes planning process, estimating the plan would take about a year to develop in coordination with the school district, parents and residents.
A resident stakeholder, Chris Wright, told the council he supports the near-term measures and Option 1, the Safe Routes plan, but urged sensitivity to crosswalk placement so drivers exiting the school lot are not blocked. “I support the near term measures… and I support option 1 with the collaborative engagement,” Wright said.
Several council members agreed the collaborative process in Option 1 would better build community buy-in and allow staff to consider elements listed under Option 2 as part of the plan. Councilmember Burkholder moved to adopt the resolution for Option 1; the motion carried unanimously.
What happens next: staff will proceed with work orders for the near-term improvements and, if directed, begin the Safe Routes planning process and return to the Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission and the council with draft plans for review and approval.
The vote: The council voted unanimously to adopt Option 1 and the near-term actions. No additional details on cost or a schedule for later phases were adopted at the meeting.
