Commission backs all-way stop recommendations at three Carlsbad intersections

The Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission voted to support staff recommendations that City Council adopt ordinances establishing all-way stop control at three residential intersections: Alicante Road & Galena Avenue, Calle Hidalgo & Camino De Amigos, and Paseo Cerro & Paseo Descanso.

Staff associate engineer Linda Pham summarized the evaluations used to reach the recommendations, following the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). For Alicante & Galena staff reported sight-distance restrictions caused by a raised median and landscaping and observed two collisions over five years; engineers concluded the location could not meet the minimum stopping sight-distance requirement and recommended an all-way stop to reduce conflict.

For Calle Hidalgo & Camino De Amigos staff reported no collisions in the study period but documented about 138 pedestrian crossings per day and proximity to a community playground; staff cited those pedestrian volumes and other operational factors as supporting an all-way stop. For Paseo Cerro & Paseo Descanso staff pointed to one collision in the last year and an unconventional two-way stop configuration that causes driver confusion.

Multiple residents spoke in favor of changes at the intersections. John Post, a Galena Avenue resident, described limited visibility when turning from his driveway and urged the commission to approve the remedy: "Please, please do it," he said. Todd Schonenberg, vice president of the Rancho Carrillo Homeowners Association, said his HOA supports the change near Paseo and signaled he would raise a separate speed-limit question on Melrose Drive; Brenda Post asked whether alternatives such as roundabouts or speed humps had been considered.

Commissioners discussed queueing/storage for vehicles approaching Melrose Drive, the permanence of stop signs once adopted into the municipal code, and how the city initiates stop evaluations (staff said analyses begin in response to resident requests and that consultants conduct counts when there is a cluster of locations). Commissioner (speaker 8) moved to vote on all three recommendations together; Commissioner Cole seconded and the motion carried.

Next steps: the commission's support will be transmitted to City Council; if council adopts the ordinance staff will install the stop signs and associated pavement markings and notify affected residents.

Vote and implementation details: staff said the intersections will be included in an ordinance for Council adoption; the installation of signs and pavement markings follows council action and will be scheduled by staff.