At the next city council meeting, on October 6th, the city council will again wrestle with traffic problems and finding solutions. Unlike the last two meetings where the discussion centered on bicycle lanes, this time, motor vehicles are front and center.
Specifically, the council will discuss recommendations in a study by the engineering firm of Fehr and Peers, to reduce congestion, stop speeding and improve safety along Third and Fourth Streets between the Naval Air Station and the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge and along Pomona Avenue and Glorietta Boulevard and to “suggest possible improvements,” according the city staff report. The study was commissioned in 2014 and $50,000 was appropriated for it.
Of the 24 recommendations the city engineering department selected five for further review: Traffic singles on Fourth and Alameda; on Fourth and Glorietta, on Third and Fourth at F and B Avenues; modification to the intersections of Pomona Avenue and Third Street.
The cityÂ’s traffic commission prepared its own report, based on the same study and recommended by 7-0 vote to proceed with the traffic signals on Fourth and Alameda; Third and Fourth Streets at F and B Avenues.
It also suggested modification of the intersection of Pomona Avenue and Third Street. Raised crosswalks with rapid flashing beacon at H and I Avenue at Fourth Street and at I Avenue and Third Street. Speed tables (speed bumps) on Third Street west of D Avenue and on Fourth Street east of A Avenue and west of Glorietta and on Pomona west of A Avenue and curb extents (bulb-out) on Forth Street at A and C Avenue as well.
Besides the suggestions, the city staff and transportation commission have singled out (Fehr and Peers also recommended a traffic circle or mini-roundabout at Third and Glorietta) modification of the intersection of Pomona and Fourth, keep clear pavement markets at Third and C Avenue and Fourth and D Avenue, partial closure of A Avenue and Pomona Avenue to prevent traffic turning left on the A Avenue.
If the city council were to adopt all of these recommendations it would cost the city an estimated $3.82 million, city staff estimated.
The proposal to study the feasibility of traffic lights on Third and Fourth Streets has already generated opposition by some members of the community. Bright red “Fight the Lights Coronado” signs are sprouting up around the city. Although there doesn’t appear to be the ground swell of opposition that the “bike path” on Ocean Blvd. generated, seats at Council Chamber meeting this Tuesday may be at a premium.
Petition against adding more traffic lights: Fight the Lights Coronado
Petition for adding safety improvements: Implement CTC Recommendations / Support Safe Crossings / Mayor Challenge
On a related matter the council will also discuss placing left turn restrictions on A, B and C Avenues from 5-9am and 2-6pm on weekdays on a three-month trial bases. The changes were suggested by Councilman Richard Bailey in July. He also asked that the turn restrictions in the alleys of those three streets be extended for one hour, to 5-9am and 2-6pm from 5-8 am and 2-6pm.
Making these changes will not be all that simple.
The original restrictions were put in place after Proposition M passed in November 2004. It called for the removal of semi-diverters at that restricted turning left those intersections on Third Street and set the left turn hours.
Since the current left turn restrictions were set by the voters it will require a second ballot measure to make the changes Bailey suggested. It would also require an environmental review before it could be placed on the ballot.
Besides traffic on Third and Fourth the council will also entertain a request by Councilwoman Carrie Downey that the city provide free year-around shuttle service at a future regular meeting.
In her letter to Mayor Casey Tanka and City Manger Blair King requesting that her proposal be on the agenda, Downey pointed out that free summer shuttle service “had the highest occupancy rate of any San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) line on at least one occasion this summer.”
She believes many residents would use the bus service to “visit the library, grocery story, movies or even city council meetings, if it was predictable, convenient and free.”
Downey suggested routes and services for councilÂ’s consideration such as a shuttle loop around the village, service to the Coronado Cays Fire Station parking lot, morning and evening pickups at the Ferry Landing, and pick up and drop off locations at the main gates of North Island Navel Air Station and the Navel Amphibious Base.
Such shuttle services, Downey said would “get people out of their single use vehicles and using transit in Coronado to help address traffic, parking and greenhouse gas concerns.”
Other matters scheduled to be voted on Tuesday include: the appointments of people to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Street Tree Committee to complete the terms of members who are leaving; a new ordinance for small rooftop solar energy systems, and an Historic Resources Preservation Agreement for a house at 815 Alameda Blvd.
The city council meeting commences at 4pm in the city council chambers at 1825 Strand Way. The Fehr and Peers study is set for review close to 5pm.
Meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 4pm in the Council Chambers at the south end of City Hall (1825 Strand Way). The regular meetings are broadcast live on Time Warner Channel 19 on the day of the meeting and rebroadcast daily until the next meeting. The meetings are also now available as live and archived webstreams.
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Related: Adding Traffic Signals – Analysis from the Coronado Transportation Commission (read article)
