Carlsbad, CA
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Safer Streets Together
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National traffic safety trends show a dramatic increase in traffic-related deaths, with the first quarter of 2022 showing the highest number of deaths in two decades.
The City of Carlsbad's traffic safety emergency proclamation allowed us to focus increased resources and attention on the three Es of traffic safety, education, engineering and enforcement, using the framework of the Safer Streets Together Plan.
The City of Carlsbad declared a local state of emergency on Aug. 23, 2023 in response to a 233% increase in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes between 2019 and August 2022. The action immediately increased attention and resources on a range of solutions including infrastructure improvements, traffic safety measures, enhanced enforcement and a focus on safe driving behavior education.
While the local emergency proclamation expired at 5 p.m. on Sept. 8, traffic safety remains a top priority in Carlsbad with a focus on the three Es of traffic safety – education, engineering and enforcement – using the framework of the Safer Streets Together Plan.
The City of Carlsbad was the first city in the region to pass local laws that make it easier to enforce the safe and considerate use of e-bikes, scooters and other similar ways of getting around town.
- The changes allow police to issue citations, but also allow most first-time violators to avoid penalty if they agree to take a safety course put on by the Police Department.
- Overall, bicyclists and e-bike riders are subject to all the same rules of the road as motorists.
- Riders who don’t follow the rules are subject to ticketing and fines as defined by the California Vehicle Code or Carlsbad Municipal Code.
Learn about the changes to the Carlsbad Municipal Code.
Download and print a one-page overview.
The City of Carlsbad declared a local state of emergency in 2022, citing a 233% increase in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes since 2019. This action increased attention and resources on a range of solutions including infrastructure improvements, traffic safety measures, enhanced enforcement and a focus on safe driving behavior education.
The city redeployed resources from its police, fire, transportation and communications & engagement departments to develop a comprehensive Safer Streets Together Plan that was presented to City Council on Sept. 27, 2022.
The emergency ended on Sept. 8, 2023, but the city's focus on traffic safety continues.
Oct. 24, 2023 | City Council
- Received a report on the city's actions related to the local traffic safety emergency using a year's worth of data.
July 11, 2023 | City Council
- Received a report on the city's actions to date related to the local traffic safety emergency.
- Extended the local traffic safety emergency proclamation for an additional 60 days.
May 16, 2023 | City Council
- Received a report on the city's actions to date related to the local traffic safety emergency.
- Extended the local traffic safety emergency proclamation for an additional 60 days.
March 21, 2023 | City Council
- Received a report on the city's actions to date related to the local traffic safety emergency.
- Adopted a resolution endorsing the Vision Zero goal to achieve zero traffic-related deaths or serious injuries.
- Extended the local traffic safety emergency proclamation for an additional 60 days.
Jan. 24, 2023 | City Council
- Received a report on the city’s action to date related to the local traffic safety emergency.
- Received a report on options to fund additional traffic safety efforts recommended by the Traffic & Mobility and Planning commissions.
- Approved project plans and specifications for green paint bike lane enhancements.
- Extended the local traffic safety emergency proclamation for an additional 60 days.
Dec. 6, 2022 | City Council
- Received a report on the city’s action to date related to the local traffic safety emergency.
- Received feedback provided by the Planning and Traffic & Mobility Commissions on the Safer Streets Together Plan options.
- Extended the local traffic safety emergency proclamation for an additional 60 days.
Nov. 15, 2022 | City Council
- Approved the city’s first Local Roadway Safety Plan, a comprehensive assessment of citywide collision data that identifies, analyzes and prioritizes roadway safety improvements to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
- Accepted a $113,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to increase enforcement during fiscal year 2022-23.
- Approved plans and authorized staff to advertise for bids for a project that will build sidewalks at three locations in the city.
- Adopted an ordinance to reduce the speed limit on portions of Cadencia Street and Gateway Road following successful traffic safety projects on those streets.
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Approved a contract for Carlsbad Boulevard pedestrian improvements that will upgrade six crosswalks along the beach with curb extensions and in-pavement lighting and improved bicycle striping, including green paint in car-bike conflict areas.
Oct. 27, 2022 | Traffic & Mobility Commission and Planning Commission
Received a presentation on the Safer Streets Together Plan and provided feedback on options.
Traffic & Mobility Commission meeting recording
Planning Commission meeting recording
Oct. 18, 2022 | City Council
Extended the local traffic safety emergency proclamation for an additional 60 days.
Video recording
Oct. 3, 2022 | Traffic & Mobility Commission
Update on complete streets in Carlsbad and actions taken since the Aug. 23, 2022 proclamation of emergency.
Video recording
Sept. 27, 2022 | City Council
- Presented an update on the city's response to the local emergency and a list of additional actions for the City Council's consideration.
- Approved a project to restripe southbound Carlsbad Boulevard from Manzano Drive to Island Way, addressing speeding and creating more space for walkers and cyclists.
- Approved bike lane improvements along La Costa Avenue, Jefferson Street and Paseo Del Norte.
- Approved bike lane improvements at five locations along south Carlsbad Boulevard.
Safer Streets Together Plan
Video recording
Sept. 6, 2022 | Traffic & Mobility Commission
An update on the proclamation of local emergency.
Video recording
Aug. 30, 2022 | City Council
City Council ratified local emergency proclamation.
Video recording
Aug. 23, 2022
Proclamation of local emergency
More safety projects approved
On Tuesday, the City Council approved additional projects that will improve traffic safety throughout Carlsbad and support the city’s ongoing efforts to balance the needs of bicyclists, walkers and drivers.
Lighted crosswalks along the beach
Carlsbad Boulevard, which historically has among the highest number of collisions citywide, will see six crosswalks upgraded with:
- Pedestrian-activated in-pavement flashing lights, the first in the city to include this safety feature
- Curb extensions, which shorten the crossing distance for walkers and send a visual cue to drivers to be alert for walkers
- New high-visibility crosswalk markings, similar to rungs on a ladder
- Green markings on bicycle lanes in areas where cars and bikes are most likely to experience conflicts
These six existing crosswalk locations are at the Army and Navy Academy between Mountain View Drive and Cypress Avenue, Oak Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Hemlock Avenue. Construction is anticipated to start at the end of 2022, and the project should be completed by summer 2023.
Reducing speeding
Following complaints about speeding, city traffic engineers worked with residents to develop “traffic calming” treatments on two busy streets, Cadencia Street and Gateway Road. Now that the changes have been implemented, speed surveys show that a reduction in speed limit of 5 miles per hour can be justified.
Cadencia Street from Del Rey Avenue to west of Perdiz Street now has:
- Three radar speed feedback signs, two for the southbound direction and one for northbound.
- A marked crosswalk with pedestrian-activated flashing beacons on the north side of the intersection at Venado Street.
Gateway Road between El Camino Real and El Fuerte Street features:
- An existing raised and marked crosswalk with flashing beacons, located 630 feet east of El Camino Real.
- Two sets of “chicanes” installed in 2019. A chicane is a series of alternating mid-block curb extensions or islands that helps reduce vehicle speeds because motorists are required to maneuver through the curving, S-shaped path.
- A marked crosswalk with pedestrian-activated flashing beacons installed in 2020 at the west leg of the intersection at Innovation Way.
Until recent changes in state legislation, speed limits could only be set within a narrow range, based on how fast cars travelled on a particular street. That’s why the city often starts with physical changes to the road.
Assembly Bill 43, which went into effect this year, gives cities greater flexibility in lowering speed limits in certain areas. As part of the current traffic emergency, the City Council directed staff to evaluate city streets where speed limits could be reduced under these new rules.
Sidewalk improvements
Carlsbad’s policy since 2015 has been to focus on creating “complete streets,” which provide a welcoming environment for all modes of travel. A project approved Tuesday will build new sidewalks where there are currently gaps at the following three locations:
- The east side of Garfield Street, between Tamarack Avenue and Redwood Avenue
- The west side of Tamarack Avenue, from approximately 700 feet south of Kirkwall Avenue to 550 feet north of Edinburgh Drive
- The east side of Monroe Street, between Marron Road and the driveway entrance to The Shoppes at Carlsbad
These locations are identified as segments with missing or substandard sidewalks in the city’s Sustainable Mobility Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in January 2021.
California Office of Traffic Safety grant
The City Council accepted a $113,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program for fiscal year 2022-23. The money will be used by the Carlsbad Police Department to enforce traffic laws and prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries through various campaigns, DUI checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, training and equipment.
Local roadway safety plan
The City Council approved the city’s first Local Roadway Safety Plan, a comprehensive assessment of collision data citywide, that identifies, analyzes and prioritizes roadway safety improvements to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. The city started this plan before the traffic emergency was declared. Completing it makes the city eligible for state grant funding for transportation safety projects, including some proposed in the city’s Safer Streets Together Plan.
- The analysis covers collision data from 2015 to 2019 (excluding the atypical years of the pandemic).
- Since competing this plan, the city has gathered additional data covering from 2019 to 2022.
- As a result of the traffic emergency, the city has already started to implement several of the recommendations in the plan and others are proposed in the Safer Streets Together menu of options.
Upcoming road widening on El Camino Real
The City of Carlsbad is planning to widen northbound El Camino Real from Cinnabar Way to Camino Vida Roble and widen northbound El Camino Real from Sunny Creek Road to Jackspar Drive to add a third vehicle lane. This is a requirement to meet city design standards and the standards in the city’s General Plan and Growth Management Plan, which call for El Camino Real to be a six-lane roadway.
In addition to providing an additional northbound vehicle lane, the project will provide new sidewalks, new streetlights, and enhanced buffered bike lanes.
The city needs to acquire additional right-of-way from the property owners along these segments to widen the roadway. The design has been completed and the project is ready to move forward with negotiating with the property owners and acquiring the real property and easement needed to proceed with the project.
Learn more about the city's Safer Streets Together resources, other traffic safety projects and plan.