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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.

Avenida Encinas improvements approved

Post Date:03/15/2023 1:52 PM

On Tuesday, the City Council approved plans for Avenida Encinas, between the Poinsettia Regional Transit Station to Carlsbad Boulevard, that will safely accommodate all modes of travel and improve access and connectivity as part of the Coastal Rail Trail, a 44-mile regional bikeway that is planned to connect the six coastal cities in San Diego County, running from Oceanside to downtown San Diego.

Improvements for this section of Avenida Encinas include: 

  • New Class II buffered bike lanes, delineated by pavement striping and signs
    • Bike-vehicle conflict points will be delineated by green paint
  • New pedestrian improvements such as high-visibility crosswalks and ADA-compliant ramps
    • Poinsettia coaster station driveway 
    • Embarcadero Lane 
    • Macadamia Drive
    • Raintree Drive
    • Windrose Circle
    • Dory Lane
  • Intersection improvements and high-visibility intersection crosswalks across Avenida Encinas at:
    • Poinsettia Lane
    • San Lucas Street
    • Portage Way
    • Ponto Drive
    • Carlsbad Boulevard
  • Enhanced mid-block crosswalk with new pedestrian signal at Avenida Encinas and San Carlos Street
  • Calming traffic by realigning driving lanes between Poinsettia Lane and Carlsbad Boulevard from five through-vehicle lanes to two through-vehicle lanes while maintaining dedicated left and right turn lanes at the intersections.

Avenida Encinas and the Coastal Rail Trail

The Coastal Rail Trail was initially planned in the 1990s as a continuous bicycle route that would

run along the railroad tracks from downtown San Diego to Oceanside. According to the San Diego Association of Governments, logistics, costs and environmental concerns since its original planning have forced some areas of the route away from the tracks and onto side streets such as Avenida Encinas. 

The section between the Poinsettia Regional Transit Station to Carlsbad Boulevard is just one segment of the Coastal Rail Trail. 

The most northern section in Carlsbad is a paved, 0.7-mile trail alongside the railroad tracks between Oak Avenue and Tamarack Avenue. 

It picks up again at Cannon Road where improvements have been made or are planned on Avenida Encinas to Carlsbad Boulevard. 

Cannon Road to Palomar Airport Road – Buffered bike lanes completed 

Paloma Airport Road to Poinsettia Regional Transit Station – In the engineering design and environmental review phase. Improvements in this segment will require widening of the existing roadway to accommodate new sidewalks and wider bikeways.

Poinsettia Regional Transit Station to Carlsbad Boulevard – Two miles of improvements mentioned above. 

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2023 and be completed by the end of 2023. 

More information: 
Staff report
Plans and specifications
Project webpage

Staff contact:
Brandon Miles, P.E., T.E.
Associate Engineer
brandon.miles@carlsbadca.gov 

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