Due to our traffic safety emergency, the city has been able to expedite several improvements along Tamarack designed to slow down traffic and encourage safer behaviors, whether you’re driving, walking or biking. If you live or travel through the area, you have seen these changes firsthand.

• In addition to these recent improvements, the city is currently working on Safe Routes to Schools projects for Jefferson and Hope elementary schools, both of which include Tamarack Avenue in the planning area.
• You can sign up for Safe Routes to School program updates if you’d like to follow these projects.

“Transformative Corridor” plan

Prior to the local emergency proclamation, the City Council had approved a citywide Sustainable Mobility Plan.

• This 2021 plan identified Tamarack Avenue as one of several “transformative corridors” that would be redesigned to focus on slowing down traffic and creating more space for walking and biking.
• The first step in this transformation would be to create a comprehensive plan for Tamarack Avenue from the coast all the way to Carlsbad Village Drive.

Earlier this week the City Council considered a $300,000 contract with a consultant to develop the transformative corridor plan for Tamarack Avenue. Staff presented two options:

• Approve the contract and proceed with the planning study.
• Don’t approve the contract, so the $300,000 could be made available for other city priorities.

After discussing the issue with city transportation engineers and considering community input and costs, the City Council decided not to proceed with the planning study at this time.

• Instead, city staff will continue to monitor traffic flow, speeds and other performance measures along Tamarack Avenue to ensure the recent changes are providing the desired results.

What’s next

• City staff remain available to discuss any specific concerns you may have along Tamarack Avenue or elsewhere in the city.
• Please email traffic@carlsbadca.gov anytime.

The city is continuing to work on other roads, from some of our busiest thoroughfares to streets in individual neighborhoods, all with the goal of promoting traffic safety and making it easy to get around town in whatever mode of travel you prefer.

If you’d like more details about the recent changes to Tamarack, we have a good overview on the city’s website.

Thank you for your interest in traffic safety and we hope you continue to stay engaged in city issues.