Barrio Traffic Circles | Carlsbad, CA

At a glance

As part of an overall goal of improving traffic safety and walkability, the Village and Barrio Master Plan calls for adding traffic circles and other street design features at several intersections in the Barrio area.
Traffic circles are typically used in neighborhoods rather than major thoroughfares. They have a smaller footprint than roundabouts, and encourage drivers to slow down and pay more attention to their surroundings.
Final designs will be presented to the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission in spring. Sign up to get notified.

Locations and benefits

Traffic calming locations:

Oak Avenue and Roosevelt Street – Crosswalk striping improvements at the existing 4-way stop
Oak Avenue and Jefferson Street – traffic circle
Pine Avenue and Madison Street – traffic circle
Pine Avenue and Harding Street – traffic circle with public art
Chestnut Avenue and Roosevelt Street – traffic circle
Chestnut Avenue and Madison Street – traffic circle
Palm Avenue and Harding Street – curb extensions
Magnolia Avenue and Madison Street – curb extensions

Barrio traffic circle map options

Benefits of installing traffic circles and other types of traffic calming in the Barrio include:

Slows down traffic while maintaining traffic flow
Helps drivers entering intersections better see oncoming traffic including drivers, walkers and bikers
Reduces the distance pedestrians need to cross the street and enhances their visibility for drivers with high visibility crosswalks
Supports neighborhood walkability and enhances safety for all modes of transportation
Enhances neighborhood character with tree plantings and landscaping within the traffic circles, with public art at the traffic circle at Pine Avenue and Harding Street
Adds new lighting at intersections

Rendering of proposed traffic circle design: *final design may vary.

trafficcirclerendering

Traffic calming and parking

What is a traffic circle?

The second highest cause of injury collisions in Carlsbad is violating signs and signals, followed by improper turning. Traffic circles address both by being a physical change to the road, which results in drivers slowing down and paying more attention to their surroundings.

Traffic circles are raised islands, placed in intersections.
These prevent drivers from speeding through intersections by impeding the straight-through movement and reduce the potential collision points by eliminating direct left turns.
Traffic circles tend to be used in residential neighborhoods whereas roundabouts are for larger, more heavily traveled intersections.
A similar traffic circle is on Chestnut Avenue between Pine Park and Chase Field.

This design was recommended in the Village and Barrio Master Plan because it is the best solution to discourage speeding and improve safety in a way that fits a residential neighborhood setting. Traffic circles were also recommended because they can be used for public art or decorated to fit the local character.

Traffic circle example

What are curb extensions?

Curb extensions are placed at intersections and encourage slower turning speeds
They increase the visibility of pedestrians and shorten the pedestrian crossing distance
They tighten the intersection which encourages slowing vehicle speeds

Curb extension example

Parking considerations

Traffic calming features often require on-street parking spaces near the intersection to be eliminated. Based on parking studies for the area, these traffic calming features will not negatively impact parking needs. See maps for where parking is affected.

Traffic circle public art

City staff have begun the community engagement process for a new public artwork that will be placed in the middle of the traffic circle at Harding Street and Pine Avenue, one of the main gateways into the Barrio. This input will help inform the call for artists for this project. A public art subcommittee will then evaluate artist proposal and vote to select the artist.

The community will continue to be engaged during the development of this new artwork, the timing of which is being planned concurrently with the engineering design of the traffic circles.

Next steps

Next steps

Phase 1 – Final designs of the traffic circles and enhanced crosswalk will be presented to the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission this spring, then the City Council
- Construction is anticipated to begin fall/winter 2024/2025

Phase 2 – Staff will complete design of curb extensions at the two intersections
- Construction is anticipated to start early 2026

Background

As part of an overall goal of improving traffic safety and walkability in Carlsbad’s oldest neighborhood, the city has worked with the Barrio community to develop a plan to add traffic circles to five key intersections in the Barrio as well as other street design features that will encourage safe behaviors among those who drive, walk and bicycle in the area.

These values are prioritized and planned for in the Village and Barrio Master Plan, creating solutions to meet these goals.

These projects will:

Past actions

Jan. 9, 2024 | City Council
Received an update on the project and selected curb extensions for the intersections of Palm Avenue and Harding Street and Madison Street and Magnolia Avenue.

Sept. 7, 2021 | Traffic & Mobility Commission
Recommended against a traffic circle at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Roosevelt Street due to community input and further study.

April 6, 2020 | Traffic & Mobility Commission
Recommended implementation of the Village and Barrio Traffic Circles Project

Nov. 19, 2019 | City Council
Authorized agreement with Chen Ryan Associates, Inc. for conducting a feasibility analysis and engineering design of the traffic circles

Sept. 17, 2019 | City Council
Receives information presentation on the status of the Barrio Street Lighting and Traffic Circles projects.

June 18, 2019 | City Council
Council votes to hear report on status of the Barrio Street Lighting and Traffic Circles projects

July 24, 2018 | City Council
Approved the Village and Barrio Master Plan, which became effective in August 2018.

May 16, 2018 | Planning Commission
Recommended City Council approval of the Village and Barrio Master Plan, which included various lighting projects and traffic circles in the Barrio.

April 18, 2018 | Planning Commission
Held public hearing to consider Village and Barrio Master plan, continued to May 16 meeting

Oct. 19, 2016 | Planning Commission
Directed staff to revise or study potential revisions to the Village and Barrio Master plan

July 13, 2016 | Planning Commission
Workshop to hear public and commissioner comments on Draft Village and Barrio Master Plan

April 13, 2016 | Planning Commission
Heard information presentation on Draft Village and Barrio Master Plan

Community input regarding Village and Barrio Master Plan.

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