Speeding through many parts of the community particularly in the South Mesa (those streets that can be accessed from either Paseo de las Flores or Paseo de las Verdes) continues to be a problem. All homeowners need to be aware and reminded that the speed limit in the community is 20 MPH. We have many children in the community and everyone needs to exercise caution with their vehicles.
In the past few years, we have taken a number of steps to focus on this area:
1. In 2007 we hired a professional traffic engineer to conduct a thorough assessment of our entire community and provide us with a number of recommendations.
2. Many of these recommendations have been already implemented. These include adding numerous STOP signs at various intersections including the folllowing:
A. Cascadia and Paloma Court
B. Paseo de las Verdes and Cypress Hills Drive
C. Samuel Court, Shasta Drive and Cypress Hills Drive
D. Paloma Court and Cypress Hills Drive
3. We have added small 20 MPH signs on many streets in the middle islands
4. We have hired a security company to conduct speed enforcement on the private streets and we are tracking vehicles that are speeding well in excesss of 20 MPH. We may call those individuals who appear to be chronic violators to a Due Process Hearing where they could receive a fine.
5. We have explored use of speed bumps but the traffic engineer opposed this approach and the City of Encinitas is also opposed. Few if any homeowners want speed bumps in front of their own house and they can create considerable noise as well as cause accidents by forcing cars to veer off the street into a yard or house.
6. We have attempted to add a four way STOP at the intersection of Paseo de las Flores and Cypress Hills. However, that intersection is owned by the city and they are opposed to a four way STOP there. We requested that the city approve these STOP signs in 2008 through the Traffic Commission. It was approved by the commission but denied by the City Council who is asked to approve every four way STOP in the city. We are pursuing other options to address the need for STOP signs at this intersection and will keep you posted on our progress.
We welcome other ideas.
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ReplyDeletePlease publish a summary overview of the findings of the security company that is enforcing speeding. How many speeders are they actually identifying per month. Are there just a few bad apples or is it an epidemic. Since the security patrol has arrived, have overall speeds been reduced in the commmunity. Of the speeders that they identify how many are going 5mph,10mph,or more over the 20mph limit.
ReplyDeleteAs a community we are spending alot of money to inforce speeding, it would be nice to know just how big the problem is, if it is getting better and if our expenditures are effective.
Why did the city not want stop signs at Paseo de las Flores and Cypress Hills? They had to have a reason and you did not mention that above.
Dick Stern and Chris Jaeschke recently met with the City of Encintas City Manager, Phil Cotton to discuss the intersection of Paseo de las Flores, Jensent Court and Cypress Hills.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, the association hired a certified traffic engineer to provide us with recommendations on improving traffic and reducing speeds in the community. Speeding has been a continued challenge and issue in the community. The traffic engineer recommended putting in a four-way STOP at this intersection.
In early 2008, the board went to the City of Encinitas Traffic Commission to seek approval to put in this four-way STOP. It was approved and then reviewed by the City Council. The council unanimously rejected the request since it did not meet the prescribed score based on state standards. There are various factors that are reviewed and scored to determine if a four-way STOP is warranted. This intersection did not meet that standard.
Earlier this year, the board decided to put in a four-way STOP based on input from homeowners in that area. The signs were installed but soon after the City of Encinitas told us to remove the signs. We met with Rob Blough, the city traffic engineer to discuss the situation and while he was sympathetic, he could not approve the sign.
We appealed the four way sign with Phil Cotton on September 24th with no success. Phil understood our concerns but indicated that the standards are set by the state and we need to comply with them.
Upon removal of the signs several weeks ago, the city installed additionl signage on all intersecting streets that indicate a change in traffic control. These will remain in place for several months then removed.
We will look at other alternatives to address speeding in the area of that intersection.
I will request a summary of the reports generated by WRM, the patrol company hired by the association to perform parking and speed enforcement as well as provide increased safety and crime prevention patrols. We have meticulous records that detail every individual incident where someone was caught speeding. Habitual offenders may incur a fine but they will first have the opportunity to provide their viewpoint at a due process hearing.
ReplyDeleteIn general, the use of the patrol has decreased the speeding problem. The major offender are definitely people who live within the community.
In terms of the four way STOP at the intersection of Paseo de las Flores and Cypress Hills, the city of Encinitas indicated that it would be nearly impossible to install STOP signs at that intersection. The city owns Paseo de las Flores all the way up past this intersection. They also own Paseo de las Verdes to where it intersects Cypress Hills. The city owns these streets because of the need to provide public access. We would need to get City Council approval to formally vote to vacate that street and the likelihood of serious opposition to restricting public access is very high. Also, there was lawsuits filed in a similar situation in Northern California where the courts overturned a vacate decision by the city due to the need to preserve public access.