Guest Editorial
As a longtime Leucadia resident, I am profoundly concerned about the prospect of losing one lane of northbound traffic on Highway 101. Sometimes experts and citizens alike can’t predict the consequences of changing traffic patterns. In the mid-90s the city of Solana Beach, urged on by nearby residents and consultants, erected a stop sign at Ocean St. and Highway 101. The result was nothing less than disastrous. Southbound traffic backed up in the morning past Chesterfield Ave. Residents soon discovered the noise, exhaust and traffic levels increased to the point that the stop sign was thankfully removed. Fortunately, for Solana Beach the fix was quick, cheap and easy.
My concern is the possible traffic nightmare resulting from shutting down one lane of traffic will be too costly to reverse. Coming home from the south in the late afternoon could be the most unpleasant part of the day. That, however, is not my biggest concern. Has anyone considered the prospect of an emergency evacuation from the south? We saw this scenario unfold in Texas with residents attempting to evacuate urban areas. Restricting traffic flow without the ability to temporarily restore the disabled traffic lane in the event of an emergency seems shortsighted and possibly dangerous.
R. Young
R Young-
ReplyDeleteYour concerns are not based on sound logic. Consider the following and your concerns should reduced and hopefully you will see the benefits far outweigh the costs for a lane reduction for parts of the northbound lanes along N. Coast Hwy101.
1. Your story about Solana Beach is only partially told and has obvious bias. “In the mid-90s the city of Solana Beach, urged on by nearby residents and consultants, erected a stop sign at Ocean St. and Highway 101. The result was nothing less than disastrous. Southbound traffic backed up in the morning past Chesterfield Ave. Residents soon discovered the noise, exhaust and traffic levels increased to the point that the stop sign was thankfully removed. Fortunately, for Solana Beach the fix was quick, cheap and easy.”
The result was disastrous for the Cut through traffic folks using Solana Beach Hwy101 as a way to avoid sitting in traffic for I5. It was not a disaster for the local businesses and residents. The way Solana Beach implemented the new All way stop was a failure. The change itself was not. Solana Beach is going to through their own streetscape plan. At the last workshop, the citizens and businesses embraced a lane reduction for north bound Hwy101 throughout Solana Beach. I bet Solana Beach reduce their northbound lane before our City does through Leucadia. They seem to have a way of making things happen to better serve their citizenry.
In a few years every city in northcounty will reduce most of the north and much of the southbound lanes of Hwy101 to better serve the needs of the community. Americans are finally realizing that the era of the cars dominating every other user of the road was a mistake and a necessary re-balancing is occurring. Currently Del mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and going into Oceanside all have a single lane northbound…. It is far from disastrous. Within 5 years you will see major lane reductions in Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. It just makes sense.
I can’t wait for the day when the stretch between Solana Beach and Cardiff is reduced to one lane in each direction and amble walkways and bikelanes are created. It much too nice of a coastline to have cars speeding by at 60mph when the drivers could either be on I5 going 80 or getting out of their car and enjoying the coastline, going less than 40 mph or better yet on bike or foot.
2. “Has anyone considered the prospect of an emergency evacuation from the south? We saw this scenario unfold in Texas with residents attempting to evacuate urban areas. Restricting traffic flow without the ability to temporarily restore the disabled traffic lane in the event of an emergency seems shortsighted and possibly dangerous.”
The emergency evacuation fear is not based on reality. Currently Hwy101 is one lane north (and in many cases one lane south) and our lane reduction will actually help evaluation by keeping traffic flowing with roundabouts in lieu of all way stops and Signals. If you want to help evacuation restrictions, eliminate as many traffic signals and stop signs throughout Encinitas with Roundabouts. Once again, it just makes sense.
As a last note, I understand some have lived in Encinitas their whole life and may fear change even if its for the better. Many of us, who have traveled our country and the world, see traffic flowing much better in other parts of the world. Roundabouts and reduced lane widths are well embraced throughout the world. Somefolks just haven’t see it. Get out and see the world…. It will open your eyes to reality.
LEUCADIA HATER!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat commentary "Some Change is Good" . . . It is just a matter of time, and it would be so wonderful to have 101 shared equally with the other users on bikes and on foot. I look forward to this and believe Leucadia will be very proud of its stretch of 101 when it is single lane each way.
ReplyDeleteall roads in Encinitas should be converted to one lane because roads really should be linear parks instead of roads.
ReplyDeleteI have been to all the workshops and tried to be as informed as possible. With this backround, I do not quite see how there could be so much fear of change flowing throughout the guest editorial. The commentary is appreciated and true.
ReplyDeleteThanks
anon 1020,
ReplyDeleteWhy are so confident in what city staff tells the public? Why aren't you willing to use your real name when making such a strong statement?
Ban all Change.
ReplyDeleteBoycott the Pannikin!!
ReplyDeletedisrespect anyone who does not want all the change I want. Disrespect anyone who wants 80% of the change that I want and call them afraid of change if they speak caution to the last 20%. I am so afraid of differing views that will try to bully them into submission.
ReplyDelete7:18
ReplyDeleteI like your points.
I disagree with R. Young for the following reasons.
#1. Your concerns from the past illustrate problems only with southbound traffic. Not northbound.
#2. Northbound traffic through Leucadia is much less than the amount of southbound traffic each day.
#3. You say a stop sign at Ocean St. erected in the mid-90's backed up traffic for nearly two miles from Ocean St. to Chesterfield Ave. in Cardiff. A little hard for me to believe for two reasons:
a. An Encinitas business owner has publicly claimed that traffic on N. 101 backs up several times a
month all the way from Marchetta St. to Encinitas Blvd. But businesses at Encinitas Blvd say they've never seen that happen. I've never seen it happen either, and I've asked for photographic proof.
b. I've never seen southbound cars gridlocked from Ocean St. to Chesterfield. Are there any photos of Solana Beach traffic backed up to the Kook?
I take it back. I have seen traffic back up to Leucadia all the way from Del Mar, but that was during the racing season before 1965. Once again, a southbound problem.
#3. You said the problem stop sign in Solana Beach was removed. I assume you mean because the stop sign was taken down, and a traffic signal installed one block away at Solana Vista Dr. The problem is, stop lights cause just as much or more congestion at intersections than stop signs do. We learn that from our own Leucadia Blvd / 101 intersection when the lights flash instead of make you stop for 5 min. Ask Gary Murphy.
#4. You said that residents complained about noise and exhaust, however, there are no residents on the hwy between Ocean St. and Chesterfield Ave. Maybe you are thinking of the cut-through traffic problem they had south of Ocean St.
#5. If Nibiru is crashing into San Diego in 2012, two lanes north won't help for very long.
#6. Nibiru will not crash into earth in 2012. (I know, doesn't mean some nut won't drop the big one on us).
"Panic in the Year Zero" was one of my favorite B movies as a kid. I used to love being scared. Plenty of frightening CIG alerts in that flick. Certainly escape routes are important. But I think coast dwellers would head inland for most emergencies, not to refuge of congested Los Angeles. There's also the fact that no one a few blocks west of 101 will need an emergency exit, because there are no people a few blocks west of 101.
R. Young,
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to consider what is going on and speaking your mind. That is democracy in action. Democracy works when those who disagree engage you with respect, not fear and intimidation.
How much better is it that Mr. Young was up front about his position. Compare that to the antics of Stocks and Dalager. Mr. Young, you have my respect, even if I disagree with your conclusion.
I can attest to the traffic mess caused by the southbound stop sign on Highway 101 at Ocean. However, I don't recall that any experts were involved. At the time I lived on East Circle just above and slightly north of Ocean. I was the first to encourage the stop sign and the first to urge it be pulled down. To put it simply, it was awful. Traffic was, indeed, backed up almost every weekday morning to Chesterfield. And, yes, the smell of exhaust was one of the key reasons why we backed it being taken down. That being said, I support the traffic circles but agree that flexibility to open traffic to two lanes north in an emergency or if it simply doesn't work is wise.
ReplyDeleteI just read the Emergency Evacuation Procedures on the City of Encinitas website and it says that in the event of an emergency, everyone should get on Insterstate 5. The appropriate 5 on-ramps will be blocked and the off-ramps will be turned to on-ramps so that it will be eight lanes one direction or the other. If you're going the wrong way, reading signs will be difficult, but you shouldn't be worrying about where to get off. Follow the instructions of the Emergency Evacuation personnel. And there will be no time to stop for coffee at the Panniken.
ReplyDelete3:46 and all-
ReplyDeleteA roads car traffic capacity is regulated by the intersections not the number of travel lanes. A Signal lane roundabout will move more cars than a two lane all way stop, as well as signals.
Look at Leucadia Boulevard. The only time I stop and wait on Leucadia Blvd. is at Vulcan and I5. Both have mega lanes in each direction and signals. Oh yeah, also at the all way stop at Hygeia. The reduction in lanes will not negatively impact emergency response or evacuation.
Whats the big deal about all way stops on Hwy101. Downtown Encinitas has like 10 and they all work OK. I guess Solana Beach is getting some serious cut through traffic. Too bad for them. But I guess they are fixing their problem.
I also respect opinions that I don't agree with, and that is what makes Democracy work.
ReplyDeleteI do feel that the reduction of the north bound lane will work, and will allow bike lanes and trees in its place.
There are no stores, and no driveways on the north bound lane, except Leucadia Boulevard.
Lets make this work everyone - it will be great when we have a more pedestrian and bike friendly highway through our village.
We do not need to engineer for cut through traffic!
"A Signal lane roundabout will move more cars than a two lane signals." Not if the signal is properly configured and there is cross traffic.
ReplyDelete"Look at Leucadia Boulevard."There is almost no cross traffic and there was no stopping, ever, before the roundabouts. Now, sometimes you stop for cross traffic.
"The only time I stop and wait on Leucadia Blvd is at Vulcan and I5" PLEASE STOP RUNNING THE STOP SIGN AT HYGIA!!!
"Both have mega lanes in each direction and signals." Lecuadia and Vulcan is a fucked up intersection.
"The reduction in lanes will not negatively impact emergency response or evacuation." Who says?
Solana beach is getting arterial traffic, NOT CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC. The 101 was designed to move people around the city and county. People using the 101 are not cutting through.
People who will be avoiding the 101 will be cutting through our residential neighborhoods making our neighborhoods less walkable.
101 is one lane in each direction just one mile south near swami's and two miles North near cannon and Tamerak.
ReplyDeleteThe road is already constricted in several points north and south.
I'll take the bike lanes, tree canopy on the east side, and more parking on the west side with diagonal parking as well as slooower traffic speeds
If you look at the proposed Streetscape, you'll notice that N. 101 is not completely one lane north in the plan 4a (as some might fear), but gradually undulates from one, to two, to four lanes! (with 2 lanes north at Leucadia Blvd, plus 2 lanes for turning. One for right turns, and one for lefts/U-turns). 4a is not only good. It's ingenious. The one lane north is inhibited by two things. Occasional red lights at Leucadia Blvd, and less occasional merges at roundabouts. Vehicles making left and right turns have their own designated lanes for the entire lenght of N. 101.
ReplyDeleteif one lane north bound is good for all the reasons discussed, why isn't one lane southbound also in the plans. It must be good also.
ReplyDelete7:33:
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question:
"if one lane north bound is good for all the reasons discussed, why isn't one lane southbound also in the plans. It must be good also."
There is a differnce between the north and the southboound lanes of Highway 101 in Leucadia. One has businessess, driveways, and sidetreets - hence the need for 2 lanes to deal with that "friction". The northbound has no businesses, sidestreets (other than Leucadia Boulevard).
Al said...
ReplyDelete"A Signal lane roundabout will move more cars than a two lane signals." Not if the signal is properly configured and there is cross traffic.
I don’t agree…. On Leucadia and Hygiea and everyother roundabout my only waits are about 3 seconds max…. on most signals my “average” wait is over one minute including the times I have a green light and don’t have to stop.
"Look at Leucadia Boulevard."There is almost no cross traffic and there was no stopping, ever, before the roundabouts. Now, sometimes you stop for cross traffic.”
Al- Before the roundabouts cars were traveling on average between 45 and 50 mph west of I5. Residents could not get safe access to Leucadia via Hymettus and Hermes. The accident data shows this fact. Now with the new roundabouts the traffic moves more harmonius with the same volume and our town has safer intersection and a much more walkable street. Following the Leucadia Streetscape, I estimate the pedestrian traffic along that road has gone up 200%. You will rarely see a time when people are not walking down the nice sidewalks to local destinations (beach and shops).
Once again the only time I stop in my car on Leucadia is at the Signals at I5, Piraeus, and all to the other signals and all way stops. Lane reductions are not the problem with traffic delays, look at the overuse of signals.
"The only time I stop and wait on Leucadia Blvd is at Vulcan and I5" PLEASE STOP RUNNING THE STOP SIGN AT HYGIA!!! I agree with you on this one and they need to replace it with the planned roundabout.
"Both have mega lanes in each direction and signals." Lecuadia and Vulcan is a fucked up intersection. Again, I agree. The City should switch it to an all way stop with blinking reds in all directions. When that occurs, the traffic flows much better.
"The reduction in lanes will not negatively impact emergency response or evacuation." Who says? Many intelligent people. Again, Al, If you want to look at the issue that limits capacity on our streets, look to the intersections. Go ask our City Traffic Engineer or any Traffic Engineer.
“Solana beach is getting arterial traffic, NOT CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC. The 101 was designed to move people around the city and county. People using the 101 are not cutting through.” Wrong. 101 was designed as a 70mph highway and was replaced by an 8 laned 80mph freeway in the 1960s. 101 than became a local roadway which should be redesigned to better serve the local community. Arterial traffic should serve the best interests of the Cities paying to maintain them. Solana Beach is getting mega cut through traffic as I5 backs up.
“People who will be avoiding the 101 will be cutting through our residential neighborhoods making our neighborhoods less walkable.”
Not true… people will stay on I5 or just slow down their speeds a bit. You will see that plan 4a is actually the most efficient plans with the best commuter times going through our 101 area. That is because with plan 4a, you replace an all way stop at Marchetta with a roundabout at N. Court. If you want to really help out traffic flow on 101 and reduce neighborhood cut through traffic, have the City address the Leucadia/Vulcan/101 nightmare. I live less than ½ mile from the intersection and I avoid it like the plague. I will cut through any neighborhood to avoid that life wasting and endangering ugly wasteland.
Anon,
ReplyDeleteYou lost all credibility when you suggested going to talk to the City Traffic Engineer.
Now that I hear that the Encinitas Emergency Evacuation Procedure calls for EVEREYONE to get on I-5, I feel much better. With 8 lanes going just one way during an emergency, I feel pretty sure that will take care of all our problems, just like it did in Texas, as Mr. Young noted. We know how well I-5 handles traffic during a normal rush hour. Can't wait to see what it would be like in an emergency. Those experts from Texas must be advising Encinitas now.
ReplyDeleteI just read another chapter of the Encinitas Emergency Evacuation procedure and it says we have a problem here with traffic volume, just like in Texas. Therefore, in the event of an emergency, we'll be evacuating in alphabetical order based upon your last name. Every half hour the next letter will be allowed on the road. M-W-F-Sun we'll go from A-Z and T-Th-Sat it'll reverse and go Z-A. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was women and children first? They must have come up with that alphabetical system of evacuation when Lou Aspel was Mayor.
ReplyDeleteinney meeney minney mo
ReplyDeletecatch danny boy in the snow
euwww there's yellow on my shoe
thank god its not poo
Only evac if you want your home ransacked and robber. Me?? I'm staying put. I ain't gonna go and you can't make me!!
ReplyDeleteMe and my arsenal of weapons.
Only evac if you want your home ransacked and robber. Me?? I'm staying put. I ain't gonna go and you can't make me!!
ReplyDeleteMe and my arsenal of weapons.
As I suspected, this blog is home of the hippie, pot head, vocal complainers!
ReplyDelete7:06-
ReplyDeletethats why you and your gang like it so much. Bob.
I think it will cut out a lot of the commuter traffic but traffic is going to suck all summer long every summer.
ReplyDeleteforever and ever and ever. With or without streetscape. Its called too many houses in North County thanks to the likes of Myers, Jerome Stocks and the California Raisin (Mick Patterson) who went from a big plump grape to a dried up brown thing.
ReplyDeleteWe should just pave over everything including the ocean so that access to escape in the time of fires/floods/storms/winds are possible. Having any beauty at all is not feasible since we need to allow firetrucks and residents to get home.
ReplyDelete