Carlsbad Shrinks Barrio Traffic Plan, Saving $4M Grant

Reducing Traffic Circles in Carlsbad’s Downtown Barrio

Carlsbad’s City Council made a significant decision on Tuesday, voting unanimously to reduce the number of traffic circles planned for the downtown Barrio. Instead of the originally proposed five, only one will be installed at the intersection of Harding Street and Pine Avenue. This change was made after council members determined that having five traffic circles would be excessive and potentially problematic.

The decision came after extensive discussions and community input. The city had initially proposed eight intersections for traffic circles as part of its Village and Barrio master plan. These were intended to slow down speeding vehicles and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. However, after further studies and community meetings, three intersections were deemed unsuitable and removed from the plan. In 2020, the City Council approved a design featuring five traffic circles.

The project took a different turn last month when the council decided to pause the construction contract to reassess the plan. Concerns from residents about the feasibility of the traffic circles, especially for drivers unfamiliar with them, and worries about losing street parking prompted this reconsideration.

City officials previously warned that not installing the five traffic circles could result in losing a $4 million federal grant. However, through negotiations with Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration, the city managed to adjust the grant allocation. Now, the city can retain the funding even if only one traffic circle is built.

According to Tom Frank, transportation director and city engineer, the original grant was $5 million, with $1 million allocated for improved street lighting and the remaining $4 million for traffic circles. By working with the state, the city adjusted the allocation so that $2.5 million is now available for both traffic circles and lighting. The lighting portion of the grant was never at risk.

Originally, the $4 million was meant to cover all five traffic circles. If the project were delayed or redesigned, the city could have lost the entire amount. However, through negotiations, the city secured up to $2.5 million for just one traffic circle. Still, there is a possibility of losing some of that money if the construction costs less than $2.5 million. The city must also contribute about 11% of the costs as matching funds.

To address concerns about lost parking spaces, city staff found ways to increase the number of available spots. By converting parallel parking to diagonal parking on wider streets and removing some unnecessary red curbs, the city can add approximately seven parking spaces in the Barrio.

Councilmember Melanie Burkholder, whose district includes the Barrio, initially opposed any new traffic circles. However, she now supports the plan due to the addition of parking spaces. She noted that the potential loss of parking seemed to be a moving target.

The art element at the center of the traffic circle is still to be designed and approved, though a sculpture has been suggested. The location is near the Pine Avenue Senior Center, the Carlsbad Community Church, and close to the Harding Community Center.

A conceptual plan and high-level cost estimate for the construction, including affected utilities, will be presented to the City Council in November. This marks a significant step forward in the project, balancing safety, community concerns, and financial considerations.