The Peninsula Community Planning Board took steps Nov. 15 to support traffic-calming measures requested by residents on several streets on the Peninsula.
The board voted to support requests of speed humps along the 3800 block of Wildwood Road and the placement of turn restrictions along Del Mar Avenue during peak traffic times. Board members also voted to request vehicle-calming speed limit signs to be placed on Leland Drive between Kemper Court and Marquette Street.
The board took comments from Wildwood Road residents who gathered signatures in favor of urging the city to place traffic-calming measures along the 3800 block of Wildwood Road to slow down traffic in the 25-mile-per-hour zone. A majority of the residents on the block signed the petition, according to a report heard by the board.
Residents originally asked the city for a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Warring Street and Wildwood Road but were told by city staff that the area did not qualify for stop signs.
“With regard to all-way stop signs, the city of San Diego has certain warrants to meet, and those are statewide warrants,” said Oscar Valdivieso, a traffic engineer with the city.
Valdivieso said the city considers the number of vehicles traveling through the intersection, among other factors, to determine if an intersection needs a four-way stop.
Although this particular intersection did not meet the requirements for a stop sign, residents can still petition the planning board to get the signs approved by the City Council, he said.
The Peninsula Community Planning Board’s Traffic Committee voted to recommend a four-way stop sign during a prior committee meeting, said Patti Rank, a Traffic Committee member.
Several residents said they would prefer a stop sign to speed bumps because the bumps would inconvenience at least one resident in the area who suffers from arthritis, said planning board Chair Geoff Page.
Residents also sought support from the board on another traffic-calming measure that would restrict access to Del Mar Avenue during peak driving times.
The board voted to approve a recommendation that the city implement a 6-month trial period prohibiting left turns from Chatsworth Boulevard onto Del Mar Avenue from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and right turn restrictions from Caãon Street onto Del Mar heading north in the afternoon from 3:30 to about 6 p.m.
Advocates for the restrictions argue vehicles driven by Point Loma Nazarene University students and Navy personnel use Del Mar Avenue as a shortcut and cause too much traffic, Page said.
Although the board voted to support the measure, concerned residents said the restrictions would only force motorists to turn left at Garrison Street before Del Mar Avenue. Concerned residents said this would cause traffic congestions and safety concerns for parents who use Garrison Street to drop off children at Dana Middle School, 1775 Chatsworth Blvd.
The board would revisit the issue should the public raise concerns over traffic on Garrison Street at the end of the trial period ” pending further studies, Page said.
“If it turns out it’s a big problem for Garrison [Street] then that would be the time to bring it up for discussion “¦ time is going to have to tell what the traffic does,” he said.
The board also voted unanimously to support efforts to place radar-enforced speed-calming signs on Leland Drive between Kemper Court and Marquette because of concerns of speeding drivers in the area, Page said.
The traffic-calming measures passed by the PCBP must be approved by the City Council before going into effect, according to city officials. For more information, visit www.pcpb.net.
Among other issues, the board also heard reports from the Airport Committee about the draft environmental impact report currently out for public and agency review. The board voted to send a letter to the San Diego Regional Airport Authority requesting that the Airport Authority extend the review period until February.
The Airport Authority has extended the review comment period by about 45 days, according to Airport Authority officials.
San Diego Port District officials were scheduled to present to the board discussion on an application for changes to a southern portion of North Harbor Drive between Scott Street and Nimitz Boulevard that would realign the street, move the median and create 188 paid parking spaces, according to the PCPB’s agenda.
The Port District cancelled the presentation.