The City of Carlsbad is reducing the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph on Chestnut Avenue between El Camino Real and Pio Pico Drive, following the addition of new bicycle lanes. Watch a video about how the city sets speed limits.
Residents who live along Chestnut have expressed concerns that vehicles were traveling too fast on the roadway. They also noted that there were no defined lanes for bicyclists on this popular east-west route that students use to go to Carlsbad High School, located at Chestnut and Monroe Street/Lancer Way.
Collision rates on the road were also higher than average. The City of Carlsbad Transportation Division had previously surveyed speeds along Chestnut, before bike lanes were added, and found that 85 percent of vehicles were driving at 37 mph. By state law the posted speed on a roadway is set by the speed that 85 percent of motorists are driving.
City transportation engineers installed bicycle lanes on Chestnut between Celinda Drive and Monroe, to establish a bicycle corridor between El Camino Real and the high school. The new bicycle lanes were placed between the curbside parking lane and the travel lanes. The bike lanes provided multiple solutions: They defined space where bike riders could ride, and they narrowed travel lanes, which slowed vehicles to an 85th percentile speed of 33 mph, according a new traffic survey. Restriping the roadway to add bicycle lanes altered drivers’ behavior and speed.
“The new bicycle lanes have enhanced safety as well,” said City of Carlsbad Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Jones. “The collisions along Chestnut have significantly gone down as a result of the new striping and slower speeds. This is great news for people who live along Chestnut and use it on a daily basis. We are really happy with the outcome, as this is an important corridor to the school and serves a residential neighborhood.”
Based on the new speed survey, the city staff recommended and the Traffic Safety Commission unanimously agreed to recommend that the City Council reduce the speed limit on that section of Chestnut to 30 mph. The City Council adopted an ordinance to establish the new speed limit May 7. The new limit will take effect in 30 days, after the new speed limit signs are posted.
For more information
Bryan Jones, deputy director, City of Carlsbad Transportation Division, 760-602-2431, bryan.jones@carlsbadca.gov
City media contact
Kristina Ray, City of Carlsbad, 760-434-2957, Kristina.ray@carlsbadca.gov