Whaattt wrote on Sep 19, 2008 12:32 AM:The three alternatives were suggested by community members? I thought the community suggested different, and these three plans were drawn up by Peltz with input from developers?

Johnson wrote on Sep 19, 2008 7:14 AM:It was very clear that the three possible streetscape designs were not preferred by most, I believe the number of people who wanted roundabouts was only 14 or ten percent of those attending the first workshop, but Norby and his bosses at the City want them. Wake up Encinitas Residents your old highway 101 is being turned into a frilly dilly with five roundabouts on 101 between La Costa Ave. and Encinitas Blvd. with the entire route being at 25 mph with reverse-in diagnal parking. This means every time someone wants to park, everyone behind them has to wait, all the way from La Costa Ave. to Encinitas Blvd!

That is not all; one-lane going north. Imagine the breakdown when the freeway is blocked.

This is madness and the city had this design in mind BEFORE the workshops and have pursued it even when the workshop percentages haven't supported it.

The next workshop is October 8th, you better show up or accept the frilly dilly.

caution wrote on Sep 19, 2008 7:34 AM:"Halt this project the way it is being presented"

Ray and Rick are circulation a petition against the streetscape. Read all of it. It portrays items that are not being considered as considered options in the proposals.
It is misleading to offer misinformation to the community.
It seems obvious Ray didn't go to any of the workshops.

John E wrote on Sep 19, 2008 7:56 AM:The three alternatives reflect discussions among community members and the consultants. I support anything which slows traffic and provides safe and efficient accommodations for pedestrians crossing the street or walking alongside it. I am very glad to see a separate one-way, proper-direction bike lane proposed for each side of the street, instead of a single two-way facility on the east side. All existing and new diagonal parking should be made reverse/back-in.

Ann J. wrote on Sep 19, 2008 7:58 AM:Nanninga speaking for ecological wisdom and environmental restraint, made the case for preserving the historic tree canopy, native landscaping and water conservation.

Nanninga is my first choice for Encinitas City Council.

Love Old Encinitas wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:23 AM:I love what the City is proposing. I am sick of people dying along that stretch of roads and business's failing because the area is unsafe. Currently that road is only a raceway between Carlsbad and Encinitas. It could be a destination for us residents and visitors to enjoy. If you have an opinion, get to the workshops or send in your comments. Otherwise, you have not right to complain about what is being proposed.

NEMO wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:55 AM:For 10k you could put up stop signs and that will cure 90% of the problems. That leaves $4+mil for the rest of it.... that's a lot of landscaping without removing ANY trees.. Hey it works in Del Mar just fine. Cheap and easy and could be done in weeks not years. BTW, I thought round a bouts led the list as of dumb ideas, but that was before I heard of reverse parking. We might as well start printing euros because every stupid idea they adopt(stupid!) someone in leucadia wants to copy. I'm glad my taxes are used so wisely.

101 Neighbor wrote on Sep 19, 2008 9:31 AM:It is truly absurd to think that a single northbound lane will be able to accomodate the traffic on this road. All you have to do is spend a nice Saturday morning sipping coffee at Pannikin to see that.

I agree improvements are needed, but not the drastic changes being proposed that would harm the character of the neighborhood. It was the character that drew my family to move to the area not too long ago.

Leucadian Merchant wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:03 AM:101 neighbor doesn't accept reality.

Bird Rock converted their fast dangerous 5 lane road to a safe walkable 2 lane road (one in each direction) and they have higher traffic loads. Go check it out. the community members love it.

Leucadian Voter wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:08 AM:Why didn't Ruth interview the hundreds of people that think the project is 100% on track. She picks on the 2 super grumps in Leucadia. At least, 90% of the community supports the direction of the current project. You can never get some of the grumps in Leucadia to accept any change even for the better.

ribeye2k wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:11 AM:Please remember that the main reason for removing old growth trees in the median was NCTD. Someone at NCTD said none of their scorched-earth right-of-way could be used for the project. My question are: Why not? & Is there no one who can over-rule the decision? Who “owns” NCTD anyway?

Jane wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:16 AM:I also feel that stop signs would be a much better alternative than roundabouts. I did go to the first workshop, and when an audience member suggest "NO ROUNDABOUTS," Petz' associate said, what about yes roundabouts? Someone put all his stickers on the roundabout category, when the different suggestions were posted on big sheets on the walls. We were to put one colored dot on each category we supported. There were also many colored dots under NO ROUNDABOUTS.

The petition being circulated by Leucadia Glass is relevant. I feel the main focus should be simply slowing down traffic with stop signs, and enhancing and protecting the canopy, planting native species in the medians, perhaps watering them with reclaimed water from a water truck, if needed, which won't be often, if they are natives.

Really, much of what is happening here is about a few business owners wanting redevelopment and much more parking, at the expense of our tree canopy. We appreciate the sidewalks we have, now. Walkability is important. But we do not want to sacrifice our own ability to drive up or down Coast Highway so that we can provide more parking to make the property value higher for a few developers and a few, not all, business owners.

Encinitas has paid over $300,000 to Petz and Associates. We are paying $100,000 a year to Peder Norby, of Carlsbad, the 101 Czar. My opinion is that we could have spent some of that money preserving, protecting and enhancing the canopy.

Leucadian Voter wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:26 AM:Most of us property owners do not feel like Jane and feel the current project direction is perfect. Once again, you can not please every angry Leucadian that is upset that Carlsbad developed into Irvine.

Wake Up wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:47 AM:What the community wants doesn't matter. What the Surfrider Association wants is what will be done. Until you vote in folks that aren't dependent on these environuts the community will never have a say.

Laughing at Leucadian Voter wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:51 AM:You need to get off your surfboard more often a see the world. Carlsbad is NOTHING like Irvine. There is undeveloped land in Carlsbad. Even Encinitas can't boast about that anymore.

Alf wrote on Sep 19, 2008 10:54 AM:I have to shout here -
ROUNDABOUTS?
ON THE COAST HIGHWAY??
They are out of what's left of their minds!!!!!!!!!!
Well, maybe someone will bring in a Cat D8 after they make their stupid roundabouts and plow the lanes right back through the insane thing.
Hell, I'd volunteer to drive the D8!!
Regards, Alf

Leucadian Mom wrote on Sep 19, 2008 12:00 PM:Maybe we'll plant you beneath a roundabout, Alf, considering your lame show was canceled like ten years ago.

If you don't like driving in a responsible speed through our roundabouts, stay in Vista.

We don't listen to rodents visions of grandeur in Leucadia.
Regards,Paul Ecke Mom

roundabouts work wrote on Sep 19, 2008 2:31 PM:I live near the one on Santa Fe, and I can say that I get through that intersection faster with the roundabout. True, some morons don't know how to use it, but we shouldn't let morons dictate policy as a general rule.

I argue that our roundabout has saved a handful of lives already by serving as a filter for drunk and/or reckless drivers.

Just as long as they don't look like this one: ...

Cardiffian wrote on Sep 19, 2008 3:12 PM:Hooray for roundabouts! I'm not too sure about the two lanes south one lane north thing. That does sound a little odd. OK, I'm not up to speed on this one - why is it necessary to back into the parking spot? I understand that at some point you're going to be backing up, so it may not matter.....

Zephon wrote on Sep 19, 2008 3:32 PM:There were many that fought against the roundabouts that were put in Santa Fe.

Now most everyone here thinks it was a good implementation of traffic safety controls by slowing down speeders while keeping the traffic moving.

I am not sure what the arguments are against the roundabouts on 101 are. Those that do not want them need to articulate their arguments better.

Otherwise I say put them in and slow down speeders on 101. Was there not an serious accident involving motorcycles speeding, perhaps racing, at unsafe speeds there a few weeks ago near the Pannikin.

Making our neighborhoods walkable safely should also be our priority.

Jeff wrote on Sep 19, 2008 5:03 PM:One of the arguments about the roundabouts was that so many in such a short distance would cause further back ups in traffic.

Another was that in BirdRock, La Jolla, the quaint downtown character has drastically changed.

They are very expensive. Stop signs, as in Del Mar, seem less expensive, more safe for pedestrians.

Bird Rock Local wrote on Sep 19, 2008 11:37 PM:Hey Jeff-

I live in Birdrock. Before the new roundabouts and one lane in each direction, the 5 lane hwy101/La Jolla boulevard was a blight death trap. Now our street is a main street with tons of pedestrians, locals and visitors spending time enjoying the street and frequenting businesses. Walking and bike riding along the road are a pleasure.

For those who haven't yet, come down and see our wonderful mainstreet environment. Its much more quaint than ever in history!

La Jolla Resident wrote on Sep 20, 2008 8:32 AM:Bird Rock did it right, now I wish the rest of La Jolla would follow. The traffic on hwy101 in La Jolla is a grid lock mess wherever there are signals even with a second lane. Once it reaches the Bird Rock section, the traffic slows down a bit but keeps flowing. There is never a long backup. It just keep flowing in a smooth manner. Plus do you see all those happy pedestrians following the wonderful transformation. The roundabouts work great and made the difference. Great Job Birdrock residents, I hope my part of La Jolla can make the much needed change for the better.

Jackie wrote on Sep 21, 2008 12:06 AM:I feel that the people signing the petition being circulated at Leucadia Glass, almost 100% against roundabouts, are more reflective of local residents and many small business owners.

Also, what I heard reflected at the workshops was much more split on the roundabouts. One Encinitas Commissioner, sitting next to me said, when he heard the presentation, "It's all about the roundabouts."

Seems like Encinitas could wait and revise its traffic circulation element and specific plan before it keeps sinking money into developing more and more roundabouts. Many business owners spoke at the Council Meeting questioning the wisdom of the roundabouts.

I don't think the comments here are reflective of the entire community's opinion. I don't understand why five roundabouts, in a row, are being pushed so hard, at the expense of losing more and more of our cherished canopy.

Some people like redevelopment, with dense "mixed use," and more parking, paid for by all the citizens to benefit a few property owners and business owners. Some people favor preserving the "funky character" of Leucadia. That was the category which got the overwhelming number of votes at the workshop, "Keep Leucadia Funky."

The City could provide an online poll, where each resident could write a letter with a hard signature, or fax the signature to the city, voting on what their preference would be. The City of Encinitas should pay attention to the petition circulating against roundabouts, but for preserving and enhancing the canopy. There is a middle ground.

Mary wrote on Sep 21, 2008 10:19 AM:Let’s start a petition for no more Signals on Hwy101. Signals are terrible. There are statistics on who like Roundabouts. If the City want to spend money verifying the results, that would be great. The reality is approximately 80% of the public support runabouts and 20% oppose them. But then again there is 10% of the population that oppose everything from the time they were born. Focus on including the roundabouts. They are the best intersection control.

Jeff wrote on Sep 22, 2008 10:02 AM:The City of Encinitas should definitely verify the claim of 80% public support for roundabouts. That hasn't been my experience, talking to neighbors and friends.

With "Mary's" numbers, we don't know what question was asked, or who was polled, how many people. Perhaps some folks could have supported the three roundabouts Encinitas already has, but would NOT want roundabouts on the North 101 Corridor? That's my view. More stop signs, no more roundabouts. Pushing more is just more pro-development spin.

Just like many Leucadia residents do not support the Toll Road (hearing to Save Trestles at Del Mar Fairgrounds this morning). We do not support any development that would further disturb what is left of Leucadia's beautiful and historic tree canopy

John wrote on Sep 22, 2008 8:31 PM:Jeff- YOur reality is funky. Leucadian are like all americans support roundabouts 80% with 10% opposing roundabouts and 10% opposing everything. I suggest you pay for a scientific survey. The City should not be wasting my money on unnecesary surveys of something already proven.

Jeff wrote on Sep 23, 2008 6:54 PM:What about traffic backed up for many blocks bumper to bumper would be calming??

Give me a break, who benefits from slower traffic? Possibly business owners? Doubt it, I will avoid streets with slow traffic in Encinitas and I live here.

Get the bike lanes but keep all car lanes. Traffic flow will become more and more of an issue once they begin to work on the 5 freeway and as Carlsbad grows.