The Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission recommended that staff proceed with design and City Council approval steps for a traffic calming plan on Unicornio Street that would add two speed cushions and a stop sign at Kakatua Street after staff's phase-1 data collection and a neighborhood mail survey.

Senior engineer Miriam James and associate engineer Mindy Pham summarized the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program (CRTMP) and the Phase 2 process. Pham said temporary speed feedback signs were deployed to gather speed data and that Unicornio met the program's threshold for Phase 2: the measured critical speed was 32 miles per hour (the speed at or below which 85% of drivers were traveling). "The critical speed on Unicorno is measured at 32 miles per hour," Pham said.

Key features of the proposed plan:
- Location and scope: the project covers Unicornio Street from Rancho Cortez to El Fuerte, roughly 1,200 feet.
- Proposed treatments: two speed cushions spaced about 400 feet apart and a stop sign on Kakatua Street (the side street), in response to resident requests.
- Community support: a mailed survey to property owners/residents returned an 81% response rate with 92% support, exceeding program thresholds (minimum 50% response and 67% approval).
- Safety data: staff reported a maximum recorded speed of 49 mph during data collection; Pham said staff could provide a more detailed breakdown of the percentage of drivers exceeding 25 mph on request.

Public comment: David Pierce (Aviara area) praised the proposal, noting that Unicornio is a downhill stretch where drivers can gain speed; he said he was "thrilled" with the plan.

Design and safety notes: commissioners raised questions about cushion geometry and cyclist safety. Staff said the city maintains design specifications for speed cushions, including edge transition slopes and a one-foot transition zone at each cushion edge; cushions were designed with a wheel gap to allow emergency vehicles to pass with minimal deflection. Staff committed to ensuring construction follows the specifications and to having inspectors verify the finished edges during installation.

Process and timeline: staff will prepare construction documents and return final plans to the commission and then to City Council for authorization to bid. Staff projected the next design and approval steps would occur over coming months; construction timing depends on Council authorization and bidding.

Action: The commission made a motion to support the proposed traffic calming plan for Unicornio Street; the motion passed with five yes votes and one no.

Quotes (exact): "The critical speed on Unicorno is measured at 32 miles per hour," Mindy Pham said. David Pierce said: "I'm thrilled with this proposal. It's fantastic to get people to slow down who, really should know better." Staff also noted a recorded maximum speed of 49 mph on the street during data collection.

Clarifying details provided to the commission included the CRTMP thresholds (Phase 2 eligibility at critical speed >=32 mph), the survey results (81% response, 92% support), and design details (two cushions, approximately 400 feet apart, with a wheel gap for emergency vehicles). Staff said they will return with final plans and additional data on speed distributions as requested by commissioners.

Ending: With the commission's support, staff will complete detailed design documents and bring the item to City Council for authorization to bid and construct; the commission requested that staff include detailed speed-distribution data and maximum-speed breakdowns with future design materials.