Negotiating Carlsbad’s Oddest Intersection

The City of Carlsbad is doing their best in mitigating traffic issues around town. They’ve developed training programs for e-bikes, handed out Safer Together Slow Down Carlsbad signs, and even declared a state of local emergency when it comes to traffic problems. But one effort stands out as their oddest work yet. And that is the intersection of Valley Street and Tamarack Avenue.

Located at the southeast corner of Valley Middle School the intersection is jammed morning and afternoon by kids walking to and from school, parents driving their kids to and from school, and angry commuters just trying to get up or down Tamarack. It obviously needed some kind of traffic solution, but what the City came up with is one of the most confusing, least understood traffic lights in all of Carlsbad. In fact, it is the first such intersection application in the City. It’s called a “pedestrian hybrid signal” a.k.a. Hawk signal.

The lights only function when a pedestrian presses the button to cross the street. The rest of the time the signals simply tower over the intersection like loitering giants with nothing to do. During the morning and afternoon school commute, however, the lights blast out a nearly unintelligible series of red and yellow lights. Sometimes blinking, other times solid. But with nary a green light to be seen.

The City of Carlsbad should have known their solution to the intersection was a failure when they were forced to implement an extensive educational campaign (including light boards on both sides of the intersection) explaining how drivers should use it. Sadly, few paid attention to the educational materials and now that the light boards are gone most drivers continue to be mystified by how to proceed through the intersection once a pedestrian has pressed the crossing button.

So, to help everyone out. Here’s how it works.

1. The Valley Street side of the intersection is ALWAYS A STOP SIGN. Drivers heading south on Valley need to stop, then proceed through the intersection when safe as they would at any other stop sign in the city. If the crosswalk lights are on, however, drivers must wait at the stop line until the lights go off and the intersection is clear. This one is pretty simple.
2. Drivers on Tamarack (goin east or west) have several options. And this is where most of the chaos originates. When no lights are on, drivers may proceed through the intersection at a safe speed like there is no stop sign at all. When the button has been pressed by a pedestrian the light begins flashing yellow, it means the intersection is about to turn into a stop signal and drivers should roll through with caution. When the light turn solid red, drivers should stop and wait. When the red light begins blinking, drivers may proceed as if it were a stop sign. They should not do what most drivers do and sit stopped at the intersection while the red light is blinking. Again, the blinking red light is just like a stop sign. Stop, then proceed when it is safe. 
3. On school days the intersection also has a energetic, brave, and kind crossing guard mornings and afternoons who acts as the ringmaster for this circus. We’ve never seen the crossing guard go against any of the previously listed lighting cues, but if and when they do, then drivers should follow any and all directions from the crossing guard regardless of what is going on with the flashing or static lights. 

It’s that simple. Any questions? Here’s the graphic if you’re a visual learner.

The oddest part about the entire solution is that a simple three-way stop i.e. adding stop signs on both directions of Tamarack Avenue, would have solved most all of the intersection’s problems. City Staff did not think that was a good idea. Sadly, they were wrong.

[Editors Note: Last night (April 3, 2023) the City of Carlsbad Traffic and Mobility Commission met to update everyone on general traffic issues and specifically hear a report from City Staff on how the intersection of Tamarack Avenue and Valley Street is working. As is usually the case, City Staff believes that what the City has done is the right thing and their report seemed overly positive. To hear the City report and see the comment from one person Click here.]