Earlier editions: 2026-07
Title NCSP — North 101 Corridor Specific Plan
Encinitas Municipal Code § 5.2 Vehicular Circulation System
Encinitas Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Encinitas
Cite as: Encinitas Municipal Code § 5.2 · Text as of 2026-10-04
The circulation discussion below reviews existing circulation patterns, the level of service for intersections and proposed street improvements for the streets and alleyways located within the specific plan area.
5.2.1 CIRCULATION STUDY¶
The Encinitas Traffic Analysis Model (ETAM), originally developed to support the production of the Circulation Element of the City's General Plan, has been refined to focus on the specific plan area. The ETAM has analyzed the traffic circulation patterns and intersection levels of service within the specific plan area relative to the following:
| • | Previous land uses |
|---|---|
| • | Projected land uses which result from complete buildout conditions associated with current zoning |
| • | Land uses projected as a result of the adoption of the North 101 Corridor Specific Plans and associated street improvements |
The circulation model measures the flow of traffic at several strategic intersections located throughout the specific plan area. The unit of measurement used to describe the quality of flow through the intersection is Level of Service (LOS). The LOS is the ratio of an intersection's traffic volumes (existing or forecasted) to its design capacity. For the various intersections, there are six levels of service: A, B, C, D, E, and F. The level of service for intersections is defined by criteria based on the average stop delay per vehicle. Level of Service A represents very little delay (stop delay per vehicle of less than approximately 5 seconds). Level of Service F indicates significant delay (stop-delay per vehicle exceeding 60 seconds).
The analysis of the existing circulation system based upon current land uses (1990) indicates that the Level of Service for various intersections located within the specific plan area is LOS A, B, or C in both the a.m. and p.m. peak hour flow conditions. These values are consistent with the goals for Level of Service criteria outlined in the City of Encinitas General Plan.
The circulation model indicates that two intersections within the North 101 Corridor Specific Plan area are deficient under both the previous zoning buildout conditions and the land uses projected by the specific plan (See Table 5-1). The lane configurations used to determine the levels of service are consistent with the geometrics outlined in the City of Encinitas General Plan.
Table 5-1 Level of Service - Within Specific Plan Boundary
| Intersection | Level of Service | Level of Service | Level of Service | Level of Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intersection | General Plan Land Uses | General Plan Land Uses | Specific Plan Land Uses | Specific Plan Land Uses |
| Intersection | a.m. | p.m. | a.m. | p.m. |
| North Highway 101 and La Costa Avenue | C | E | D | E |
| North Vulcan Avenue and La Costa Avenue | A | D | A | D |
Two additional intersections located outside of the specific plan area boundary experience a deficient level of service due to the circulation patterns resulting from the specific plan land uses (see Table 5-2). The lane configurations used are consistent with the geometrics outlined in the City of Encinitas General Plan.
Table 5-1 Level of Service - Within Specific Plan Boundary
| Intersection | Level of Service | Level of Service | Level of Service | Level of Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intersection | General Plan Land Uses | General Plan Land Uses | Specific Plan Land Uses | Specific Plan Land Uses |
| Intersection | a.m. | p.m. | a.m. | p.m. |
| SB I-5 Ramp/ |
E | E | D | E |
| Piraeus/ |
D | D | D | D |
5.2.2 MITIGATION¶
The Circulation Element of the City of Encinitas General Plan identifies two policies regarding acceptable level of service standards:
Policy 1.2: Endeavor to maintain level of service C as a basic design guideline for the local system of roadways understanding that the guideline may not be attainable in all cases.
Policy 1.3: Prohibit development which results in level of service E or F at any intersection unless no alternatives exist and an overriding public need can be demonstrated.
Through the application of these policy statements, the following recommendations for intersection mitigation are offered.
A. North Highway 101/La Costa Avenue Intersection
The ETAM indicates that the northbound Highway 101 through movement and the southbound Highway 101 left-turns are critical. These traffic movements are conflicting and the resulting impact creates an anticipated level of service which is unacceptable under the land uses projected by the specific plan.
North Highway 101 is identified in the City of Encinitas General Plan as a four-lane major arterial and La Costa Avenue is designated a four-lane collector. The existing intersection lane configurations are inadequate to accommodate the amount of traffic anticipated at buildout under the specific plan. With the construction of the recommended lane configurations shown in Figure 5-A, the level of service for the North Highway 101/La Costa Avenue intersection improves from LOS D (a.m.) and LOS E (p.m.) to LOS A (a.m.) and LOS B (p.m.) at buildout under the specific plan.
B. North Vulcan Avenue/La Costa Avenue Intersection
The ETAM results show that eastbound and westbound Vulcan Avenue through volumes are critical. The level of service predicted is relative to the existing lane configurations, which are inadequate to accommodate the amount of traffic anticipated at buildout under the specific plan. La Costa Avenue is identified by the Circulation Element of the City of Encinitas General Plan as a four-lane collector. With the construction of the recommended lane configurations shown in Figure 5-B, the level of service for the North Vulcan Avenue/La Costa Avenue intersection improves from LOS A (a.m.) and LOS D (p.m.) to LOS A (a.m.) and LOS A (p.m.) at buildout under the specific plan.
C. SB I-5 Ramp/Leucadia Boulevard and Piraeus/NB I-5 Ramp/Leucadia Boulevard Intersections
The design of the improvements to these intersections is currently underway. Improvements include Leucadia Boulevard as a four-lane facility, with turn lanes within the area influenced by the I-5 freeway ramps. The improvements start approximately 300 to 400 feet east of the northbound I-5 ramps and continue westward to approximately 300 to 400 feet west of the southbound I-5 ramps. Construction of the improvements is expected to start in 1998, with completion scheduled for 1999. With the completion of these improvements the southbound I-5 Ramp/Leucadia Boulevard and the Piraeus/NB I-5 Ramp/Leucadia Boulevard intersections will operate at acceptable levels of service.
5.2.3 STREET IMPROVEMENTS¶
Standards for the improvement of streets and roadways located within the North 101 Corridor Specific Plan are provided below. On-street parking may be restricted, as deemed necessary by the City Engineer, to provide for safe travel on narrow roads, and sight distance and turning movements at intersections and driveways. These standards shall apply only to that portion of the below listed streets located within the boundaries of the North 101 Corridor Specific Plan.
Table 5-3
| Streets and Roadways | ROW Width |
|---|---|
| "A" Street | 80' (figure 5-F) |
| Andrew Avenue | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Ashbury Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Athena Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| Avocado Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| Basil Street | 45' (figure 5-I) |
| Cadmus Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| Daphne Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| Diana Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| El Portal Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Europa Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| Glaucus Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| East Glaucus Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Grandview Street | 56' (figure 5-G) |
| Hillcrest Drive | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Jason Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| East Jason Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Jasper Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| Jupiter Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| La Costa Avenue | 84' |
| La Veta Avenue | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Leucadia Boulevard (West) | 56' (figure 5-G) |
| Leucadia Boulevard (East) | 92'-101' |
| Marcheta Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Melrose Avenue | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| North Court | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| North Highway 101 | 90' (figure 5-C) |
| Orpheus Avenue | 56' (figure 5-G) |
| Phoebe Street | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| Sanford Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| Second Street | 80' (figure 5-F) |
| Sunset Drive | 40' (figure 5-J) |
| Union Street | 50' (figure 5-H) |
| North Vulcan Avenue North of Union South of Union | 55' (figure 5-D) 50' (figure 5-E) |
A. Alleyways
The existing alleyways located within the North 101 Corridor Specific Plan area are contained within 15-foot and 20-foot right-of-way widths.
The alleyway located north of El Portal Street and between La Mesa Avenue and La Veta Street is contained within a 15-foot right-of-way width. This alleyway should be improved as shown in Figure 5-K. The entire width of the right-of-way should be paved and a concrete valley gutter should be installed along the centerline to facilitate drainage.
The remaining alleyways located within the plan area are contained within a 20-foot right-of-way width. These alleyways should be improved as shown on Figure 5-K. The entire right-of-way width should be paved and a concrete valley gutter should be installed along the centerline to facilitate drainage.
B. Controlled Intersections
Signalized intersections within the plan area are at the following locations:
- North Highway 101/La Costa Avenue
- Recommended improvements are described in Section 5.2.2
- North Highway 101/Leucadia Boulevard
- No additional improvements are recommended
- North Vulcan Avenue/Leucadia Boulevard
- No additional improvements are recommended
No additional signals are warranted at this time.
Three-way stop sign control is currently installed at the intersection of North Highway 101 and Marcheta Street. No other controlled intersections are planned or appear warranted at this time. For pedestrian safety purposes any proposed marked pedestrian crosswalks should be installed only at controlled intersections. Note below that a marked pedestrian crosswalk is planned at Grandview and North Highway 101. The City Engineer may propose, and the Traffic Commission and the City Council may approve new, relocated or modified signalized or controlled intersections in the future.
| Figure 5-A North Highway 101/La Costa Avenue Intersection Recommended Lane Configuration |
|---|
| Figure 5-B North Vulcan Avenue/ |
| Figure 5-C North Highway 101 - 90-Foot Proposed Right-of-Way |
| Note: Variation in right-of-way width and specific roadway improvements will occur within North Coast Highway 101 as set forth in the Policy 6.8 of the Circulation Element of the General Plan/ |
| Figure 5-D North Vulcan Avenue - North of Union Street 55-Foot Proposed Right-of-Way |
| Figure 5-E North Vulcan Avenue - South of Union Street 50-Foot Proposed Right-of-Way |
| Figure 5-F "A" Street/ |
| Figure 5-G Grandview Avenue/ |
| Figure 5-H Andrew Avenue/ |
| Figure 5-I Basil Street 45-Foot Proposed Right-of-Way |
| Figure 5-J Athena Street/ |
| Figure 5-K Alleyway 15/20-Foot Proposed Right-of Way |
(Ord. 2018-05; Ord. 2018-16)
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