The City of Carlsbad is committed to creating roads that are safe and accessible, while balancing the needs of drivers, bicyclists, walkers and other road users. This is especially important around our busy coastline.

This project is one of several that reflects state law, our Climate Action Plan and the city’s General Plan Mobility Element, a City Council policy approved in 2015 to transform city roads into “complete streets.” Complete streets are safe and accessible to drivers, bicyclists, walkers and other road users. When most of the city’s streets were designed, the focus was mostly on managing car traffic.

The project around the area of Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue will: 

• Reduce speeding
• Prioritize safety for drivers, bikers and walkers
• Create more parking
• Widen sidewalks, including across the bridge
• Move the bus stop out of the middle of the intersection so it’s easier and safer to use, especially for people with disabilities 
• Ease traffic flow

The City Council reviewed two options for the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue - traffic signal and roundabout.

• The City Council asked to see data on how the Cannon Road roundabout performs before authorizing construction of a roundabout at Tamarack.

The roundabout option:

• Widens the walking path over the bridge just south of Tamarack Avenue
• Relocates the bus stop
• Adds street parking

See the renderings for how the area could look like with a roundabout. 

Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue Intersection Improvement Project Alternatives Analysis

• The City Council asked to see data on how the Cannon Road roundabout performs before authorizing construction of a roundabout at Tamarack.

• As with any project along the coast, changes in road design require a lengthy process of review and permitting from the state. Because of this, a roundabout at Tamarack wouldn’t be ready to build for a couple of years.

• This will give the city time to finish the Cannon project, which is further along in the design and permitting pipeline.

• City staff will gather data for five months after the Cannon project is completed and return to the City Council for additional discussion and direction on how to proceed with Tamarack.

Nov. 12, 2024 | City Council

Adopted a resolution approving the submittal of a request to amend the San Diego Association of Governments Active Transportation Grant to change its scope so the remaining applicable funds can be used for the project’s final design and environmental studies instead of construction, and extend it for two years. 

July 18, 2023 | City Council

Selected the roundabout option for the intersection, and directed staff to return to the City Council after the completion of the Terramar area coastal improvement project, which includes a roundabout at Cannon Road, with data, to reevaluate and determine if changes are needed to the Tamarack Avenue design or to purse other options for the intersection.

May 1, 2023 | Traffic & Mobility Commission

Discussed additional traffic study data and information about roundabouts, as requested by the commission. Selected the roundabout as the preferred option for the intersection control.

Feb. 6, 2023 | Traffic & Mobility Commission

Reviewed the project and did not support an option, traffic signal or roundabout, for reconfiguring the intersection. 

March 8, 2022 | City Council

Adopted a resolution authorizing execution of a professional services agreement with Wood Rodgers Inc. to provide engineering design and environmental services.

May 3, 2016 | City Council

Authorized the acceptance of Active Transportation grant agreement from SANDAG and appropriated gas tax funds for the project. 

March 10, 2015 | City Council

Applied for a grant from SANDAG’s Active Transportation Program and appropriation of funds.