Residents May Not Agree Holder Street Bridge Is Solution

Dear Street Smart:

Traffic on Valley View Street is very heavy at times south of Katella Avenue in Cypress. A bridge on nearby Holder Street over the storm channel would help create an alternative route.

Also, westbound Katella Avenue needs a right-turn-only lane at the intersection with Bloomfield Street in Los Alamitos. Katella is not even marked no parking near the intersection. Would it be possible to have a right-turn lane installed or at least some no-parking area created to help the flow of traffic?

Carrol J. Curtis, Cypress

Valley View has the misfortune of being the only road in that immediate area leading from the San Diego and Garden Grove freeways straight to Katella Avenue, two miles north.

To the west, any north-south route is blocked for several miles by the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center. A mile away to the east, Knott Street provides the closest north-south alternative. As a result, lots of cars use Valley View south of Katella, causing the congestion during peak hours that you’ve encountered, said Keith Carter, associate traffic engineer for Cypress.

Traffic studies have shown that Holder would ease the crush if it was completed, Carter said. Holder is half a mile to the east of Valley View and stretches completely to Katella, except for where that storm channel cuts across the street. Linking the gap has been discussed before.

“This is an issue that’s been brought up time and time again over the past few years,” Carter said. “In the past, there’s always been quite a bit of opposition to it.”

As could be expected, local residents don’t want a new thoroughfare in their back yard. The Holder bridge has never been built despite the issue coming before the City Council several times.

Whether history repeats itself remains to be seen. The City Council takes up the issue once again on July 13, when it is scheduled to approve a poll about the bridge. Council members will approve questions and to whom the survey will be mailed.

An alternative to bridging Holder would be to widen Valley View, though the street is already built out to its planned width of three lanes in each direction, Carter said.

As for Katella and Bloomfield, Los Alamitos City Engineer Jeff Thompson agrees that congestion can be an occasional problem there. However, removing parked cars would only free up about five feet of pavement, which is not enough room to build a proper turn pocket, Thompson said.

That’s not to say that building a turn pocket is impossible. But overall, the intersection works well enough without a separate right-turn lane, Thompson said. For example, plans to turn Katella into an efficient “Super Street” make no suggestion that a lane is needed there to improve traffic, Thompson said.

If you still feel that a lane there is vital, Thompson suggested that you send him a letter. As with most cities, letters carry a lot of weight and can turn suggestions into realities.

Dear Street Smart:

How old must the licensed guardian or adult be to accompany a driver with only a permit?

Jennifer Salerno, Anaheim

Those with permits can drive as long as the licensed driver with them is at least 18 years old. That person’s license must not be on probation. On mopeds or motorcycles, those with permits may travel alone in the daytime. They are not allowed to carry passengers.

Permits are issued to those as young as 15, if they are enrolled in a driver’s education and road training class. Those 17 1/2 and older can be issued a permit without having taken driver’s training.

Dear Street Smart:

Bicyclists and runners who want to reach the extremely popular Santa Ana River Trail via Imperial Highway must cross three freeway entrance and exit ramps if they live south of the Riverside Freeway--a total of seven lanes of traffic.

I know from experience as an auto commuter, bicyclist and runner that cars very rarely slow down or look for bikers and runners crossing in front of them. Also, the freeway crosses over Imperial Highway, creating a tunnel-like bridge that further reduces the visibility of bicyclists to drivers.

I would like to see concrete barriers used to separate the bike lanes from the cars and signs stating “Yield to Bicycles and Pedestrians” placed at ramps. In the entire 20-mile stretch of the river trail to the ocean, this intersection must be by far the most nerve-racking area for drivers and bicyclists alike.

Gust Rouhas, Anaheim

Unfortunately, Caltrans nixed both of your suggestions. There is too little room along Imperial to erect concrete barriers and still have bike lanes that would meet Caltrans standards, according to Larry Rosenthal of the Traffic Operations Department. As for signs, there are already so many that more could not be added, Rosenthal said.

It might ease your mind to know that Caltrans checked accident statistics for the area and found it to be safe. If that’s not a comfort, perhaps the city of Anaheim or the county might be able to help you. Since it is Anaheim residents that are primarily using that stretch of Imperial, the city should have an interest in making it safe. The bike trail is run by the county, which also no doubt wants to keep things safe for riders.

An easy way to reach the right people about this is to contact the Orange County Bicycle Coalition. The coalition works with cities and agencies to improve bicycling in the county. Street Smart talked with Chairman Mike Mott, who agreed that crossing freeway ramps can be a nightmare. Mott said he would ride out and take a look at the situation. You can reach Mott at (714) 892-9788 in the evenings or Vice Chairman Don Harvey at (714) 896-3321 in the daytime.