Ramp Signal Should Improve After Changing Hands

Dear Street Smart:

The southbound San Diego Freeway ramp that lets you turn left onto Irvine Center Drive seems way too sensitive. It may take only one car on the ramp to instantly change the signal and bring traffic on Irvine Center Drive to a halt. There should be some delay built in. As it is, the ramp seems to have priority. How about getting that changed?

Don E. Smith Jr., Laguna Hills

You’ve run into a glitch in the traffic synchronization project that stretches from Irvine to Dana Point along Irvine Center Drive/Moulton Parkway/Street of the Golden Lantern. Those ramp signals belong to Caltrans, and they are incompatible with traffic control computers running signals along that stretch of road, according to Orange County traffic engineer Ignacio Ochoa.

Not to fear, that situation will change. Caltrans is ceding control of those signals to the city of Irvine, Ochoa said. Irvine will make equipment changes that will allow the signals to work with the rest of the Irvine Center Drive traffic lights, Ochoa said. That should cut down on the stop and go.

Dear Street Smart:

Is it possible that someone could contact the city of Anaheim to install a light at the intersection of Nohl Ranch Road and Meats Avenue in Anaheim Hills? Making a right turn from Meats onto Nohl Ranch is very dangerous because cars come around a curve on Nohl Ranch, and visibility is very limited. Traffic on Meats backs up for blocks every night.

David Cockerille, Anaheim

Jim Paral, an Anaheim traffic engineer, said the city already has plans to install a signal there in the near future. Anaheim will award a contract sometime in late fall, and construction should begin in January, Paral said. After that, the signal will be up in 60 days or less, he said.

Dear Street Smart:

For those who know it, Citrus Drive in northwest La Habra offers a convenient short cut to and from Hacienda Boulevard.

You are able to reduce your travel time by almost five minutes on your way to the Pomona Freeway or other points north.

The problem? Speeders! Virtually every vehicle using this street as an alternative route is exceeding the posted speed limit.

This is a residential area, but when it’s rush hour, you “take your chances” if you are a pedestrian.

This unacceptable condition has existed in the 10 years that I have lived near Citrus. Previous protests have resulted in erratic and ineffective responses by law enforcement.

Orange County and La Habra traffic planning agencies have also failed to adequately address the problem.

Their evaluation determined that placing stop signs on the cross streets would not be a deterrent to speeders. What is? What can be done?

Jay E. Jenkins, La Habra

La Habra traffic manager Nelson Wong agrees that there have been problems with speeding along that street in the past, but recently he has heard no complaints.

He suggests that you give him a call or send him a letter, so he can re-examine the situation out there.

Others who share your views should probably also let Wong know.