Traffic Officials Helped Answer Many a ‘Why?’ This Year

Dear Readers:

With 1992 about to close, Street Smart takes a look over what’s happened in the column this year. But before the review, some thanks:

First and foremost, thanks go to the readers who each week send in interesting, challenging questions. Active minds are watching the highways and wondering “Why is that so?” Getting the answer is always a learning experience, not just for Street Smart, but sometimes for traffic engineers and other sources who may rarely contemplate “Why?”

For example, one reader asked why the right-hand lane on freeways always seems to move faster during congestion. The common response from engineers was, “Gee, I never thought about that.” But then they did think about it, some dismissing it as a myth while others came up with insightful reasons to explain why it might happen.

Thanks also go to all the engineers, managers, police officers and others who provided answers to readers’ questions. In particular, several agencies and individuals consistently responded over the past year in a quick and positive manner. They have been knowledgeable about their own jurisdictions and helpful on questions involving the county in general.

The honor roll:

* Orange County’s traffic engineering department, and especially county Traffic Engineer Ignacio Ochoa.

* Anaheim’s traffic Engineering Department and Police Department’s traffic division.

* The Orange County Transportation Authority, and especially former spokeswoman Mona Ziada.

* Huntington Beach Traffic Engineer Jim Otterson.

* Caltrans traffic analyst Joe El-Harake.

Some honorable mentions:

* Caltrans Traffic Operations in Orange County. Readers might not always like the answers, but the department has diligently looked into public concerns. Instrumental in this have been Caltrans spokeswoman Irene Perez; former spokesman Gerard Sandoval and department aide Iris Beyer.

* California Highway Patrol spokesman Bruce Lian and former spokesman Ken Daily, both of the San Juan Capistrano office. They have taken time to provide thoughtful responses to law enforcement questions.

* Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and Irvine traffic engineering departments. Readers in these cities often sent in complicated problems, and the departments sought solutions or explanations.

With the thanks behind us, it’s time for the successes. The answer from many traffic engineering departments was often “we’ll look into it,” but on some occasions, readers sparked concrete change:

* The “horseshoe” ramp from the eastbound Garden Grove Freeway to the northbound Orange Freeway is being widened to two lanes. This was an oft-raised request by readers.

* Caltrans agreed to make improvements to clear up confusing signs and arrows where the southbound San Diego Freeway on-ramp ends in front of John Wayne Airport.

* Laguna Hills Drive got an additional left-turn lane for traffic turning onto Paseo de Valencia in Laguna Hills.

* Also in Laguna Hills, southbound Alicia Parkway traffic got more time to turn left to Moulton Parkway.

* In Aliso Viejo, Glenwood Drive traffic got more time to turn left onto Moulton Parkway.

* In Costa Mesa, the city said work might begin this month to build an extra right-turn lane from northbound Superior Avenue to 17th Street.

Readers also posed a variety of general questions throughout the year. Among them, Street Smart looked into:

* Traffic school, and how it has declined in popularity now that attendance no longer saves drivers from paying a fine.

* Lane splitting, and how motorcycles are legally allowed to do it, with advice for car drivers and motorcycle riders about being safe.

* Street addresses, and how readers would like to see them made more easy to read on street signs and buildings.

* Left turns, right turns, U turns. Street Smart explained when you can turn legally and when you can’t for various situations.

* Car-pool lanes. You name it, it was asked. Should children count toward forming a car pool? Parents squared off against those who said no. Various columns dealt with other car-pool issues such as exiting from the lanes, speeding in the lanes and when new lanes will appear.

Street Smart also took an in-depth look at several topics, using words and pictures. The column looked at how traffic signal synchronization works and how it is on the rise in Orange County. Similarly, another column explained how on-ramp metering works and how more and more meters are popping up everywhere.

One column looked at the many varieties of license plates in California, from the standard white reflectorized ones to the state’s 23 “constable plates” used by rural law-enforcement officers.

The Santa Ana Freeway was spread out for readers in one article, updating them on how construction is progressing and showing some of the improvements along the way. Another column zoomed in on the El Toro Y, showing improvements planned for that interchange.

Lest it be forgotten, the “protective-permissive signal” also got its day in the sun. These are left-turn signals that first give a left-arrow, so traffic can make a protected left turn, then give a green light, so traffic can turn left when safe. The signals have been appearing all over the county, causing confusion for some readers.

Street Smart also gave two bits of information that are often requested: how to report expired registration tags and how to report cars with a smog problem. For those who missed out:

* To report expired tags, or out-of-state plates that have been around too long, write to DMV Revenue Services, 2415 1st Ave., Mail Station D148, Sacramento, Calif., 95818.

* Call (800) CUT-SMOG for cars that smoke longer than 10 seconds. Report the license number, make and model of car, place and time. Owner will get letter advising that they may want to get car smog checked or repaired.

So what’s up for 1993? More great questions from readers, no doubt. Meanwhile, there are some that Times Urban Affairs Writer Jeffrey A. Perlman says to watch for:

* Start of construction on the state’s first private toll lanes, in the median of the Riverside Freeway between the Riverside County border and the Costa Mesa Freeway.

* Additional construction as part of the Santa Ana Freeway widening project, between the Costa Mesa Freeway and the Garden Grove Freeway.

* Widening of the Riverside Freeway will begin between the Costa Mesa and Orange freeways.

* The Beach Boulevard “super-street” project may be completed between the San Diego Freeway and Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim. Additional construction will begin between Ellis Avenue and Start Street in Huntington Beach.

* By September, three to five additional Metrolink commuter trains will increase rail service to and from Los Angeles, with Oceanside added as the southern-most depot.

* Perhaps by summer, a three-mile stretch of the Foothill tollway near Mission Viejo will open for traffic, making it the county’s first operating, public toll road.

* Barring adverse rulings, construction of the San Joaquin Hills toll road may start in late 1993.

So watch for a lot of construction detours in 1993 and consider using the train.