Despite Backup, Costa Mesa Signals Are Synchronized

Dear Street Smart:

I travel back and forth on the Costa Mesa Freeway between Bear Street and Costa Mesa Street quite often, and am wondering why the lights in Costa Mesa between 17th and 19th streets have not been coordinated. I have seen traffic backed up all the way to Fair Drive on the south side because of the traffic signal configuration. (I take surface streets during the day and on the weekends, so have been lucky to avoid this trap.)

I wrote to the city of Costa Mesa in February and was informed that Caltrans was the authority for these signals. Perhaps you can check into this.

Jane Robin Voorhies Santa Ana You’re not alone. Here’s what another reader has to say.

Dear Street Smart:

Since Caltrans completed the final southern leg of the Costa Mesa Freeway, I have used this freeway frequently. However, a problem develops as the traffic bogs down, in fact comes to a complete stop, just before reaching 19th Street because of the surface street signals. In fact, several times, three lanes of traffic have backed up all the way to the fairgrounds off-ramp.

Has any effort developed on the part of Caltrans to see if better synchronizing of the signals between 19th Street and Hospital Road would relieve this plugged-up traffic?

Edward P. Benson Newport Beach Caltrans conducted a field investigation regarding the traffic backup on the southbound Costa Mesa Freeway before 19th Street, said agency spokeswoman Rose Orem. The findings concluded that the traffic signals between 19th Street and Hospital Road are indeed in coordination, she said.

During the peak rush hour, 19th Street becomes congested because traffic on Newport Boulevard exceeds capacity, Orem said. Using the Newport frontage roads and local streets would help to reduce the backup on the freeway, she said.

Caltrans will continue to monitor the traffic signals here to ensure they stay synchronized, said Orem.

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This week, the Orange County Transportation Authority and Caltrans will kick off a series of community open houses in South County to provide information on the reconstruction of the El Toro “Y,” and tips to help merchants and residents manage during the three-year construction period.

The first open house will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at El Toro High School, 25255 Toledo Way, Lake Forest. It is sponsored by the South Orange County Chambers of Commerce, the cities of Lake Forest and Laguna Hills, OCTA and Caltrans.

Commuter information on ride-sharing, and bus and train schedules also will be available.

The widening of the El Toro Y will cost an estimated $86 million and will be funded in part by Measure M, the sales tax approved by Orange County voters to improve transportation. For information about the open houses, call the South Orange County Chambers of Commerce at (714) 837-3000.

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Orange County residents are invited to three community brainstorming sessions with officials of OCTA to help plan transportation in Orange County into the next century.

The sessions are scheduled in various parts of the county and all will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The first meeting will take place Oct. 19 at Mission Viejo High School, 25025 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo.

The second will be on Oct. 20 at the Garden Grove Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove.

The third meeting will be on Oct. 21 at Brea-Olinda High School, 789 N. Wildcat Way, Brea. For more information on Discussion 2020, call Steve Lumsdon at (714) 560-OCTA.

Street Smart appears Mondays in The Times Orange County Edition. Readers are invited to submit comments and questions about traffic, commuting and what makes it difficult to get around in Orange County. Include simple sketches if helpful. Letters may be published in upcoming columns. Please write to Caroline Lemke, c/o Street Smart, The Times Orange County, P.O. Box 2008, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626. Include your full name, address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted.