CHATSWORTH : Bernson Seeks Limits on Access to Street

Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson will ask the state Department of Transportation to put up signs restricting access to Farralone Avenue south of Plummer Street after unsuccessfully trying to erect gates there to keep out commuter traffic, an aide said.

Bernson deputy Lee Hintlian said Monday that putting up the signs would appease more than 120 neighbors who had petitioned for gates.

The tactic is the latest twist affecting a traffic muddle in the Chatsworth neighborhood, which is between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and neighborhoods of the west San Fernando Valley and Calabasas.

Last year, neighbors complained that commuters trying to avoid lengthy waits to make a left turn from Plummer onto Topanga Canyon Boulevard were cutting through residential neighborhoods. In response, Bernson led a successful move to restrict morning and afternoon left turns from Plummer to Baden, Shoup and Farralone avenues.

The signs signaling the restrictions produced an outcry from some residents, who said it kept them from taking the shortest route home or to schools.

It has prompted some to make legal but dangerous turns at another intersection, resident Karig McCloskey said.

“People want to comply with the law; they don’t want to blatantly ignore the sign. That’s why they are doing this maneuver,” said McCloskey.

“We have actually had three or four cars stacked up waiting for the others to back up and turn around,” he added.

Neighbors are hoping that the new restrictions will prevent that. Hintlian said wording for the new signs is still under consideration.