LAGUNA HILLS : Council OKs Traffic Control Measures

Responding to residents’ complaints, the City Council has approved traffic control measures for two of South County’s busiest thoroughfares.

The council voted 4 to 1, with Joel T. Lautenschleger dissenting, to put a traffic signal at the intersection of Alicia Parkway and Ramona Street. Council members were unanimous, however, in approving left turns into and out of Louisa Street at Moulton Parkway and taking other traffic-control measures in the subdivision.

“It appears that Lomas Laguna is somewhat landlocked, and in my opinion a traffic signal is something we should look at,” Councilwoman Melody Carruth said.

City staff had recommended against installing the new traffic signal.

City Traffic Engineer Kenneth H. Rosenfield said a signal was not warranted by current traffic levels or the number of accidents at the Alicia and Ramona intersection. He said city employees could monitor the intersection and recommend a signal, if needed, at a later date.

Councilman Lautenschleger agreed with Rosenfield, saying more study should be done.

But speakers representing about 40 residents at the meeting said the signal was needed immediately to allow them access to the Aliso/Wood Canyons Regional Park and a trail across Alicia and to protect them as they make left turns into and out of Ramona at Alicia.

Currently, children and other pedestrians, horseback riders and motorists at the intersection must negotiate Alicia’s increasingly busy six lanes, where cars travel over 55 m.p.h. The intersection is about a quarter-mile from the nearest signal at Alicia and Moulton.

Rosenfield estimated the cost of traffic signals for the intersection at $90,000 and said they could be installed in six months to a year. The city plans to negotiate with the county Harbor, Beaches and Parks department for the necessary funds.

The council’s approval for the left-turn access at Louisa and Moulton, which will be reviewed after a year, will enable Lomas Laguna residents to avoid using other side streets and making U-turns to drive into their subdivision.

In a report to the council, Rosenfield said that installing signs and striping for the left-turn access at Louisa and Moulton and the streets inside the Lomas Laguna development will cost about $2,500 and can be completed in about three weeks.