YORBA LINDA : Residents Fear Light Won’t Ease Traffic

A traffic light began operating this week at Imperial Highway and Prospect Avenue, an area where residents have complained about the heavy traffic in their neighborhood.

And while city officials say the light will decrease traffic on nearby residential streets, some residents are not convinced.

The light was installed as part of a $350,000 state-funded project to improve traffic flow on Imperial. It will also give residents another place to cross Imperial Highway.

An added benefit of the project, said City Engineer Roy Stephenson, is that it will create a convenient access point to Imperial Highway for motorists who now use residential streets because it is difficult to turn onto the heavily traveled highway.

Before the light was installed, motorists who wished to turn onto Imperial from Prospect had to endure long waits for a break in traffic. According to Stephenson and some residents, many motorists instead chose a different route that took them through the Brooklyn Avenue neighborhood.

“Motorists who don’t want to wait (for a break in traffic) . . . have been turning onto Brooklyn Avenue,” Stephenson said. “I anticipate there will be a decrease (in traffic) on Brooklyn Avenue.”

But those who live on Brooklyn say the light will do little to keep motorists from using their street.

“I don’t think it will deter traffic, and it may make it worse,” said Al Nederhood, who lives on Brooklyn.

Nederhood said motorists who now travel on Imperial Highway may turn into his neighborhood if they encounter a red light at Prospect.

Marilyn Nullmeyer, who also lives on Brooklyn Avenue, said the city has used the light to delay dealing with the high traffic volume on Brooklyn.