Traffic Signal’s Brain Is a Small but Complicated Thing

Dear Street Smart:

Something must be done about the stoplight at the intersection of Oxnard Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue in Oxnard.

I’ve recently suffered through some serious problems because of signal malfunctions at this intersection.

Once the light stayed red for traffic for more than half an hour. Eventually, cars started running the light.

On another occasion the light turned green for both the Vineyard traffic and for the left-turn traffic from Oxnard Boulevard. I saw several near-misses that day.

Can this light be checked before there is a serious accident?

Felicia Henry, Oxnard

Dear Reader:

The brain of a traffic signal is a small but complicated thing.

Sometimes signals go haywire for no apparent reason.

So traffic engineers monitor the signals regularly to make adjustments and check for malfunctions.

The signal at the intersection of Oxnard Boulevard and Vineyard Avenue is maintained by Caltrans, which checks the electronic traffic-control box, or brain, every two months.

Ray Ciriaco, who handles signal timing, says he last checked that signal in May.

He says he has heard no other complaints about the light, but will check it to make sure it is operating correctly.

Meanwhile, if you run into a traffic signal problem at this intersection again, you can report it to Caltrans at 654-4651.

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Dear Street Smart:

I was thrilled to read in your column last week about the program to ticket cars parked illegally in spaces marked for the handicapped.

As a disabled person, I am only too familiar with the frustration of not being able to park in the handicapped spot because someone else is there illegally.

Another big problem in shopping centers is stray shopping carts. People seem to think handicapped spaces are designed to hold their discarded carts.

Many times I end up having to get out of the car, hobble over and take the shopping carts away before I can park.

Are there any plans for a program for Camarillo similar to the one in Oxnard?

If so, would it be possible to include shopping cart removal from handicapped parking spaces?

Leo Ullman, Camarillo

Dear Reader:

Camarillo does not have a program tailored exclusively to ticketing handicapped parking violators.

However, the city’s three parking cadets regularly monitor streets and public parking lots in search of illegally parked cars, says Deputy Mike Berg.

The cadets are also authorized to enter private parking lots in search of cars parked illegally in spaces marked for the disabled. They are allowed to monitor the private property under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The city will also respond to phone calls from the residents reporting illegally parked cars.

To make a report, call the Police Department at 482-9844. Violators are subject to a $280 ticket.

Unfortunately, ticket duty does not include shopping cart removal.

As for shopping carts, Berg suggests you inform the manager of the store and ask that the carts be removed.

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Dear Street Smart:

Caltrans recently made a confusing change at a Moorpark Freeway off-ramp.

When Caltrans repaved the off-ramp at Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks, they changed the striping.

Before the change, drivers in either of the two lanes at the bottom of the ramp were allowed to turn right after stopping.

Now, drivers may only turn right from the right-hand lane.

Since there is no stop sign for the right lane, I assume drivers are not required to stop before turning.

But many drivers are used to the old way and stop anyway.

If I’m right and drivers are not required to stop, could Caltrans post a sign saying no stop is required?

If a stop is required, I suggest a sign be posted immediately.

Elizabeth Graham, Simi Valley

Dear Reader:

You are right.

Motorists are no longer required to stop before turning right at the bottom of the Olsen Road off-ramp in Thousand Oaks.

Caltrans made the change because motorists complained that traffic backed up all the way to the freeway as motorists waited to turn, says Luu Nguyen, senior traffic engineer.

As a general policy, Caltrans tries to keep the number of signs it posts to a minimum, so it has not posted a sign telling motorists they don’t have to stop, Nguyen says.

However, Caltrans has received several calls from motorists who are confused by the change, so engineers are studying the intersection to figure out the best way to clear up the problem.

RAMP CLOSURE

Three of the four ramps at Kimball Road and the Santa Paula Freeway will be closed for a month starting today. Only the eastbound on-ramp will remain open.

The ramp closure is part of a major project to overhaul the entire interchange.

The ramps will reopen Aug. 19.