For Ventura Roadwork, Light at the End of the Tunnel

Dear Street Smart:

I’ve watched with interest as the trees and sidewalks in downtown Ventura are replaced as part of the plan to improve the area.

Now Main and California streets are being closed off and torn up.

I understand the reasons for putting in new trees and sidewalks, but I’m not clear on what’s happening with the roads.

They looked fine before. What is being done to the roads, and when will they be reopened and back to normal?

George Roth, Ventura

Dear Reader:

The roadwork, concentrated in a three-block area of downtown Ventura, is part of a project to build concrete parking areas that can also be used for restaurant and business expansion, says Albert Carbon, project engineer.

The work will be completed in phases, he says. The first phase, on the north side of Main between Chestnut and California, was completed over the weekend.

The entire project is scheduled to be finished by July 21, Carbon says.

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Dear Street Smart:

I’m concerned about a speeding problem in Simi Valley.

The speed limit on Cochran Street between 1st Street and Sycamore Drive is 45 m.p.h.

That already seems high because there are many homes facing Cochran. With all the traffic, it’s almost like a little freeway. To make matters worse, traffic often speeds over the limit.

I know the speed limit probably can’t be lowered, but can’t something be done to make sure that it is enforced?

Donald Burke, Simi Valley

Dear Reader:

Drivers do tend to speed on wide open stretches of roadway, and Cochran is one of those roads, says Bill Golubics, Simi Valley traffic engineer.

Unfortunately, the speed limit cannot be lowered because state law requires that the limit be determined by how fast motorists actually drive on the road.

However, speeding is another matter. Police regularly patrol Cochran, radar guns in tow, Golubics says.

And if you know of a specific time of day when cars are speeding, or if there is a particular car that speeds regularly, you can report it to the police at 583-6950.

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Dear Street Smart:

The signs are up announcing Phase 2 of the Oxnard Outlet Mall, which I think raises an important question.

Has anybody in the city noticed that there is not enough parking in the first phase?

On the weekends, the lot is jammed and drivers are forced to park in dusty fields.

Is the second phase going to be designed exactly the same as the first, or will there be more parking spaces allotted?

I hope that the city is paying attention to this problem.

Stacey Lynch, Oxnard

Dear Reader:

The second phase of the mall is in fact planned as a mirror image of the first, says Joe Genovese, Oxnard traffic engineer.

However, the city does not anticipate that traffic at the mall will double when the second phase is completed. Rather, officials expect a moderate increase in the traffic flow, Genovese says.

With twice as many parking spaces as there are now, the lots should be able to handle the traffic more easily once Phase 2 is completed.