New Island May Head Off Head-On Crash

Dear Traffic Talk:

In Woodland Hills, where Reforma Road and Cass Avenue cross, I predict that there will be a fatal accident in the near future. Presently, southbound traffic on Cass turns a soft corner with no direction from the lines to keep cars in their lane. Consequently, motorists drive head-on into oncoming traffic going north on Cass.

The lines on the road are improperly drawn to tell traffic where to safely go. The best way to direct traffic would be to install an island.

Noel Webb

Woodland Hills

Dear Noel:

In response to your suggestion, the city Department of Transportation is going to install a traffic island at that intersection. City transportation engineer Ray Wellbaum said the chief problem he sees is that westbound Reforma motorists who want to turn southbound on Cass cannot see southbound Cass drivers heading toward the intersection, and vice versa.

Wellbaum said he had not heard of accidents at the site, but said one is possible due to the configuration of the intersection. He said he would put in the work order, and painting of the island should begin in three to four months. It will take about a week to complete.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Every morning at about 7:45, when I turn eastbound on Devonshire Street from Haskell Avenue, I see several cars illegally parked in spite of signs marked “No Parking 7-9 a.m.” I called the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division about it and they said I should call the “abandoned car section.”

These are not abandoned cars. Most of them are gone by noon. This is very dangerous because the onramps to the northbound and southbound San Diego Freeway are only a block away. Why isn’t this area patrolled and illegally parked cars ticketed? This has been going on for more than a year.

Ken Wilkins

Northridge

Dear Ken:

Last week, I spoke with Darryl Roberson, of the transportation department’s Valley Parking Enforcement Bureau, who said he would send parking enforcement officers out to investigate. If they found the cars that you’re talking about, the vehicles should have been ticketed by now. Cars illegally parked could also be towed, he said. Roberson said he will have officers check the area periodically.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Going west on the Ventura Freeway at the point where it meets the Hollywood Freeway, a convergence of the third and fourth lanes takes place. As soon as it has converged a lane opens up on the left. Why couldn’t the two lanes just continue through that point?

Richard Jenkins

Northridge

Dear Richard:

Caltrans spokesman Rick Holland said he thinks you must be talking about the two lanes of the Ventura Freeway (134) that connect to the Ventura Freeway (101). Westbound motorists see a carpool lane open up to the left, then as the three lanes approach a two-lane bridge, the two right-most lanes (chosen because they are the slow-moving lanes) merge.

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Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers are invited to submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley. Please write to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your full name, address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. To record your comments, call (818) 772-3303. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385.