Questions and Answers About Your Commute : Speeding Raises Police Concern on Woodley

Dear Traffic Talk:

I would like to know the LAPD’s justification for the excessive traffic enforcement on Woodley Avenue in the Sepulveda Basin. Almost daily motorcycle traffic officers have cars pulled over or are waiting at the entrance of the Japanese Garden.

I believe that the speed limit in this area is set low at 40 mph. Since the speed limit on Burbank Boulevard before coming onto Woodley Avenue is 50 mph, this allows the police to work a speed trap.

This location gives the traffic officers some nice time in the park writing easy tickets, but I would like to see these officers outside the park where traffic enforcement is really needed for public safety.

Ron Kessler

North Hollywood

Dear Ron:

According to Sgt. William Mann of the Los Angeles Police Department Valley Traffic Division, the Police Department is not involved in setting the speed limits, only in enforcing them.

The L.A. Department of Transportation is responsible for surveying the streets and posting the limits.

The Valley Traffic Division enforces the speed limit aggressively in the Japanese Garden area for two reasons, Mann said.

First, the park on both sides of Woodley Avenue is widely used by pedestrians and joggers, making enforcement of the speed limit there a safety issue for the authorities.

Second, police presence in the park is strong because it is well-known to the Valley Traffic Division that drivers commonly speed in that area.

Dear Traffic Talk:

We live approximately 250 feet to the west of the Ventura Freeway bridge crossing Lindley Avenue.

Our problem is similar to that of people near the bridges crossing Woodman and Fulton avenues.

When heavy equipment hits the drop portion, the sound is enormous and the impact shakes all surrounding structures within hundreds of feet.

This battering-ram effect has to weaken the bridge structures and roadway.

Some prevention at this time can save considerable problems later.

Jack Koren

Encino

Dear Jack:

Caltrans is aware of the situation at Lindley Avenue, according to Pat Reid, a spokeswoman for the agency.

The problem there and at other bridges in the San Fernando Valley became more noticeable after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Reid said.

In 1995, engineers surveyed several locations and have developed a repair strategy to strengthen the bridges and roadway, Reid said.

Construction at Lindley Avenue and various other locations along the Ventura Freeway is scheduled to begin next year, she said.

Dear Traffic Talk:

I have always noticed the signs on freeway onramps that state that the lanes are for carpool “when metered.” I understand that to mean that if the meter is not on, anyone may enter the freeway on that ramp, which is what I do. Am I correct?

Sarabeth Rothfeld

Woodland Hills

Dear Sarabeth:

All motorists can use the carpool lanes on freeway onramps when the meters are turned off or when the meter stays green constantly, according to Caltrans spokeswoman Reid.

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. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com