Motorist Sees the Need for Speed on Freeway Widening

Dear Street Smart:

When is Caltrans planning to widen the Moorpark Freeway?

Having only two lanes for 95% of its length contributes to long daily delays due to the heavy use of this freeway by construction trucks.

Hundreds of trucks barely make it up the two grades at speeds as low as 10 mph.

Traffic darts in and out, trying to get around, but to no avail. I am sure that many accidents are caused by these lumbering trucks as motorists just try to maintain a decent speed.

Considering that new homes are continually being built in Moorpark, relief is nowhere in sight until a widening project is complete.

Larry Bickmann, Moorpark

Dear Reader:

Ever-diligent in recognizing need, Caltrans engineers already have identified a widening project along the Moorpark Freeway. They have gone so far as to figure the cost, which penciled out at $19 million.

However, Caltrans spokeswoman Pat Reid said that, even though the transportation officials want to expand the freeway in the not-too-distant future, there is no money to pay for the effort.

“The project must compete with other improvement projects for statewide funding,” Reid said.

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Dear Street Smart:

Recently, the traffic-light timing at the Ventura Freeway and Hampshire Road appears to have been changed.

During the evening rush hour, this intersection has always had long lines to make a left turn from Hampshire northbound to the 101 northbound.

With this change, the lines have gotten long even during non-rush hours.

It would seem that even fewer cars are getting through the intersection on each light than previously.

Perhaps because people don’t like the longer wait, the number of cars that squeeze from the right lane into the left-turn lane under the freeway overpass has increased.

Consequently, the left lanes move slower and I believe safety is impaired.

Can you find out if this was an intentional change or not? Can the old timing be restored?

Martin Klemes, Westlake Village

Dear Reader:

The signals at that intersection, like all traffic lights at freeway on- and offramps, are controlled by the state Department of Transportation.

Caltrans officials, however, say that no changes have been implemented in the timing sequence of the traffic light at the Ventura Freeway and Hampshire Road.

“Traffic demand has exceeded the capacity of the intersection--especially during peak hours--due to recent growth and development in the area,” Caltrans spokeswoman Pat Reid said.

However, the existing timing sequence is the most efficient, Reid said. Nonetheless, Caltrans is planning a $1.9-million project next year at that interchange, she said.

“This project will relieve the current congestion and will greatly improve the interchange,” Reid said.

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Dear Street Smart:

With the new Costco and shopping plaza at Lindero Canyon Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard came several new traffic lights in recent months.

Between Agoura Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, there are now six signals within one mile. Between Lake Lindero and Lindero Canyon, there are three lights in just a quarter-mile.

Only once have I been able to drive in either direction on these roads and make every light. Even at night or on weekends, I am stopped by almost every signal, every time.

Why aren’t these lights timed, or timed correctly? This is a high-traffic area that deserves some coordination.

Please help.

Steven Glasser, Agoura Hills

Dear Reader:

Some of the equipment that allows the half-dozen signals along Lindero Canyon Road to connect to each other has not yet been installed, said Agoura Hills traffic analyst Mark Wessel.

“That will be done as each phase of the construction occurs,” he said. “As they develop, the developers pay fees, and we use the fees to go out and make improvements.”

But the existing timing sequence works well, Wessel said, because traffic flows vary so considerably.

“Coordinated signalization is not always good--there are trade-offs,” he said. “One cycle may be significantly longer than another.”

Along Thousand Oaks Boulevard, where the three lights are clustered together, analysts also maintain that the vehicle-activated signals work better.

“Traffic flows are variable through the day--heavy for say half an hour and then light for most of the day,” Wessel said. “Ultimately, I anticipate the need to coordinate the signals along Lindero, but at this time it’s probably not worth the trade-offs along Thousand Oaks Boulevard.”