Study Failed to Back Call for Left-Turn Light

Dear Traffic Talk:

I have lived in Studio City at the same address for 22 years and have been amazed that there have not been more serious accidents at the intersection of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Moorpark Street.

There is no separate left-turn signal there and I wish I knew why. After the light changes to red, like the Energizer bunny, the cars keep coming and coming and coming.

I have seen many, many near-misses.

Living in the area, I know better than to go on the green light until I am sure that all those making illegal red light turns have passed.

Has any consideration been given to putting a left-turn signal at that intersection?

Seryl Fisher

Studio City

Dear Seryl:

That intersection has been studied in the past for the possibility of adding a left-turn signal, but the findings did not justify the light, according to authorities.

The study by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation was done in 1992, said Brian Gallagher, an engineer with the traffic lights division of the agency.

Police records did not show any east/west left-turn accidents for the year and a half before the study was performed, he said. Also, there were no visual or geometric problems found.

The study also measured the left-turn delay for six hours and did not provide the criteria necessary for the addition of the light, according to Gallagher. Signals are not justified at sites lacking an accident, visibility or left-turn delay problem.

Dear Traffic Talk:

The brand new carpool lane on the southbound San Diego Freeway is striped with a white line and two yellow lines.

I was told this means you can exit the lane at any time but you can only enter when the lines become dashed.

But if in fact you can’t exit any time--then when you enter, there should be signs indicating when the first opportunity to exit will be.

Jackie Zev

Chatsworth

Dear Jackie:

Exits and entrances on Southern California carpool lanes are one and the same, according to authorities.

The buffer striping for the lanes includes a solid white stripe, two additional solid yellow stripes and reflective buttons, said Pat Reid, a Caltrans spokeswoman.

Entering and exiting the lanes is legal only at places where the white line is dashed, according to authorities.

The carpool lanes are designed to be used by regular commuters who become familiar with all the entering/exiting points after a few trips, according to Reid.

Dear Traffic Talk:

The Ventura Freeway between the San Diego Freeway and Winnetka Avenue is becoming dangerous where it passes over streets below.

As you approach the overpasses you find that the freeway is depressed and you hit a major bump and jolt.

Albert Sheppard

Van Nuys

Dear Albert:

Caltrans expects to begin work by June on a project to resurface the pavement on the Ventura Freeway between Studio City and Reseda, according to Reid.

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