Long Backup Signals Need to Change Timing

Dear Traffic Talk:

Sherman Way is a major east-west boulevard through the San Fernando Valley and Variel Avenue is merely a tertiary street.

Yet the signal at that intersection allows twice as much time for traffic traveling north and south on Variel than it does for traffic on Sherman Way.

Also at that intersection, one westbound lane of Sherman Way disappears. Consequently, traffic on Sherman Way backs up at that light for several blocks, allowing few cars to get through on one turn and forcing others to wait through many light changes before proceeding west.

Why is priority given to north/south traffic on Variel?

Andy Steiner

Canoga Park

Dear Andy:

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation has done some work on a stretch of Sherman Way--including the Variel Avenue intersection--to allow adequate time for pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic traveling in all four directions, according to authorities.

First, the long green light for Variel Avenue is needed to allow pedestrians adequate time to cross Sherman Way, said Brian Gallagher, an engineer in the traffic lights division of the department.

However, the time needed by pedestrians to cross Sherman Way exceeds the time needed by vehicles.

So, since pedestrians are not crossing the street at every turn, the intersection has push-buttons and vehicle detectors that control how long the lights stay on, depending on whether pedestrians push the buttons and how much motor vehicle traffic is at the intersection at a particular turn, Gallagher said.

The extended delay was being caused by a stuck detector that was giving the maximum time to Variel foot and vehicle traffic regardless of demand, Gallagher said.

The detector has been repaired, he said, and signals on Sherman Way from Owensmouth Avenue to Reseda Boulevard have been modified to improve overall progression.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Ventura Boulevard and Mulholland Highway has been patched and repatched.

Presently, the southbound lanes need to be repaved.

Why hasn’t this been done--especially after many of the other major north/south thoroughfares in the West Valley have been repaved?

Is it because Topanga Canyon is a state road?

Stephen Wachtel

Calabasas

Dear Stephen:

Topanga Canyon Boulevard is, indeed, a state highway and as such, it is maintained by Caltrans, which has two repair projects for the boulevard planned in the foreseeable future.

One is an asphalt overlay project scheduled to begin next spring, said Pat Reid, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Those repairs are planned for the boulevard from the Los Angeles city limit to Avenue San Luis.

The second is a $9-million pavement rehabilitation project for an eight-mile stretch from Ventura Boulevard to the Ronald Reagan Freeway, Reid said.

That project is included in the agency’s budget for the 1998-99 fiscal year, she said.

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