Lines Drawn to Increase Safety of Left Turns

Dear Traffic Talk:

I have noticed a problem at many controlled intersections with two left-turn lanes.

There is a broken line dividing the two lanes as they curve through the intersection.

In a lot of cases, this lane marker ends up somewhere in the middle of the center lane of the three-lane cross streets.

This is confusing because turning traffic ends up straddling lanes. The inner cars go into both the inner and center lanes.

Many times I have been forced into the lanes nearest the curb when cars turning next to me take the center lane, where I wanted to be.

Are these lane markings intentional? If so, why?

There doesn’t seem to be a reason why the turn-lane lines should not match up with the cross street lane marking.

Daniel Matonak

Canoga Park

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Dear Daniel:

The broken line separating two left-turn lanes should not end up right in the middle of the center lane of a cross-street, according to authorities.

Residents who know of an intersection with inadequate striping should call their regional office of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. An engineer will inspect the site.

The painted lines used at intersections where motorists on two or more lanes can make left-turns are called “cat tracks,” according to Pat Tomcheck, an engineer with the department’s design division.

Their purpose, indeed, is to guide the drivers safely through the left turn as they negotiate the curve with other motorists.

But the markers are intended to lead drivers into a specific lane, not leave them with the option to enter any of the three or more lanes on the cross street, Tomcheck said.

The cat tracks should end 1 or 2 feet off the No. 1 lane line on the cross street just inside the middle lane, but not anywhere near its center, according to Tomcheck.

The extra one or two feet gives the driver turning into the lane closest to the center of the cross street more room to negotiate around a vehicle waiting in the left-turn lane there, said Tomcheck.

The city’s department of transportation has two offices in the San Fernando Valley.

Questions about street markings, signs or even traffic-light requests west of the San Diego Freeway should be directed to West Valley office engineers at (818) 756-8784. The East Valley office is at (818) 756-8441.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

I commute by carpool from Northridge to Fox Studios in Century City using the San Diego Freeway carpool lane from the Ronald Reagan Freeway to the Ventura Freeway.

What is the status of the plan to extend the carpool lane from the Ventura Freeway to Waterford Street?

Frank Ferguson

Northridge

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Dear Frank:

The plan for the high-occupancy vehicle lane on the San Diego Freeway from the Ventura Freeway south to Waterford Street is in its design stage, which is expected to be completed in May, said Pat Reid, a Caltrans spokeswoman.

The actual construction is expected to begin in early 1999, with completion of the project expected in June 2000, according to the agency.

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Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. 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