Double Yellow Lines Have Specific Uses

Dear Traffic Talk:

Why not use double yellow lines on the Ventura Freeway exits to prevent last moment changes from the fast lanes?

Von Whitesett

West Hills

Dear Von:

Pat Reid of Caltrans said that freeway markings have strict meanings and that double yellow lines mean no crossing.

Reid said yellow lines are for separating traffic on divided roads. The only exception is traffic traveling in the same direction on freeways where the double yellow lines separate carpool lanes from regular traffic lanes.

Using the lines on freeway exits would create confusion and a safety hazard, Reid said

Dear Traffic Talk:

My question concerns handicapped people being able to park at metered spaces for as long as they wish.

What is the rationale for allowing free unlimited parking? I can rationalize the free, but unlimited time? Why can’t the time limit be respected by those with handicap permits?

Not only does the city lose the revenue from the vehicles with the handicap plates, but it also loses money from the regular vehicles if the time allotment was respected.

Carlos Ferreyra

Van Nuys

Dear Carlos:

Most of the laws that affect disabled people have come down from the state Legislature.

State laws have been enacted so that disabled residents may participate in as many of the activities enjoyed by the mainstream as possible, said Michael Inouye, the parking administrator for the L.A. Department of Transportation.

Legislators decided that disabled residents would be allowed to park for free and without time limitations.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Every weekday morning I enter the westbound Ventura Freeway at Tampa Avenue.

There is only one left turn lane when driving north and the traffic tends to back up onto Ventura Boulevard.

In addition, the traffic heading southbound and turning right onto the freeway uses two lanes to make the right turn, one lane being used illegally since it is meant for traffic continuing southbound. This blocks any attempt to make a left hand turn onto the freeway.

Why can’t a green light arrow be installed so it would be easier to make the left turn onto the onramp?

M.R. Grinblat

Tarzana

Dear M.R.:

Ray Wellbaum, a transportation engineer with the Department of Transportation, said a traffic study at the ramp will require two or three months to complete.

The study will be done in the morning and afternoon peak hours. It will examine the accident history at areas around the ramp.

Wellbaum also said the department would study whether a left turn arrow would help the traffic flow at the ramp.

If the ramp empties too slowly onto the freeway, a traffic light would not help but just cause vehicles to block the intersection, Wellbaum said.

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