Sign Lights Dimmed to Save Money

Dear Traffic Talk:

This is a follow-up to my Feb. 5 letter to you regarding the nonfunctioning lighted freeway signs.

During freeway travels at night I still see no change to a huge number of freeway sign lights that are not functioning.

And, I am NOT referring to the unlit signs that are made with reflective letters. Even the signs I identified on the northbound 405 Freeway between the Sepulveda Pass and Nordhoff Street are still out. Some of these signs are so dark at night that they simply cannot be read, even at close range.

I feel there must be a specific reason why Caltrans makes no effort to keep its freeway signs lit, and I’d like to know what it is.

Jack Iblings

Encino

Dear Jack:

Sign lights along the 405 Freeway have not burned out.

The power was simply shut off for lights on information signs to save money, said Caltrans spokesman Presley Burroughs. Exit signs are still lit at night.

“We’ve been investigating whether there’s a safety issue, and there is not one,” Burroughs said. “We don’t see a problem for readability of the signs.”

The plug was pulled for lights on many freeway information signs throughout Southern California to save an estimated $70 million over the next 20 years, said Burroughs, who added the lights will remain off to maintain the cost savings.The idea was approved in 1990 by the Federal Highway Administration.

Dear Traffic Talk:

The lights at the intersection of Parthenia Street and Wilbur Avenue in Northridge seem too short for people who are traveling from east to west versus the people traveling from north to south.

I called the [traffic engineers] and they determined the lights change every 50 seconds. Since traffic comes to a dead-end at Wilbur Avenue, it would be better if the lights could stay green longer for the people traveling on Parthenia Street.

There are no more than three cars that are backed up on Wilbur Street waiting to turn left and head west on Parthenia Street. On Parthenia Street, there are usually more than 25 cars waiting at the stop light, but only three cars get to turn on to Wilbur Street. Is there any way to change this?

Richard Miranda

Northridge

Dear Richard:

Traffic on both Parthenia Street and Wilbur Avenue gets the green light for about 50 seconds, with Wilbur getting a fraction more time because it’s a wider road for pedestrians to cross, said Brian Gallagher, transportation engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

“The real problem we found is that the signals do not go green for Parthenia Street traffic at the right time, resulting in a backup of cars on the red light,” Gallagher said.

By next week, the green light at Parthenia Street will be adjusted during the heaviest traffic times, Gallagher said. After the change is made, most motorists traveling on Parthenia Street at about 35 mph will be able to make the green lights from Tampa Avenue to Reseda Boulevard.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Is there a plan to help drivers exit the Ventura Freeway (134) at the Brand/Central offramp?

If you need to turn left to travel north on Central, you can be blocked for several cycles of the light by cars also headed north on Central to enter the 134 west onramp, oftentimes blocking the intersection.

Chris Warrick

Glendale

Dear Chris:

Your question has been referred to the Caltrans investigations unit so they can adjust the signal timing in that area, said Caltrans spokesman Presley Burroughs.

“We will see what qualifies as the normal traffic pattern out there and make the adjustments accordingly,” he said.