A No-Go on West Hills Traffic Light

Dear Traffic Talk:

The intersection of Woodlake Avenue and Saticoy Street in West Hills has a four-way stop sign and no traffic signal. This is a fairly busy intersection, particularly during morning and afternoon rush hours when traffic on Saticoy gets backed up.

Several years ago, a traffic signal was installed at the Woodlake and Cohasset Street intersection, south of the Woodlake and Saticoy intersection. Are there any plans to install a signal at Woodlake and Saticoy?

George Gerler

West Hills

Dear George,

Unless a developer builds on the vacant lot at Woodlake Avenue and Saticoy Street, there are no plans to install a traffic signal there, said Ken Firoozmand, a transportation engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

In 1988 and 1993, a developer was supposed to widen the street and install a signal at that intersection, but never did the project, Firoozmand said. A signal was installed at Woodlake Avenue and Cohasset Street when a development of single-family houses was built there in 1988, he said.

The DOT evaluated traffic at Woodlake and Saticoy in 1994 and 1996 and both times denied the need for a traffic signal, Firoozmand said.

Dear Traffic Talk,

Every weekday morning after about 6 a.m., the green left-turn arrow for traffic from eastbound Roscoe Boulevard to northbound Sepulveda Boulevard is only approximately five seconds.

Regardless of how many vehicles are waiting to turn, the arrow changes to yellow even when there are three or four cars left to turn. Sometimes big-rig trucks can barely get moving before the signal changes to red and as cars going west on Roscoe get a green light.

This is especially hazardous because pedestrians get a walk signal way before these trucks can safely get the through the intersection and as speeding cars try to beat the red.

Scott Powers

Simi Valley

Dear Scott,

The duration of the green left-turn arrow for eastbound Roscoe Boulevard traffic at this intersection was moderately increased, said Bill Shao, a city transportation engineer.

More time was provided at the location’s other left-turn signals, allowing the intersection to operate more smoothly, he said. The LAPD was also alerted about speeding at the intersection, Shao said.

Dear Traffic Talk,

On the 10000 block of Densmore Avenue in North Hills, at Vintage Street Elementary School, there is a “No Parking Except for School Buses” sign that was knocked over to a 45-degree angle several months ago.

The city Bureau of Street Maintenance placed a plastic sawhorse next to the sign to warn people who park there to watch out; however, the sign was never repaired.

The sawhorse is constantly falling into the street, causing a potential hazard to motorists. When will this sign finally be repaired?

Tanya Nelson

Northridge

Dear Tanya,

A work order has been issued and a city maintenance crew will soon fix the sign, Firoozmand at the DOT said.

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. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley.news@latimes.com