More Time to Cross Street Urged

Dear Traffic Talk:

A traffic light needs attention at Vanowen Street and Etiwanda Avenue in Reseda. The light for pedestrians to cross Vanowen and Etiwanda is the same length whether the walk button is pushed or not.

Please have that light lengthened by at least 10 or more seconds.

Louise Berman, Reseda

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Dear Louise:

If you press the button and begin crossing as soon as the “WALK” sign appears at this location, you should have plenty of time to make it across, says Brian Gallagher, L. A. Department of Transportation engineer.

“Pedestrians will have 17 to 22 seconds to cross the street before the lights change to green for Vanowen,” he said.

He added that those who ignore the pedestrian signals and cross on the green light may get as few as five seconds to cross, since the length of the green light is based on the number of cars on Etiwanda.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

At about 3 p.m., many parents come to pick up children at Harvard Elementary School near the intersection of Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Avenida del Sol in Studio City.

Cars line up and wait on Avenida del Sol and on Coldwater, in a short area marked for left turns. It’s actually a sharp, heavily traveled curve on Coldwater and the congestion is very dangerous.

Additionally, we residents cannot get past the many cars to reach our homes.

Ruth Hinman, Studio City

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Dear Ruth:

The Los Angeles Police Department’s traffic safety and complaint unit investigates such matters throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Residents can call this unit and file a complaint about a problem. The Valley is divided into five sections and one officer is assigned to each area.

“We go to the site and investigate to see if it’s a valid complaint,” Officer John Ficken said. “We determine if the problem needs regular checkups and if additional enforcement is needed.”

The officer in charge of Studio City is Jim Panek. He can be reached at (818) 756-9203.

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