Intersection Near Ramp Is a Problem

Dear Traffic Talk:

Please explain the rationale behind the traffic planning in and around the intersection of White Oak Avenue and Burbank Boulevard in Encino.

The timing of the lights on White Oak causes southbound traffic that is attempting to enter the southbound Ventura Freeway to back up across Burbank.

Eastbound Burbank drivers then often block White Oak to force their way into the left-turn lane connecting to the freeway.

Recently, the city installed a “Keep Clear” sign in the middle of White Oak and Burbank.

In a related concern, why is the light at Burbank and Louise Avenue in Encino timed to favor Louise?

Those driving east on Burbank in the morning or west in the afternoon have to wait through three or more cycles of the light at Louise. I have noticed the light cycles within a few seconds of a car reaching Louise. The signal remains green after that street is clear, while the backup on Burbank is a quarter-mile or more during peak periods.

It would seem that the light should cycle only if there is traffic on Louise and then the period for Burbank should be longer. Please explain.

--Mark Boykin

Tarzana

Dear Mark:

Backups at White Oak and Burbank are not caused by signal timing, but by morning rush-hour traffic, said Bill Shao, a transportation engineer with the Los Angeles Transportation Department.

According to Shao, the three traffic signals between Burbank and the Ventura Freeway onramps on White Oak have been synchronized to provide a continuous green light for southbound traffic on White Oak that is trying to enter the southbound 101 onramp. The two freeway onramps’ signals are timed to clear any traffic getting off the freeway, Shao said. This is done to provide storage space for southbound traffic on White Oak, and for eastbound traffic on Burbank trying to turn right and get in the left-turn lane connecting to the freeway.

Yet heavy morning traffic takes up this storage space and when vehicles spill over from the freeway to White Oak, the majority of the three signals’ green time is wasted, Shao said.

The city is working to improve the situation here and at other locations with similar problems, such as near Sepulveda and Ventura boulevards, and Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Burbank, Shao said.

As for the other concern at Burbank and Louise, a little more green time has been given to Burbank, Shao said. There are no detectors on Louise. A fixed amount of time is given to each signal to provide pedestrians time to cross Burbank, he said.

Engineers are studying the intersection and are considering installing a detector button that pedestrians can push when they need to cross Burbank, which would allow Burbank to stay green longer, Shao said.

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