Devonshire Gets Priority at This Turn

Dear Traffic Talk:

The signal at Devonshire Street and Canoga Avenue was obviously set to further traffic along Devonshire, but with increased traffic from buildings and more companies along Canoga, the wait at that light has become onerous.

The light will turn green for Canoga traffic only when motorists come to the light. The wait takes longer than two minutes. Can something be done?

Joan Harrow

Chatsworth

Dear Joan:

Following an investigation, engineers determined the green time is adequate for Canoga Avenue motorists because priority is given to Devonshire Street, which has more traffic, said Bill J. Shao, a transportation engineer at the city Department of Transportation.

During peak traffic hours, the wait time for Canoga drivers generally ranges from 30 seconds to two minutes, Shao said. The green time is adequate for Canoga motorists because nearly all of them clear the intersection during the green light, he said. When there is less traffic, the wait is five seconds to one minute, Shao added.

According to Shao, during rush hour on a typical weekday, engineers counted 389 northbound vehicles and 236 southbound ones on Canoga. On Devonshire, engineers counted 1,019 eastbound and 873 westbound.

Dear Traffic Talk:

It’s impossible for pedestrians to cross Victory Boulevard when they are heading north on Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The crosswalk signal has not said “Walk” in months. Pedestrians must cross when “Don’t Walk” is on, dashing past turning vehicles and risking getting hit or a citation for jaywalking.

Richard Rofman

Van Nuys

Dear Richard:

The crosswalk signal does display “Walk,” but only if a pedestrian pushes the signal button, said Shao of the city transportation department.

According to Shao, when a pedestrian pushes the button, the “Walk” signal comes on and alerts him to begin walking. The signal then flashes “Don’t Walk” after an interval long enough for a typical person to cross the street.

The state vehicle code states a pedestrian should not begin crossing the street if the signal is flashing “Don’t Walk.” But if the flashing begins in the middle of crossing, a pedestrian may continue.

Crosswalk signal buttons work similarly to sensors for motorists, Shao said. Only when drivers activate the detectors do they receive enough green time to clear an intersection, he 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.