Moorpark Council Boosts Spending for Study on Truck Traffic Safety

The Moorpark City Council has authorized spending more money on a consultant to analyze the safety of truck traffic on California 118.

Moorpark hired Parsons Inc. of Pasadena in June to investigate what it would take to persuade the California Department of Transportation to adopt restrictions on the number of big rigs that barrel down the town’s main thoroughfare, also known as New Los Angeles Avenue. County transportation officials estimate that about 3,700 trucks travel the road daily.

Parsons told the council last month that the state could restrict trucks on California 118, despite its designation as part of the national highway system, provided there are sufficient safety reasons.

The council Wednesday night agreed to spend about $7,000 more, up to $28,100, to have Parsons research accident data on California 118; determine whether any existing hills, curves and dips cause safety concerns as far west as Saticoy; and search for environmentally sensitive areas that could be harmed by truck traffic.

The company will also investigate whether similar applications have been successful and review information on the effect diesel emissions have on areas near schools and children, for possible use in a future application to the state.

Public works Director Kenneth C. Gilbert said the council also wants to review health and attendance records at Flory Elementary School, the school closest to California 118, to determine whether its students have an unusually high number of absences or illnesses.

The city is moving carefully before it goes through the expense of applying for Caltrans restrictions, he said, because such an application could cost several hundred thousand dollars.