Caltrans makes sign site official

Robert Chacon

Caltrans has completed the first phase of construction on a site for

its electronic message sign, even though the city wants the sign

somewhere else.

The California Department of Transportation notified La Canada

Flintridge city officials in writing that it will begin construction

of the sign in April, along Angeles Crest Highway on a right-side

median just north of Milmada Drive in a residential area. Soil

samples were recently taken from the site.

“The department is committed to providing the safety improvements

that have been recommended by the [Angeles Crest Highway] Safety Task

Force in a timely manner,” the letter read. “This includes installing

the [changeable message sign] to inform motorists of any incidents”

along the highway.

City Council members were not happy with the news.

“I am extremely disappointed with Caltrans,” Councilman Greg Brown

said. “It is totally inappropriate to place this type of sign in

front of homes.”

The city contends that the best location for the electronic sign

is on the corner of Coral Way and Angeles Crest Highway, away from

homes and in a spot with other Caltrans traffic signs.

Caltrans officials have said that site is not safe because it

distracts drivers at a nearby traffic signal, and has reduced

visibility because its proximity to a Foothill (210) Freeway off-ramp

will not give drivers enough time to read the sign’s messages.

Angeles Crest Highway is state property and the city has no

jurisdiction over its use, but Caltrans and the city had been working

together to find a suitable location. Both groups came up with 13

locations for the sign, none of which was agreeable to both groups.

Caltrans did scale down the size of the sign when the city and

residents complained it was too large. The sign will be 4 feet tall

and 6 feet wide.

The city has not given up on convincing Caltrans to build the sign

at Coral Way.

“We can definitely go to our Assembly and Senate representatives

to put pressure on Caltrans,” Councilman David Spence said. “We’ve

done it in the past with other state agencies and made inroads.”