Driver Gets Green Light on Proposal

Dear Traffic Talk:

When the signal for southbound traffic on Glenoaks Boulevard right before the westbound Ronald Reagan Freeway onramp turns green, why does the very next signal at Glenoaks and Paxton Street turn red?

It is only one block away and it makes no sense to go on a green light and then stop at the red light before I can even get my van into second gear.

Why can’t the two lights turn green simultaneously since they are so close together or turn green a few seconds apart?

Rebecca Cruz

Sylmar

Dear Rebecca:

In response to your suggestion, the starting and ending times of the green lights on Glenoaks at the Ronald Reagan Freeway will be changed to improve traffic flow in both directions, said Brian Gallagher, a transportation engineer at the city Department of Transportation. But the green lights will favor northbound traffic on Glenoaks because the number of vehicles going north is twice that of those heading south during peak hours, he said.

“Southbound traffic will see an improvement, but the improvement will be more noticeable for the north,” Gallagher said. “We’re adjusting the times the green lights are displayed to better match with the traffic that is arriving at the intersection.”

The new signal timing will be in place next week, he said.

Dear Traffic Talk:

The intersection of Fallbrook Avenue and Criswell Street was modified to allow a long right turn lane on Criswell into Fallbrook Mall.

This works great, except the loop detectors were not connected and the signal stops southbound traffic on Fallbrook every 15 seconds, backing Fallbrook traffic up to Vanowen Street.

When will this get fixed?

Dave Fink

West Hills

Dear Dave:

Although it may appear that signal construction at the intersection was completed in early summer, the city is still waiting for a private contractor to finish the work, said Gallagher with the city Department of Transportation.

Work will not resume until Industry-based L.A. Signal Inc. receives money it is owed by a general contractor involved in the project, said Mike Vildosola, a company superintendent.

According to Gallagher, the vehicle sensors on Criswell that minimize the number of red lights on Fallbrook still have to be replaced. Until new detectors are installed, Criswell will continue to get a 10-second green light every 50 seconds, he said. This is necessary so drivers on Criswell don’t get trapped on a red light indefinitely.

With the new sensors, the signal will resume its former timing: Traffic on Fallbrook will get a red light only when a car on Criswell has to be served with a green light.

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