Drivers Turned Off by Backups at Santa Clara Turnoff

Dear Street Smart:

I would like to focus your attention on the intersection of California 118 and Santa Clara Avenue.

The main problem at this stoplight-controlled intersection is that there is no left-turn arrow for cars traveling northbound from Oxnard that turn left onto the 118. Instead they must wait for oncoming traffic to clear. Doing so halts all northbound traffic.

These turning cars often must wait for several light cycles before they can get through. This causes a significant backup of cars. Frustrated motorists who attempt to pass on the right create a hazardous situation.

The problem could be solved by giving oncoming traffic a longer red light, allowing left-turning traffic some time to get through. This would improve traffic flow and minimize hazards.

Another possibility would be to also include a left-turn lane, although the space limitation is a concern.

Thank you for your concern in making Ventura County a safe place to drive, and for your attention to this matter.

S. P. Wan

Somis

Dear Reader:

Ah! Santa Clara Avenue at California 118, the Achilles’ heel of Ventura County crossroads.

Time and again, frustrated motorists contact Caltrans, the county and Street Smart, seeking relief from this irksome intersection.

Sadly, the response remains the same.

As you noted, the road is too narrow to add a left-turn-only lane. As for changing the stoplight to give left-turning cars the right of way, it just won’t work, says Caltrans traffic engineer Luu Nguyen.

“We studied that option,” Nguyen says. “If we did that, we’d have backups even worse than we have now.”

The only solution, Nguyen says, is to find the $254,000 needed to widen the roadway. Don’t expect that to happen soon.

“There are too many other projects already waiting for funding,” he says. “This one is pretty low on the list.”

*

Dear Street Smart:

There is a problem with turn arrows in the two-way left-turn lane in the middle of Hemlock Street in Oxnard.

The turn arrows between Masthead and Seaside drives are positioned in such a way that someone traveling west on Hemlock and turning left onto Seaside would block anyone traveling east on Hemlock turning left onto Masthead.

This could cause an accident if someone unfamiliar with the area were to follow the arrows as they are located.

These arrows should be changed to avoid any hazards.

Fred E. Donner

Oxnard

Dear Reader:

Actually, it may be your driving habits that need some adjustment, says traffic engineer Joe Genovese.

According to him, the arrows on Hemlock comply with state regulations.

State law also says it is illegal for drivers to travel more than 200 feet in a two-way left-turn lane before turning.

If drivers comply with this rule, they will not cross paths in the center lane, Genovese says.

*

Dear Street Smart:

Approximately one year ago, Wood Ranch Parkway in Simi Valley was repaved.

Before the repaving, when exiting the parkway onto Madera Road, the signal would only change if a vehicle needed to turn left onto Madera.

But now the signal is tripped even if a car turns right onto Madera. If you are on Madera waiting to turn left onto the parkway, it can be very frustrating. On many occasions there are no cars waiting to exit the parkway, and yet the light will turn red.

Can the signal be reset the way it was before?

Help would be appreciated.

David Mosesson

Simi Valley

Dear Reader:

You have encountered what is known as the “phantom car problem.”

What happens is the electronic brain in the stoplight malfunctions, perceiving the presence of a car when nothing is there, says traffic engineer Bill Golubics.

This causes the signal to turn red, forcing cross traffic to sit and wait for cars that don’t exist.

Now that the city knows about the problem, they will fix it, Golubics says.