Traffic study on council agenda

June Casagrande

The Spyglass area is just one place where the city has

synchronized traffic lights working to make life easier for

motorists.

They just don’t work very well.

In hopes of addressing some traffic problems, the City Council

will tonight consider spending $235,760 to help launch a “traffic

flow optimization project.”

If the councilmen say yes, Meyer, Mohaddes Associates Inc. will be

awarded a contract in that amount to examine traffic flow in some

areas of the city and to recommend improvements.

“There has been a lot of discussion about this for the past year

or so,” Mayor Steve Bromberg said. “I’m pleased that we’re finally

taking a look at it through consulting process. That’s how you get to

where you want to be on something like this.”

Because the item is on the consent calendar, it’s likely that

council members will give it the go-ahead.

For its money, the city would get professional guidance on how to

synchronize all city-controlled traffic signals to minimize the time

motorists spend waiting at signals, which adds to traffic

bottlenecks. The company would fine-tune the timing of signals in

places where it would improve traffic flow. Meyer, Mohaddes would

also assess and advise on all the Caltrans-operated signals in the

city.

In addition, the company will look at other low- and moderate-cost

ways to improve traffic flow. For example, some intersections could

get improved traffic flow from simple changes such as re-striping

lanes.

The project is not likely to have any effect on the

traffic-phasing ordinance currently in place, Bromberg said.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.