Signs could point to easing traffic in Corona del Mar, plan says

Signs could be saviors for frustrated drivers who sit in traffic on the streets of Corona del Mar.

More than 100 residents of the beach community turned out for a town hall meeting Wednesday evening at Sherman Library & Gardens to hear a panel discussion featuring Newport Beach city staff members, traffic engineers and other experts.

The event was presented by the Corona del Mar Residents Assn. and the Corona del Mar Business Improvement District.

A conceptual traffic management plan presented at the meeting suggests placing several electronic or static signs along MacArthur Boulevard and Newport Coast Drive to show recommended driving routes for certain destinations.

“With the electronic signs, for instance, if you were coming up from Laguna Beach the sign might say [that] to get to the airport area is 12 minutes via Corona del Mar or eight minutes via Newport Coast Drive,” Newport Beach Councilman Ed Selich said.

Some signs would suggest that motorists driving on MacArthur or Newport Coast take San Joaquin Hills Road for some routes.

Selich said he had the preliminary idea for the plan two years ago and that city staff is working to refine it.

“We see an opportunity to simply provide guidance to motorists that may not need to come through Corona del Mar to get to their destination,” Newport Beach traffic engineer Brad Sommers said.

Sommers was joined on the panel by Public Works Director Dave Webb, Councilman Scott Peotter, police Lt. Tom Fischbacher and Transportation Corridor Agencies Chief Executive Michael Kraman.

Several residents used the meeting’s Q&A portion to declare their concerns over the possibility of using San Joaquin Hills Road as a bypass, saying the road already has been a hot spot for car crashes and already has traffic from schools and neighborhoods.

Sommers said the city will look into their comments.

The next step for the plan is to complete traffic studies.

“A lot needs to be done to answer these questions, such as how much traffic will be diverted and what impacts will this have on the other streets,” Selich said. “They’re certainly good questions, and as the proposal is refined, we can adjust it to address those issues.”

Kraman, whose agency operates Orange County’s toll roads, addressed what the studies would look for.

“We want a better understanding of where the traffic is originating,” Kraman said. “What are those travel times? In terms of the city, what messages would be important to sign and what behaviors are we trying to change on how those drivers can save time?”

The meeting concluded with Fischbacher encouraging audience members to demonstrate safe behavior on Coast Highway, such as being conscious of what speed they are driving and watching out for cyclists.

He also noted a common problem.

“I had one officer last week who wrote 40 citations for people who were using their cellphones while driving,” Fischbacher said. “If I could only leave one message tonight, it’s please don’t use a cellphone while driving in the car.”