Traffic in Lake Forest - Real Solutions Part 3

Last week we examined the overwhelming negative comments from residents at the recent City forums, the inadequacies in the traffic signal synchronization plans, and the limitations of the intersection tinkering plans.

This week on Monday we looked at the streets closest to the 5 Freeway and we saw how minor changes with minimal expense and disruption could relieve traffic congestion at one of the worst spots in the City. On Tuesday we looked at Raymond Way North, where the Post Office is located, another of the many choke points along El Toro Rd.

Today we look at Raymond Way South

RAYMOND WAY – SOUTH

To the South of El Toro, Raymond Way is the only entry and exit for the hundreds of people living in the 250+ mobile homes. It’s also the only exit and entry for people wanting to use the Library, and it also serves as the main access point for the shopping center that houses Citibank and other shops.

Is it any wonder that if you want to make a left hand turn into Raymond from El Toro, you may have to wait for more than one light. And if you’re trying to go East on El Toro from Rockfield to Muirlands, you’d better avoid the right hand turn lane as you approach Raymond – it can back up for 4 or 5 car lengths.

There isn’t much that can be done about the location of the Library and the shopping center, but a second entry and exit point could easily be built to Cornelius Way at virtually no expense. In fact, it already exists (See the picture). Right now it’s closed off to traffic, forcing thousands of vehicles a day to use Raymond.

SUMMARY

El Toro Rd is only one example of areas of the City that could be altered to improve traffic circulation. At minimal cost and with minimal disruption, traffic flow can be altered to reduce traffic congestion. This is an extremely powerful way to deal with our traffic problems, yet Council and staff denies they exist. In fact, at a recent Council meeting, several staff members and Council members lied when they said that these alternatives did not exist, as we have clearly shown enumerable times in this series.

As long as we have staff who do not live in the City, Council members with limited intelligence and vision, and their Planning Commission stooges, the real solutions to our traffic problems will elude us.

This series illustrates the need for a Traffic Commission that will study these issues in detail, meet with the communities, and plan alternative strategies. Yet for some reason the City Council has refused to create a Traffic Commission, and even refuses to initiate a study of creating a Traffic Commission.

Tomorrow we’ll go beyond El Toro and show how choke points in other parts of the City could be impacted.