Rancho Santa Margarita May Get New Traffic Tools: City Council

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — In Rancho Santa Margarita, traffic issues continue to be a source of citizen complains. At this week's city council meeting, Rancho Santa Margarita elected officials will determine whether or not to use roughly $37,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to finance two radar trailers to combat traffic complaints in the community.

Last summer, the city conducted a traffic study by borrowing a traffic radar trailer from a neighboring city. The study found that while 85 percent of vehicles were driving within the city's speed limits, 25 vehicles were still driving between 100 to 119 miles per hour, the city said in a staff report.

According to the staff report, radar trailers provide a level of traffic intelligence that would help for community traffic analysis, as well as enforcement. At this time, the city does not own a working radar trailer to be used for collecting traffic data and providing enforcement.

The radar trailers, provided by Stalker Radar Applied Concepts, would also be used by the city's Public Works Department to inform residents of city projects and traffic hazards.

"The purchase of two radar trailers would be greatly beneficial for the purpose of conducting traffic studies, efficiently deploy our resources and alleviate speeding, and subsequently, traffic accidents," the staff report said.

The Rancho Santa Margarita City Council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 22112 El Paseo.