Poll: What Street Needs Better Traffic Light Timing?

The began May 2 and continues through 2012. To date, there has been quite a bit of traffic for residents traveling in the area.

While drivers are not formally directed to alternate routes, they may want to consider using Avery Parkway or Oso Parkway to get to and from the freeway, said Laguna Niguel City Manager Tim Casey.

Cabot Road can also serve as an alternate route between La Paz Road and Paseo De Colinas.

The $11-million project, which is scheduled to be completed by fall 2012, is designed to reduce traffic congestion on Crown Valley as it enters I-5 and improve access to the  area—which will soon see residential construction.

The project will add two eastbound lanes between Forbes and the I-5 southbound ramps. It will also add one westbound lane between the I-5 northbound and southbound ramps. This will allow freeway-bound traffic to be separated from the through traffic, officials said. The extra lanes will provide additional space for traffic exiting the I-5 at Crown Valley and heading east.

The city is taking measures to ensure that this project will proceed smoothly, including planning for the reduction in road capacity. Director of Public Works Dave Rogers said that the city expects to have three of the four lanes that lead to I-5 from Crown Valley open during construction earlier this year.

For the first six to nine months of the project, residents will see construction from Cabot Road to east of Forbes Road on Crown Valley as SDG&E buries the overhead utility lines on this part of the road. The work is necessary to allow for the widening and will also improve the appearance and safety of the Gateway area, Rogers said.  

While the city hopes that widening Crown Valley Parkway will significanty improve traffic flow, they aren't stopping there.  The city--along with other cities along Crown Valley Parkway --has also applied for funding from the Measure M2 program to improve traffic signal coordination on Crown Valley from PCH to Antonio Parkway. The purpose of the Measure M2 traffic light synchronization program is to reduce travel times, conserve gas by reducing the time that cars idle at red lights and reduce vehicle emissions.

So, if you are indeed tired of waiting in traffic on Crown Valley Parkway, it could change.

A $459,000 county proposal before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday could reduce traffic congestion between Ladera Ranch and Dana Point if approved. It affects 30 crossings over nine miles of road.

The cooperative agreement between cities and the county would improve traffic signals in Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and every other area Crown Valley runs through.

What does each municipality get out of the deal?

• Dana Point will receive new GPS Time Source units;
• Laguna Niguel will receive new traffic signal controllers, communication equipment upgrades, and software upgrade;
• Caltrans will receive new CCTV cameras, GPS time source unit, traffic signal controller, and communication modules;
• The County and Mission Viejo will receive traffic signal timing optimization services only for their signals.