Janine Marnien
The speed limits on Angeles Crest Highway could be dropping if the
City Council and staff get their way.
The City Council heard the results of a four-month study performed
by the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station at its meeting Tuesday,
which was conducted after the city received several complaints from
residents.
"Angeles Crest Highway has been the second-busiest forest since
the Northridge quake," Capt. Ralph Martin told the council.
"Residents from the Antelope Valley began traveling it as an
alternative to other freeways that collapsed at that time."
Between April and July, there were five accidents on the portion
of highway that runs through La Canada Flintridge, none of which
included injuries.
Deputies issued 154 citations during the same time period, 102 of
which were for unsafe speeds. The speed limit on Angeles Crest
Highway is between 40 and 45 mph, depending on the area.
John Mahoney has lived on the highway for more than 25 years, and
sometimes waits up to five minutes to pull out of his driveway.
"You certainly do hear it, and it's gotten busier over the years,"
he said.
Two letters have been sent to Caltrans, requesting a resurvey of
traffic speeds and the possibility of getting the speed limit
reduced. One is signed by Public Works Director Steve Castellanos,
and the other will be signed by Mayor Dave Spence.
Other options, such as adding traffic lights, a crosswalk or stop
signs are also being considered.
"It's an extremely wide street, but we have little jurisdiction
over it except to enforce," Castellanos said.
A study by Caltrans could take two to three months to complete, he
added.
Other efforts by state Sen. Jack Scott's office to reduce
fatalities and speeding on the highway have been successful, said
Susan McEntire district director.
A double fine zone, formation of a safety corridor task force and
increased funding to the California Highway Patrol were approved in
May of 1999. The bill was inspired after a collision between four
high school seniors and a postal carrier that left one youth
paralyzed, and a three-year period that saw 24 fatalities and 282
injuries on the highway.
