Last time we looked at the issues raised at the three traffic forums attended by a few dozen residents. There were a dozen general concerns (e.g., poor communication, poor planning) and twice as many specific situations mentioned (e.g., congestion, schools, traffic light synchronization).
Here are some thoughts about possible solutions to some of the major general problems brought up at the forums.
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IMPROVING THE POOR COMMUNICATION
This was an oft mentioned topic at all three forums, and one resident even reported a serious problem to the City staff two months ago and still hadn’t heard back. Most of the comments concerned when and where construction would start and stop (so that people could plan alternative routes), but also included general traffic issues. Here are some ideas of ways to improve communication -
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Establish a Traffic Committee to listen to people’s concerns and work with City staff to develop priorities, make plans, and follow-up.
Develop a “Reverse 911” system for the City to use that would include traffic updates for people in areas that are impacted by construction. (We can also use it to alert use when dangerous prisoners escape from Musick Jail)
Use social media to communicate better
Use Patch, Register, and Voice of OC
Have traffic tables at City-sponsored events to hand out information
Traffic hotline with number printed in Leaflet (require written response within two weeks)
More e-mail blasts and more coverage of traffic in City e-mails
DECREASING THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AT SCHOOLS
Several people raised this issue, not only with regard to the current conditions, which are problematic at several schools (e.g., Foothill, Serrano), but more importantly when the 4,000 to 6,000 (or more) new students arrive in the City as a result of the 5,000 new homes, and they will be squeezed into 3 schools - Foothill Ranch Elementary, Serrano Middle, and El Toro HS. People asked – “If traffic is already a problem, how will we cope with these many more students being dropped off and picked up?”
Partner with SVUSD to build new schools. This is unlikely, but a dialogue should be started.
Convince SVUSD to use buses for school children in the new areas and possibly even in all areas of the City.
Better signage and procedures at schools, accompanied by better enforcement.
No right turn signals near pedestrian crossing at schools
Urge non-school related drivers to stay away from schools
IMPROVING THE PLANNING
Despite the staff’s tendency to pat themselves on their collective backs, no one at any of the meetings was greatly impressed with the City’s accomplishments, and most of this disappointment can be traced to poor planning. Indeed, there were several times when poor planning could be directly attributed to traffic problems. There were several ideas about how to improve the overall planning process.
Almost all of the “planning” that goes on is at the staff level or with professional consultants, most of whom don’t live in the City. To be successful, residents need to be involved at the earliest stages. While they don’t have formal education and training, they have the benefit of “feet on the ground” experience. Therefore a Traffic Commission or Committee should be started and they should be involved in the planning process.
More meetings between neighboring cities to communicate and coordinate efforts, not merely on a project basis, but on an overall regional basis. Since many of our neighbors have Traffic Commissions or Committees, a joint meeting with these groups and our own group every quarter would prove productive.
More use of public transportation to reduce overall traffic. This has always been difficult to realize, but worth an effort to see what can be done.
More thinking about the City with regard to the entire City rather than focus on corridors (i.e., the East/West streets – Alton, Bake, Lake Forest, El Toro).
Since we depend so heavily on the “traffic model”, it’s important to validate the model to be sure that it has predictive power. Just because it is a “model” doesn’t mean that it actually works.
SUMMARY
Very few of these ideas will be implemented unless the City establishes the Traffic Committee and let’s them go ahead and sort out the wheat from the chaff. In the “magical thinking” of the Council, three Traffic Forums would solve the traffic problems of the City by merely telling people how good a job has been done and what great things lie ahead for us. Almost none of the few dozen people in attendance came out happier or more content than when they entered, although a few felt better having complained. If the Council sincerely wants to improve traffic conditions in the City, it needs to do what dozens of other Cities have done – establish a Traffic Committee. It can start by inviting all of the people who took the time to attend the forums to apply for a seat on the Committee.
