Synchronization not working for Kanan Road in Oak Park

Synchronization not working for Kanan Road in Oak Park

Please, Oak Park Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC), "just say no" to the Kanan signal synchronization. For the vast majority of Oak Park residents, this system means longer waits at traffic signals.

In fact, you can wait up to 1½ minutes for a signal change to turn onto or off of Kanan. In talking with neighbors, I have heard that some drivers are taking side streets to avoid the signal at Conifer. I have heard that others are very tempted to run a stoplight when there is no traffic in any other direction.

What is the point of the signal change? County engineer Nazir Lalani says it "allows traffic to travel from Conifer to Churchwood without stopping." Does this address the driving needs of most Oak Park residents? I don’t think so. Instead, I think the real benefit is for drivers from North Ranch or Thousand Oaks who want to find a back way to the 101 Freeway.

For us in Oak Park, the signal change is going to mean more cars on Kanan Road going faster. I also think there will be an increased chance of rear end collisions because of increased speed. And, what about our children who have to cross Kanan to get to school? This signal system puts them more at risk.

The old system was very responsive and worked. I want it back. When Nazir Lalani says in The Acorn, "If there were a lot of people not happy with the timing, my experience indicates that there would have been a much larger turnout at the May 24 meeting." Lalani must not understand that there is not heavy attendance at Oak Park MAC meetings. He did get a good turnout against the synchronization.

Another way to measure Oak Park sentiment is to ask Brett Garrett (www.oakparkupdate.com) if he has heard from residents. He told me he has received a lot of negative comments about the signals, and this is from a community that is usually pretty quiet.

The bottom line is that we do not want the new signal system. This is a plea to Oak Park MAC members––Todd Haines, David Chatfield, Ron Stark, Deena Parry and Kent Behringer––please: "just say no."

Janna Orkney

Oak Park