Re-Striping of Lake Avenue
We have just been informed of a proposal to re-stripe North Lake Ave from Altadena Dr. to the top at Loma Alta. Speed has always been a problem on this segment of the street, and a traffic calming and speed reduction technique has been proposed. The plan is to reduce the street from four lanes to two lanes, with a two way left turn lane in the center. Chairman Sund has requested as much community input as possible.
Do you believe that reducing the number of lanes on Lake will be effective in reducing speed? Do you think it will be aesthetically damaging? Or do you have other suggestions on reducing speed in this area?
#1 by Bill Griggs on October 23rd, 2009
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With the low traffic density of Lake Avenue north of Altadena Drive, I fail to see why restriping and reducing from 4 to 2 lanes would necessarily reduce the average speed of traffic. Lake’s width is essentially a 6 lane road with two parking lanes today. With only two lanes, drivers would have a good field of vision and would continue their current average speed. Also, most of the residents adjacent to Lake face north and south (e.g. the side roads.) Seems to me that the speed limit with the width and unobstructed view that Lake Avenue offers would be more reasonable posted at 45 mph – which would negate the speeding issue.
#2 by Melise Gerber on October 23rd, 2009
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As someone who lives at the top of Lake, and drives this portion of the road VERY frequently, I agree that something should be done to reduce the speed going down the hill. I don’t know that restriping would have the desired effect however. I liked it when they had the speed monitor posted, as it reminded me to check my speed regularly.
However, I would STRONGLY oppose restriping on the uphill (east) side of the street. The grade going up that hill is quite steep, and many people drive cars that have trouble maintaining speed going up the hill. I don’t like being stuck behind someone whose car can only make 20 miles an hour, and if there was only a single lane available, that is what would happen.
#3 by lillian jones on October 23rd, 2009
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I agree with Mr. Griggs. That portion of Lake has an unreasonable speed limit of 35mph. Frequently, law enforcement sits at the bottom of the hill picking off offenders–an easy target as the grade is 8% with signs warning trucks to use a low gear.
Parking for hikers so that they don’t use the surrounding residental streets seems to me to be more of a problem.
Lillian Jones
#4 by Serge on October 23rd, 2009
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Restriping to remove two lanes will only increase traffic much like the stretch of Hill St. in Pasadena between Washington and Villa. Hill was at one point four lanes. After restriping, traffic increased and is sometimes unbearable not to mention that if there happens to be an accident there is no getting by. I am not in favor of restriping.
#5 by Andy on October 23rd, 2009
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I agree with Melise Gerber in opposing the restriping on the uphill side of the street. I’m one of those people with a clunker that barely makes 20mph with the wind pushing me up the hill helping me. Nobody likes to be stuck behind a slowpoke
#6 by Andrea Edwards on October 23rd, 2009
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I live at the top of Lake (near Farnsworth Park), so I go up and down Lake Avenue quite often.
If we’re trying to impact a speeding problem, restriping doesn’t seem to be the answer. I propose speed bumps or a speed monitor.
I do not support restrping.
#7 by Jim Billups on October 23rd, 2009
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I agree with Serge… Traffic nor speed on Lake is not an issue. If the CHP wants to hand out more tickets that’s fine with me. Please leave lake avenue alone. To bad no one wants to step up and tackle the the real problems facing the community.
#8 by Robert Bowdoin on October 24th, 2009
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Re-striping Lake is a very poor idea. It is time to be realistic about Lake. CHP officer told me the average speed on Lake is 50 mph up and down. It is a wide 4 lane street that can handle a higher speed limit than 35 miles and hour. How many accidents have occurred on Lake in the last 5 to 10 years? Let’s come up with a reasonable speed limit.
#9 by M Rivinus on October 26th, 2009
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I walk that area often with my dogs and I don’t think speeding is the real problem. The problem is the lack of visibility where Lake curves around and becomes Loma Alta. Cars come around that curve and can’t see if someone is trying to cross the road. I don’t see how restriping would help.
#10 by Ashton Rice on October 27th, 2009
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I would prefer to see permanently placed speed monitor and illuminated speed bumps to remind people. I do not think restriping will help. Loma Alta is two lanes (without striping) and people still have problems observing that speed limit. Lave Ave is pretty steep and fewer lanes would probably just foster traffic back-up and especially more problems coming around that Lake/Loma Alta corner. I have a friend who lives near top of Lake and he says the smell of grinding brakes is an issue, too.
#11 by Dick Smoak on October 29th, 2009
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Upper Lake Ave. as a two lane road is a terrible idea! Drivers will be frustrated by the slow vehicle ahead of them and pass in the center (left-turn lane). That is a recipe for a crash. I go up and down that stretch of Lake quite often and have no problems with the way things are now.
It seems to me that someone in the county is looking for places to spend the rest of their budget for this year.
I suggest that they improve the intersection of Loma Alta at Lake as hikers park on the blind corner there. I have almost hit people standing in the street out of sight around corner from Loma Alta.
I agree with other comments above particularly by Serge and Robert.
#12 by barbara mcalpine on November 3rd, 2009
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I agree with all of the comments. Making two lanes would not solve any problems; only create frustatrated drivers going up and down the hill. Vote to have our money put in a more worthwhile problem, like the people who park at the top of the hill. They can be a problem some times.
#13 by Rayshaun McAlpine Sr. on December 17th, 2009
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I believe; if the intersection of Lake and Las Flores were converted to a four way stop, it would slow drivers progression up and down the hill.