Traffic along Yorba Linda Boulevard through the cities of Fullerton, Placentia, Yorba Linda and Anaheim is expected to flow more smoothly after a seven-month traffic signal synchronization project is completed next year.
Yorba Linda is the lead agency on the project because the city has 23 of the 47 traffic signals on the 12-mile stretch of the thoroughfare that runs from State College Boulevard in Fullerton to Oak Canyon Drive in Anaheim.
Councilmembers in Yorba Linda recently approved a nearly $2.4 million contract for the work scheduled to begin this month, with completion anticipated in February. A 15% contingency of $357,119 can be added to the bid for “potential additional services and unforeseen work that may arise during construction,” stated a council report.
Project funding comes from a Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program grant that’s administered by the Orange County Transportation Agency. A 20% local match is required that’s expected to total $461,257. Winning bidder was Irwindale-based Crosstown Electrical & Data, Inc.
Traffic impacts during construction will be minimal and limited to temporary lane closures during approved working hours. Lane closures are typically between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily, reported Tony Wang, city traffic engineering manager.
The project “will implement optimized traffic signal timing and synchronization along the corridor. Work will consist of performing traffic counts at key intersections, updating field equipment, performing signal timing analysis and installing/updating timing plans,” noted Wang in a report to county officials.
Yorba Linda’s portion of the project runs from Van Buren Street to New River Road. Existing closed-circuit television cameras are located at the Yorba Linda Boulevard intersections with Imperial Highway and Lakeview Avenue.
Nine cameras are proposed to be added at the following intersections, from west to east: Valley View Avenue, Richfield Road, Eureka Avenue, Fairmont Boulevard, Village Center Drive, San Antonio Road, Via De La Escuela, Stonehaven Drive and New River Road.
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Yorba Linda’s councilmembers have approved a facility use agreement with the American Red Cross to allow using the Tommy Lasorda Jr. Field House on Casa Loma Avenue for a temporary emergency shelter.
Under the agreement, the Red Cross can conduct emergency shelter operations in the event of a disaster, including storage of supplies, parking of vehicles and service center operations.
The Red Cross doesn’t pay to use the facility as a shelter, but the city can be reimbursed for food services, custodial support and utility expenses incurred from shelter operations.
“This agreement provides a proactive, no-cost preparedness measure for the city, while ensuring adequate coordination and liability protection during emergencies,” Chris Pena, the city’s emergency management coordinator, told the council.
Jim Drummond is a longtime Yorba Linda resident. He gives his opinion on local issues weekly. Send e-mail to jimdrummond@hotmail.com.