Several residents of La Jolla Scenic Drive South went to the La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board meeting this week to talk about something they’re increasingly worried about — driving speeds in their neighborhood.
Dierdre Elliott also spoke of “an enormous amount of traffic” and of road signs obscured by trees.
The problems, she said, are exacerbated by the large amount of pedestrian activity near The Evans School, All Hallows Academy and San Diego French-American School, all of which are in the area of La Jolla Scenic Drive South and Nautilus Street.
The speed limit is 25 mph, but Elliott said she has seen motorists driving by at speeds she estimated at 40-60 mph.
Resident Mony Liquard said the route to San Diego French-American School, which her daughter attends, “feels like a death trap” because of vehicles not stopping. To try to ensure her daughter’s safety, Liquard said, she doesn’t allow her to cross the street without an adult or another student accompanying her.
Another resident said it’s “scary to walk out at night” with cars “screaming down the road.”
Several options were discussed at the May 20 meeting, including speed humps, roundabouts, additional analog signs and, seemingly the most popular, electronic signs displaying vehicle speeds.
Elliott said she is in with the city of San Diego as it evaluates road infrastructure and traffic-calming requests. Because of the city’s budget problems, response times for requests typically are about 165 days, she said.
The addition of a pair of electronic speed signs on La Jolla Scenic Drive South between El Camino del Teatro and Nautilus Street is on the city’s list of approved projects. But so far it appears that project is unfunded.
“This is already in the works,” said T&T Chairman Erik Gantzel. “It’s just a matter of money.”
The idea of self-funding was brought to the table.
“I would actually probably go out to the community and see if you can fund them,” said board member John Bauer. “The city does not have the money, and … you can turn around and say ‘The community is going to pay for it [and] all we need for you is to install.’ That might speed things up.
“If you genuinely want them done and the city says yes, it’ll be added to a list and it may happen someday.”
Board member Ross Rudolph suggested that Elliott reach out to neighbors to cut back trees to make speed limit signs more visible.
Elliott expressed interest in the community fundraising idea and said it would be a great start to addressing neighbors’ concerns.
The city’s budget woes have come up at recent T&T meetings. In March, the board and resident Ray Weiss discussed a pay-it-yourself, or PIY, model of funding “L”-shaped markers painted in residential areas to indicate where cars can or cannot park.
The city Development Services Department and Traffic Engineering Division of the Transportation Department have seemed unenthusiastic about the proposal, Gantzel said. But demand for such projects is high around the coast, said Gantzel, who said he recently saw Pacific Beach residents making marks on the street themselves.
Other T&T news
Red light cameras?: Gantzel said the group is exploring the possibility of new red light cameras in La Jolla, based on the of some residents. Whether it’s feasible is unknown, Gantzel said.
Board member Mike McCormack cast doubt on the idea, saying “The answer is you need to stop at the light until it clears. For the government to go over that is a gross overreach.”
Gantzel said it could become an agenda item due to community interest.
Right turn only: At the beginning of the year, the Traffic & Transportation Board asked for a “right turn only” sign to prevent hasty left-hand turns from southbound Bishops Lane onto Pearl Street.
Bauer announced May 20 that the sign is now installed and described it as “a small step forward for all of us.”
He walks past that area “probably 10 times a day,” he said, and has seen a marked improvement.
“People can only turn right. I’ve only seen four cars turn left,” he said.
Summer concert series: The Kiwanis Club of La Jolla’s annual proposal to bring live music to Scripps Park is headed to the La Jolla Community Planning Association after T&T gave its unanimous .
Concerts by the Sea would require the use of six parking spaces on Coast Boulevard next to the park from 1 to 7 p.m. for events on four consecutive Sundays from July 13 to Aug. 3.
Featured artists are to include Big Time Operator, Abbey Road (a Beatles tribute band), Jimmy’s Buffet (a Jimmy Buffett tribute band) and Full Strength. Concerts are scheduled to take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board next meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Learn more at lajollaa.org. ♦
