Business traffic trumps better traffic flow
I found Talbert Kanigher's Community Commentary about Burbank's
traffic congestion very enlightening ("Something has to be done to
relax traffic," May 14-15). According to him, a lot of our traffic
problems are being caused by non-Burbank residents coming into our
city to shop.
That's definitely part of the problem, to be sure. However, I
respectfully disagree with his solution, which is to carpool.
Sorry, but people in Los Angeles are never going to give up their
cars, even once a week for carpool purposes. It won't happen, and
what's more, for the exorbitant amounts of money that we pay for car
registration and insurance here, we deserve better.
I can tell you right now why everyone is stuck in traffic here:
poor traffic control. I remember when stoplights were synchronized
and one could go north/south as well as east/west and catch mainly
green lights if you traveled the speed limit. Nowadays, going the
posted speed limit rewards you with hitting one red light after
another. Anyone notice how much longer it takes to cross Chandler
Boulevard from Hollywood Way or Buena Vista? With the "new, improved"
stoplights, you wait for an eternity.
Every major intersection in Burbank is becoming like the old "Five
Points intersection," where traffic is continually snarled. People
are becoming increasingly impatient and speeding to make up for lost
time. And when they're stopped at these endless lights, they're
multi-tasking in their cars. Our stoplights give them plenty of time
to make phone calls, put on makeup and balance their checkbooks. I've
even witnessed several drivers actually fall asleep at them.
If Burbank were really serious about solving the traffic problem
here, it would be fixed. Instead, we keep luring new businesses into
the area with favorable terms (for them) and incentives while the
rest of us have to suffer the consequences.
No, I really don't think the Burbank city government really cares
about our traffic problems. All these new shoppers are adding to the
city coffers. End of story.
WILL RAY
Burbank
