Concerning the outrage arising from the experimental closure of Civic Center Way, I would like to make the following observations:
1. The photo which ran in The Malibu Times of traffic backed up on PCH blamed the Civic Center road closure for this particular jam. As anyone who has lived in Malibu for more than two Augusts will tell you, traffic is routinely that bad on the weekends coming from the west end of Malibu into the city. Traffic going toward Malibu Canyon from the east end of the city was backed up throughout most weekends (as usual), but the right turn lane (which is indicative of additional traffic on PCH caused by the road closure) was rarely backed up at all.
2. Residents should be made aware of the city’s intention to give people a “free right turn” onto Malibu Canyon from PCH, which should eliminate any problems for that traffic flow. If the city has plans to increase traffic flow from Malibu Canyon onto PCH (additional time on the traffic lights for left turns onto PCH, for example), they should make us aware of these pending changes.
3. Residents should be aware that the alternative to the road closure is a four-way stoplight where the road closure is now. When the “total travel time” for such a stop is factored in, it is likely that the “overall drive time” for most motorists will be similar or even greater than that of the current re-routing, particularly when future improvements like the above-mentioned “free right” are implemented. I would suggest that the city conduct “time tests” on various days to show residents the actual overall travel time of various routes, given changes such as the current road closure and possible future changes such as traffic lights and free rights, etc.
4. The most important thing residents should consider since the road closure is the obvious reduction of traffic along Cross Creek and Webb Way. For too long, the “locals shortcut” (then ‘not so locals’ shortcut) was as follows:
“If you’re trying to get to Malibu Canyon Road from mid-Malibu, here’s what you do-when you come over the Cross Creek bridge, you can skip some PCH traffic if you crank a hard right onto Cross Creek (or better yet, into the shopping center!) and speed past Starbucks, (watch out for those pesky pedestrians crossing by the movie theater), then haul ass along Cross Creek Road, squealing past Taverna Tony’s and flying toward the four-way stop at Webb Way and Civic Center. Hit the gas at the four-way stop and fly along the ‘frontage’ road past a couple of residential neighborhoods and two elementary schools (what are these KIDS doing here?!) and then WHAM-you’re flying right onto Malibu Canyon and “valley-bound” free and clear.”
For those of you who think this is a joke, how many times have you been unable to pull out of Cross Creek shopping area or nearly been run over by speeding cars by the movie theater. Cross Creek has enough traffic problems without being used as a shortcut by people anxious to speed toward a waiting freeway.
5. Many Malibu residents are arguing that limiting traffic on a road that could be used to reduce traffic on PCH is reason enough to keep Civic Center Way open. “Any road that can reduce PCH traffic should absolutely be used for that purpose,” is a refrain we’re hearing again and again. Oh really? Then I assume we’ll be increasing the speed limit on the old Malibu Road and making it much easier for drivers to access PCH at the end of the road and opening the pesky access way that prevents PCH traffic from making use of that residential shortcut as well. Maybe someone should start a Web site: increasetrafficonMalibuRoad.com.
William Bindley