Campaign to improve the street and reduce speeding on Lynn Road is nearly complete
The goals, to reduce collisions and fast driving motorists, have led to more motorcycle patrols, more tickets, synchronized traffic lights and devices that reveal vehicle speeds
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Motorists on Lynn Road north of the 101 Freeway may have noticed the latest added efforts- including flashing lights in rearview mirrors- to get their attention and slow them down.

"Our whole goal is to reduce collisions and make traffic safer," said Sgt. Tom Bennett of the Thousand Oaks Police Department traffic division.

Most of the safety improvements slated for Lynn Road, which were approved by the City Council last year, have been completed, according to public works director Mark Watkins.

Radar feedback signs have been installed on both sides of Lynn Road at four locations to let people instantly know how fast they're driving.

"The radar feedback signs are all movable, so when people get used to them and quit paying attention, they can be moved, and that gets people noticing again," Bennett said.

Also, six motorcycle pad areas have been constructed in medians on Lynn Road so traffic enforcement officers can safely wait for speeders to come by.

"Speed enforcement used to be impossible on Lynn Road because of lack of shoulder and such," Bennett explained.

"It was hard to safely enforce the law," Watkins said.

That's no longer the case. Before the police staging areas were built, officers could give out about 25 tickets a month. Now they average about 45 tickets a month, he said.

A study by the University of Toronto showed that a driver who gets a speeding ticket is less likely to be in a collision during the next year, Bennett said.

"Getting a speeding ticket has an impact. It brings reality back," Bennett said.

Traffic signal timing has also been synchronized, Watkins said.

In addition, intersection improvements have been completed at Lotus Avenue, Sidlee Street, Calle Laredo and Camino Manzanas. "Do not block intersection" signs, new striping and warning arrows have been added. Calle Laredo eastbound traffic at Lynn Road can now only turn right.

Pedestrians have new countdown timers for all intersections with signals on Lynn Road between Hillcrest Drive and Wildwood Avenue.

Although Lynn Road is described by the city's municipal code as a truck route, that designation is under review.

Some Lynn Road residents have complained about noise and pollution caused by trucks. Other Thousand Oaks residents have asked the council what streets will be affected if the trucks are routed away from Lynn Road.

A report created by a consultant that compares baseline noise levels on Lynn Road and Moorpark Road to noise standards is expected to come out later this month.

Another improvement the council asked city staff members to address that hasn't been completed is a variance to the city's wall height requirement. Some Lynn Road residents have asked for permission to increase the wall heights on their property next to Lynn Road to help reduce the noise level.

"The community development department is finalizing their review at this time," Watkins said.

As for the new safety measures, it will take awhile before the police department knows how effective they are.

"A typical change takes about six months or a year before we see the traffic calming," Bennett said.

The improvements being completed on the 23 Freeway will also make a difference, he said, since people who've been avoiding the 23 Freeway during construction have been driving on surface streets.

The speed limit on Lynn Road is mostly 45 miles an hour. The northern part of the road is 50 miles an hour. The city has been trying to reduce the speed limit for years, but state law specifies the speed limit of roads to be determined by other factors, including how fast 85 percent of drivers are traveling on a street.