Politics & Government

Dangerous Traffic Speeds Near Several Aliso Viejo Schools

Is the speed on Wood Canyon Drive worrisome?

Three elementary schools and a university sit on one of the speediest streets in Aliso Viejo.

Everyday, cars fly down Wood Canyon Drive passing Soka University, Canyon Vista Elementary School, Oak Grove Elementary School and Wood Canyon Elementary School at a speed higher than the posted 50 mph.

At the first General Plan Update workshop, Albert Armijo, director of planning services for Aliso Viejo, said Wood Canyon Drive is one of the candidates for their proposed complete street project. A complete street keeps all users in mind and provides adequate space for walking and biking. It aims to create a safer way to travel the city by foot and pedal and address vehicle management. Creating a complete street involves restriping the road, possibly removing lanes and widening pedestrian walkways.

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During the meeting Armijo said he saw his life flash before his eyes as he conducted research along the road—particularly on the curve adjacent to the future home of .

Turning Wood Canyon Drive into a complete street could help lower the speed of traffic, Armijo said.

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In Aliso Viejo Patch’s current “Worst of” poll, readers were asked to reveal “intersections from hell” in the city. One commenter used the blind turns and impatient drivers along Wood Canyon as an example:

“Worst intersection for Pedestrians­—Sanborn and Wood Canyon. Why? Because Wood Canyon curves and when trying to cross Wood Canyon from the West side of the street to the East side you can't see very far down Wood Canyon. Oak Grove Elementary is on Sanborn and luckily there is a crossing guard there for the kids, but other times of the day you are on your own and it can be concerning when you have kids with you. Then add in the impatient drivers and it's a disaster waiting to happen.”

John Whitman, city engineer for Aliso Viejo, said Wood Canyon used to be a larger threat than it is today.

There would be at least one serious accident on Wood Canyon every six weeks, Whitman said. Wood Canyon Drive was restriped with the little money the city had to work on the road, reducing speeds by about 4 mph. There have been three serious accidents along the street since the lane changes in August 2005.

“That is one of my proudest accomplishments,” Whitman said.

Besides the possibility of turning Wood Canyon into a complete street, Whitman said he can see the city trying to beautify the road in the future.

Are speeds still too dangerous on Wood Canyon Drive? Tell us in the comments.


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