New traffic signs in Point Loma are pitting neighbor against neighbor and forcing compromises in quality of life for the sake of safety and peace of mind.
At the behest of several residents living along and near Del Mar Avenue, the Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) voted in November to request that the city install “No Left Turn” signs to improve safety along the street during peak traffic hours.
But now, some residents say the signs are a burden for those who use the street for daily trips around Point Loma.
The signs prohibit left turns from Caãon Street onto Del Mar Avenue from Mondays through Fridays between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
There are also signs restricting left turns between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. from Chatsworth Street onto Del Mar Avenue.
The city installed the signs about a month ago as part of a 6-month trial period.
While the signs seem to be working at keeping Navy employees and Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) students from speeding along the Del Mar Avenue shortcut, critics contend the signage also serves to cut off several residents from using the street for quick jaunts to Stump’s Market, the Hervey/Point Loma Branch Library and Point Loma High.
The new restrictions redirect drivers to stoplight intersections at Catalina Boulevard, costing some residents extra travel time and ” in a period of high gas prices ” money.
“It’s taxation without representation,” said Fran Perry, a Point Loma resident.
Del Mar Avenue residents first suggested the signs around the area in response to speeding drivers who used the street as a shortcut to get around the Point, primarily back and forth to PLNU and Naval Base Point Loma.
Parents picking up children from Silver Gate Elementary and Dana Middle schools also compound the traffic and safety issues, according to supporters of the restrictions.
John Hill, a retired radiologist and 14-year resident, said he counted about 500 cars turning onto Del Mar Avenue during one November morning.
“I just sat out on the corner and watched everything,” he said.
He said the small, two-lane avenue was never meant to accommodate that much traffic. Through his observations, Hill said the majority of drivers were Navy employees. He said he could tell by the Department of Defense stickers on the vehicles.
According to a statement from Naval Base Point Loma, an impending increase of Navy personnel that will follow the closure of Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, was determined to pose “no significant impact” to traffic in the area.
The consolidation of the military installations is expected to bring about 1,100 naval personnel and support staff and potentially 1,500 family members beginning this summer.
Given the natural staggering of work schedules for about 70 different commands on the base, a formal traffic scheduling program would be impractical, according to the statement.
Residents organized and approached the PCPB last year to get the signs posted and any new safety or traffic problems would have to go through a similar process, said Oscar Valdivieso, the acting senior traffic engineer who worked on the project.
He said his office hasn’t received any complaints since the signs were installed. Normally, the city doesn’t follow up on completed projects, he said.
If nobody complains, then it’s considered to be effective, he said.
“Nobody calls to say, ‘Thank you,'” he added.