New task force grapples with safety issues on Hwy. 118
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers LOOKING AT OPTIONS- Local officials discuss safety concerns on Hwy. 118 during a recent meeting at Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy's office. Foy, right and, Mark Lunn, chief of staff, host the first task force meeting which included officials representing Caltrans, the Ventura County Transportation Commission, agricultural and planning interests.

Even as they were on their way to discuss safety concerns about rural Hwy. 118, between Moorpark and Camarillo officials were delayed by an accident that closed the two-lane road. There were no fatalities, but the accident demonstrated something must be done.

In a collaborative attempt to improve matters, local officials and leaders from county and state agencies met yesterday in Simi Valley to discuss potential strategies to resolve existing hazards on the 118.

The highway is used by trucks and vehicles seeking a shortcut to travel east and west in the county. There were 308 collisions, 161 injuries and one fatality on the road in 2006. Eleven people died on that route in 2005. Statistics show that about 40 percent of the accidents are caused by trucks.

"We can't stop the traffic so we have to focus on safety," said Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy who spearheaded the task force effort that will deal with highway concerns.

"It's really going to take a coordinated effort and fortitude and it's ain't gonna be cheap," said Butch Britt, director of transportation for Ventura County. "In my mind the 118 needs to be rebuilt to four lanes to accommodate the traffic," said Britt.

But residents in Somis don't want that- they're afraid it will destroy the rural character of the area, he said, adding the California Department of Transportation also has responsibility for some of the existing predicaments.

The taskforce won't be able to do any overall road improvements because a 2005 lawsuit filed by a group of Somis residents requires an Environmental Impact Report study on the two-lane path before anything can be done. The study could take up to five years to complete.

"Traffic capacity enhancing can't be considered until the EIR is done," said Moorpark Councilmember Keith Millhouse, who serves on the Ventura County Transportation Commission but didn't attend Thursday's meeting. The study could take about four years to acquire the right-of-way to expand the road.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission is trying to get some federal assistance through U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly.

"The lawsuit does hurt a little bit because the EIR is a lengthy process," said Foy, who represents the 4th District. "But we have other opportunities to do other things such as traffic control to mitigate some of these problems."

"I'm in support of correcting the situation. The 118 is a maintenance nightmare for us," said John Peppe, regional manager for Caltrans.

"We want to come up with innovative ideas to reduce death and injuries,' said Mark Lunn, Foy's chief of staff and former local California Highway Patrol chief. "We just want to explore options," he said, adding the task force will not make any decisions yet.

While roadway redesign would help matters in the long run and traffic enforcement is slated to increase, some factors are beyond the control of authorities, he said.

"We know there's a big concern from the residents, but resources are deployed when needed," said Lunn, who witnessed the 2005 crash that killed seven family members at once. But from a law enforcement viewpoint, the collision could not be avoided because the accident was caused by an inattentive driver who wasn't speeding or driving under the influence.

That accident occurred at the intersection of Hitch Boulevard, which doesn't have any signals.

Moorpark officials voted on Wednesday to send a letter to the county board of supervisors, asking them to reconsider realigning Hitch Boulevard to the intersection of Highway 118 and Grimes Canyon Road because a new traffic light was installed there in 2006.

The county rejected that project about 10 years ago but recent tragedies may prompt them to reconsider, Millhouse said.

Last September Moorpark Councilmember Janice Parvin hosted a similar meeting to discuss the highway's hazards and that meeting produced some results.

The CHP just got a new officer who will be dedicated to commercial enforcement in the region, said Capt. Cliff Williams, who is based in Moorpark.

"He will focus his effort on trucks that travel between Moorpark and Somis but could be assigned anywhere in the region," Williams said.

"I'm confident he will make a positive effect on the commercial safety aspect of the 118," Williams said. The fulltime commercial traffic expert will also have the authority to cite cars because he's still a regular officer and he can work wherever Williams assigns him.

"In regards to truck inspections scales, there are a number of concepts but we're a long time away from seeing any kind of permanent truck inspection facility on the 118," Williams said.