City to Evaluate Traffic Signal at Leisure World Entrance Following an Accident and Complaints

A major accident in front of Leisure World and complaints from residents have city officials examining the signal timing at the intersection of Golden Rain Road and Seal Beach Boulevard this month.

 Last month, two cars collided at the intersection, seriously injuring two people, including one who suffered traumatic injuries. The intersection is also the site of one of three traffic fatalities in the city since 2008. In recent years, the left-hand turn signal from Golden Rain Road onto Seal Beach Boulevard has vexed Leisure World residents and visitors because only a handful of cars can get through the green light before it turns yellow. Lengthening the time of that green light is something that the city’s traffic engineer is looking at, said city engineer Michael Ho.

 “It only allows a total of five or six vehicles at a time and because there are a lot more vehicles than that trying to get through the light, some have to come to a halt,” said Ho.

 “What happened is that two years ago, Seal Beach received a grant to improve traffic signals along Seal Beach Boulevard,” he said. “Now they are coordinated, and the signals can communicate to each other. But, in doing so, we had to alter some signals’ times.”

 Many residents in Leisure World are hoping the city will decide to lengthen the time of the light.

 “I counted it once, and I think only five cars can come out,” said Leisure World resident Carol Franz. “It needs to be a little longer so the rest of the cars can come out and not have to wait for another light.”

 Sometimes, drivers will gun it to get through the light before it turns from yellow to red, and that is where it becomes a danger.

 Franz said she would like to see the city take it one step further and place a flashing yellow signal along Seal Beach Boulevard at the San Diego Freeway ramps alerting people to slow down for the upcoming signal.

 “A lot of people come off the 405 onto Seal Beach Boulevard, and they don’t know the neighborhood,” she said. “It would be so easy to have a flashing yellow light to let them now what is coming.”