As a member of the Irvine City Council, I am happy to report that Irvine has taken a number of significant actions to reduce traffic congestion and improve traffic flow in the City.

Significantly, Irvine is implementing a new type of traffic signal in 2019 that increases the efficiency of left turns and improves traffic flow.

Watch the video on “Irvine’s Flashing Yellow”:

The Protected-Permissive Left Turn or Flashing Yellow Arrow signal is a new type of display that accommodates left turns at select signalized intersections.

 When approaching an intersection with a flashing yellow arrow, motorists are permitted to turn left while yielding to oncoming traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Flashing yellow arrow signals are opening in January 2019 at these locations: 

• Tesla at Irvine Center Drive.

• Oldfield at Rockfield Boulevard.

• Odyssey at Irvine Center Drive.

• Towngate at Sand Canyon Avenue.

• Florence at Culver Drive. 

The City of Irvine has also taken the following additional actions to improve traffic flow:

• A third travel lane along University Drive in each direction, between Campus Drive and MacArthur Avenue.

• Two new northbound right-turns lanes and a new northbound through lane on Culver Drive at the Culver/University Drive intersection.

• A third eastbound through lane on University Drive and a second northbound right-turn lane on Ridgeline Drive at the University/Ridgeline intersection.

• A fifth northbound through lane on Jamboree Road at the Jamboree/Barranca Parkway intersection.

• A Jamboree Road pedestrian bridge at Michelson Drive.

• A new, third westbound left-turn lane on Alton Parkway at the Alton/Jeffrey Road intersection.

• Widening of eastbound Walnut Avenue to accommodate two left-turn lanes, at the Walnut/Jeffrey Road intersection.

• A new, fourth northbound and southbound through lane on Jeffrey Road at the Jeffrey/Irvine Center Drive intersection.

• A northbound third through lane from Ridgeline Drive to the southbound I-405 on-ramp at University Drive.

Other projects include signal synchronization, sidewalk improvements, signal vehicle and bicycle detection systems, and new cameras and a system that monitors traffic throughout the City.

In addition, staff is exploring an adaptive traffic signal system to monitor traffic conditions and automatically adjust signal timing.

Please note:

I am very concerned about both traffic flow and traffic safety.  Both are legitimate and important resident concerns.

Our Irvine Police and City staff will be monitoring the results of the flashing yellow arrows closely and I will insist on changes in the event that it makes our streets less safe.

Don’t forget to attend my Irvine Traffic Safety Town Hall on Sat., Jan. 26, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Woodbury Community Park.