Street Smart

On Wednesday, August 26, Caltrans activated the meters that allow traffic onto to I-805 north from Telegraph Canyon Road. The stoplights have been in place for some time now, but it was not until this week that they were activated.

I knew about the impending introduction of metering prior to Wednesday because signs had been posted warning all drivers about it. On August 27, I forgot about the meters and left my home at 8:55 a.m. and drove along Telegraph Canyon Road to get on the freeway. Unfortunately, I got stuck in what turned out to be a backup that extended seven-tenths of a mile eastward to the intersection of Paseo del Rey. It took 18 minutes to get on the freeway from that intersection; whereas, on a normal day, without meters, it takes one and-a half to two minutes.

The meters are likely here to stay, so alternate routes should be used to avoid this backup. Olympic Parkway has a metered onramp but it has yet to be activated, so that is probably the best alternative for commuters who live south of Telegraph Canyon Road; H Street, to the north, is the other alternative