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We Get Letters…

MM received the following comments about the new straight-ahead arrow on the corner of Wabash and the Boulevard:

Saw it last Saturday, the 18th, when someone waited at the red light in the lane at the limit line. No one was approaching from the South so I honked to let them know it’s legal to make a right turn on a red in California, after coming to a complete stop. They flipped me off and went straight when the light turned green. That’s when I noticed the new straight arrow added to the turn arrow. Not calming if you are trying to go North on Wabash and guy in front is going straight. Oh well, I’ll get used to it.

– Kelly Kieswetter

A few weeks back I was rolling westbound on Mentone Blvd aka SR-38 in my M-1 Tank and General Public observed that CalTrans had added the through arrow. Don’t know if it calmed me down any though, just got me more riled-up at those State guys anyway… they promised us that CalTrans would put in the street lights on the Blvd between Wabash and Crafton and that was over five years ago!

– General Public

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MENTONE GETS ARROW

MM noticed on Monday, July 20 that the former right-turn-only lane at the corner of Wabash and the Boulevard (westbound) now sports a straight-ahead arrow!  Instead of one lane going to three, now two lanes go to three lanes.

Many drivers have been observed going straight in the lane, despite the lack of an arrow. CalTrans had promised to paint the arrow approximately 2 years ago at a MACA meeting, at Mentone’s request.

At the time, Caltrans also stated that it would put a similar arrow eastbound, which would result in drivers cutting in front of other straight-ahead drivers where Circle K is located. “CalTrans had made only one straight-ahead lane for ‘traffic calming,’ ” said Steven Rogers, P.E., in a discussion among  Mentonites. 

Op-Ed

Finally! This writer has spent a few hours on the corner where the arrow is painted now, and observed as many as 19 vehicles, including buses and large RVs, waiting at the light. “Traffic calming,” indeed!

No wonder Boulevard traffic has been so heavy over the years.  We asked for the straight-ahead arrow at least three years ago and were promised that it would be done at least two years ago.

Apparently the pandemic has given CalTrans the time or money or impetus or lack of traffic or whatever it took to get the work done. Thanks, CalTrans! It’s nice to see something we need getting done. 

MM wishes to take a poll: when did you discover the new arrow had been painted? That is, how long ago? Just checking to see how long it took.

MM