ASK MS. TRAFFIC : NORTH-SOUTH STOPS KEEP EAST-WEST TRAFFIC FLOWING.

When I drive along Balboa Boulevard and other northbound and southbound streets throughout the Valley, it's obvious that many of the main thoroughfares seem to favor eastbound and westbound traffic.

Every afternoon while driving on Balboa, I get a red signal at every main intersection, particularly between Sherman Way and the Ronald Reagan Freeway, which increases traffic congestion and needlessly frazzles nerves due to the delay.

Can signal timing on main eastbound and westbound streets be checked?

- P.C., Tarzana

Brian Gallagher, the Los Angeles city Department of Transportation traffic engineer in the signal timing section, said that a study that looked at the 17 signalized intersections between Sherman Way and the freeway during the peak morning and evening hours revealed that northbound and southbound traffic stops only at Roscoe, Nordhoff and Chatsworth streets.

While making 14 green lights out of the 17 signals may not be perfect, resetting the signals so northbound and southbound motorists could make the three remaining signals would triple the total number of stops for other drivers and seriously impede westbound and eastbound traffic, Gallagher said.

Consequently, no changes will be made to the current signal timings to accommodate a nonstop drive between the mentioned streets, Gallagher said.

A huge overgrown row of Willow trees at the corner of Shirley Avenue and Valerio Street in Reseda are a danger to motorists because they block the view of a stop sign.

Can the appropriate city department be notified so the hazardous foliage can be trimmed?

- G.P., Reseda

Martin Fregoso, the West Valley tree surgeon supervisor for the Los Angeles Street Tree Division, said homeowners at the location were asked to trim back the overgrown trees within two weeks or face potential fines.

Can motorists make a left turn from a lane that isn't marked when there is a marked left-turn lane, for example like the situation for southbound Zelzah Avenue motorists at the corner of Zelzah Avenue and Nordhoff Street in Northridge?

The center lane isn't marked and motorists continually make left turns from this center lane alongside those turning in the designated left lane which really causes a slow-down for motorists who would like to travel south from that lane.

If a left turn isn't allowed from this lane, can that center lane be marked ``No Left Turn''?

- S.M., Northridge

Richard Evans, the West Valley Street Maintenance superintendent, said that the lane between designated left- and right-turn only lanes are almost always through lanes with occasional exceptions that allow for left or right turns which are accompanied with painted instructions on the asphalt.

In this case, motorists who are turning from the through lane can be cited by a police officer because they are violating a law.

Because there are no plans for lane markings at this location, an alternative may be to call the LAPD's Valley Traffic Division at [phone]. An officer would be sent to the location to monitor and possibly cite violators on the spot.

A large Jacaranda tree is blocking the view of oncoming traffic for southbound Wilbur Avenue motorists at Harnett Street in Northridge.

Please notify the appropriate city agency to clear this obstruction due to the hazard the tree creates. It would sure make this intersection safer.

- G.K., Northridge

Trees on city-owned property were trimmed and owners of the property that the Jacaranda tree is growing on will be cited and asked to make repairs by April 1, said Martin Fregoso, the West Valley Street Tree surgeon supervisor.

SOURCE: - Compiled by Virginia Gonzalez MEMO: Send questions to Ms. Traffic, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91365-4200. Please include your full name and a daytime telephone number. Be as specific as possible, including names of streets, freeways and intersections.