RED LIGHT FOR SPEEDERS? HIGH-TECH SIGNAL WOULD METE OUT JUSTICE ON BORCHARD.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - A traffic signal that can detect and punish speeders with a red light - and reward those driving within the limit with a green - would help slow cars coming down the new Borchard Road, officials said.

But residents who have been fighting the road extension, which they say is too steep, have their doubts.

The light is part of the city's $563,200 traffic safety plan for the road, approved by a split City Council last week, after several unsuccessful court challenges to compel the developers to regrade the slope.

To be situated at the intersection of Los Vientos Drive, the light would work with detection strips embedded into the pavement to track a car's speed as it comes down Borchard Road, which is to be posted with a 45 mph limit.

City traffic engineering manager John Helliwell explained how the light's computer would understand, ``OK, here comes a car and this one is going 40 mph, so here is a good guy, keep tracking him and when he goes to the bottom give him a green light,'' he said. ``So that car passes through a green light and there is no need to stop if he stayed at 40 mph.''

Helliwell said the light would deter drivers from speeding because they would know, ``It doesn't do good driving faster because you wait at the bottom.

``Of course, driving is a human behavior activity, so some people won't mind driving fast and then coming to a stop.''

Resident Jim Nelson, a vocal opponent of Borchard Road, said he is not convinced the light is a viable solution.

``The only thing they have to control speed is what they call a creative solution,'' said Nelson, who lives in a cul-de-sac near Borchard Road. ``I don't want a creative solution. I want an effective solution.''

The road, with two uphill lanes and one downhill lane, will provide a second access route for the 2,350-home Dos Vientos Ranch.

Other safety measures planned for the road include prohibiting trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds, installing a traffic barrier in the median, installing warning signs, and relandscaping the median to provide better visibility at each intersection.

Traffic lights in the city already can detect cars and act accordingly, but this one, costing $150,000, provides another avenue for traffic controls.

``It's not commonly used in other signals, but it exists in the industry and is used in the industry,'' said city Public Works Director Don Nelson.

The signal also is expected to help reduce accidents caused by drivers who run red lights - the signal would flash red in all directions when it detects a car that may not stop for a yellow light.

Also, the traffic light would rest on red in all directions until activated by approaching traffic.

However, resident Jim Nelson said city officials touted the effectiveness of the system without showing examples of where the signals have been used with success.

Helliwell said the contract to design the light with Katz, Okitsu & Associates of Monterey Park is expected to be signed next week. The firm also will design an electronic lighted crosswalk at Borchard and San Antonio Drive. He said the design of the light may change slightly before the plans are completed.

The road is expected to open in July.