SIGN REMOVAL LETS TRUCKS BYPASS SCALES.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The city's decision to remove a sign restricting truck traffic on Avenue Stanford in the Valencia Industrial Center has created a route for big-rig drivers to bypass the busiest one-way truck inspection station in the state.

The sign, restricting trucks weighing more than 7 tons, was removed Jan. 3 after truck drivers approached the city in November asking about evidence or data it had in support of posting the sign.

Now truckers can use Stanford to enter the freeway at state Highway 126, north of the inspection station.

According to state engineering guidelines, a study or data must show why a sign or traffic signal is needed in a particular area before it can be installed, city officials said. The county posted the sign before the city incorporated so truckers wouldn't bypass the station.

``The city did not have the data to justify the sign being there,'' said Jason Smisko, a city spokesman. ``We didn't have the studies to show we need to have the sign in this location.''

But California Highway Patrol officials are contesting the city's move, claiming the removal of the sign could create unsafe driving conditions on the Golden State Freeway by allowing potentially dangerous rigs to bypass the inspection stop.

``It obviously curtails our activity as far as enforcing commercial vehicles to bypass,'' said Officer Doug Sweeney, CHP spokesman. ``We need the city to react immediately, and we aren't getting a whole lot of cooperation from the city. We don't want commercial vehicles to bypass the scale. It's simply for a safety factor.''

Sgt. Dwight McDonald of the CHP's commercial vehicle enforcement division said about 15,000 trucks drive through the weigh station each month, and several thousands of them are issued citations.

``When the trucks have an accident, they have a big one,'' McDonald said. ``We are out there to prevent something happening. Once the signs are gone, it's out of our hands.''

Not only does the weigh station protect other motorists from big rigs with faulty brakes, overweight loads and unsafe vehicles or drivers, but it generates revenue for the city.

City officials point out that the industrial center was built to accept trucks and truck traffic, and the city can't deny them access, Smisko said. But the city plans to work with the CHP and Caltrans to survey the area. A recommendation will then be made to the City Council.

``What the county did was irrelevant,'' Smisko said. ``We prefer to be consistent within the state engineering manuals.''

CAPTION(S):

photo, map

Photo:

A truck uses Avenue Stanford instead of the Golden State Freeway. Big rigs may now skirt a state inspection station by using the Avenue Stanford route in the Valencia Industrial Center.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

Map:

Segment of Ave. Stanford used by truckers

CHP Castaic Truck Inspection Facility