Imperial Valley press., 1928-07-14
VENTURA TRAFFIC
SURVEY REVEALS
VALUABLE DATA

With every silablc town Of South
( crn California confronted with
traffic problem that is constantly
growing more acute, recent traffic
survey made in the city Of Ventura
by the engineering department Of
the Automobile Club Of Southern
California is arousing wide interest.
The report is voluminous in detail,
and while it is based upon condi-
tions found in Ventura. the problem
Of this city does not differ funda
mentally from the situation con
fronting til" averag" American
city. The condition found is a high
traffic density upon the principal
streets, confusion in the movement
Of vehicles and mounting accident
toll
An outstanding result of traffic
congestion has been a shifting Of
business centcrs, diminished returns
from an established business ruthless
destruction Of residential property
and the setting up of false values in
zeal property in general, says the
report.
Ventura s problem, it is found, in
so far as congestion is concerned,
is the outgrowth of the concentra-
tion Of all classes of traffic upon
the main street OF the city. While
every city may not find its chief
trouble from this cause, it is tru"
that many Of the towns in Califor
MIA and elsewhere have brought
about this condition through the an
Xiety to route all through traffic
. through the main street in the be
lief that the city 5 volume Of busi-
ness would he increased through such
action. The result has been, however,
to congest the single through street
to such an extent that local resi-
dents have been hampcred in their
movements and the growing congest-
ion has had a reactionary effect
Survey Is Accurate
The traffic survey made in Ven
tura Was conducted by local high
school boys for Is hours, starting at
& a. m. and ending at 6 pm. All
cars were stopped and information
obtained as to the origin and des-
tination of each individual car, the
class of vehicles and the numbrr of
occupants, and whether or not 4
stop was to be made or had been
made in Ventura, and if so, the pur-
pose Of such a stop.
During the Is hours the check was
made, 1858 motor vehicles carry
ing 2S,5T people entered and left
the city. Vehicles entering number
cd 1866 and those leaving number
ed 1917.
OF the total, 1858 entering and
leaving, there were 12,402 or 79.1
per cent originated in Ventura
county, and 328l or 2O.9 per cent
originated outside of the county.
There were 1911 per cent entering
the city that gave the city of Ven
tura as their destination. Only 305
vehicles or SO per cent gave some
other point in Ventura county as
their destination, and 1893 or l6.
Per cent were destined to points out
side of the county.
OF the 1866 vehicles entering the
city, 1916 or 1913 per cent were as
sumed to constitute the through
travel. OF this through travel 294
vehicles or 1914 per cent originated
in. Ventura county and 1922 or sos
percent originated outside the coun-
ty.
OF the 1916 through vehicles 902
or 80 per cent stated that they did
not intend to stop in Ventura. There
were 555 or 1868 per cent stated
that they did intend to stop, and
80 per cent declined to answer.
Mostly Local Cars
IN summing up the situation, the
report shows that the traffic using
the through streets of Ventura is
made up of local and out-of county
ears in the approximate ratio Of
four local cars to one out of county
ear.
Of the G267 vehicles entering the
city destined for Ventura are found
the potential patrons of Ventura 5
business establishments, and it
appear that the best interests of
the city would be served if this
class be accorded a maximum Of
freedom consistent with proper re
gard for safety in the operation and
parking Of their automobiles along
and upon the business thorough
fares.
The nou-purchasing travel enter
ing the city is assumed to be the
occupants of the 902 vehicles des-
tined to points beyond Ventura
stating that they did not intend to
ston in Ventura. AS this nonWlfrhas-
inc travel is substantial contrihu-
tion to the hazard and congestion
upon the principal business streets,
it would appear to be in the fnSt
interests. of the city to provide by
pass streets for this class.
Friday The 18th