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The pilot program, approved as part of the downtown congestion reduction plan adopted in March, is intended to evaluate whether the extra turn lane feeding traffic onto Mt. Diablo Boulevard can help ease congestion farther south, downstream on Moraga Road.
New road striping guides motorists with an extra turn arrow painted in the middle lane at the lights and additional striping on Mt. Diablo Boulevard facilitates merging after the turn.
Because drivers turning right from the second lane have limited visibility, the pedestrian crossing from Plaza Park to the Bank of America corner of the parking lot opposite has been closed. Orange barricades with fencing and signage have been placed to direct pedestrians to use alternate crosswalks. Overhead pedestrian "walk" lights have been covered and are turned off.
Additionally, signal technology upgrades are being installed at both this junction and at Mt. Diablo Boulevard and First Street that will enable data collection. This technology will include updated signal controllers to run the signal timing plans. The upgrades are the first steps toward implementing another Downtown Congestion Reduction Plan strategy to achieve better signal coordination and traffic management on downtown roads.
Following the 90-day trial period, data gathered will be brought back for council consideration early next year.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA