Flooding and Traffic Issues Come Before the Planning Group

Flooding in Ramona, speeding on Haverford Road, changes in NCTD service and bicyclist safety were among the issues discussed at the March 3rd meeting of Ramona Community Planning Group. The advisory panel now meets in the community room at the new Ramona Library.      

Joelle Mohr, of Haverford Road, brought the speeding issue to the group’s attention last month. Since then, the county has conducted a study that showed the volume of traffic is approximately 700 cars traveling daily in each direction on Haverford Road. Carl Hickman said the study also showed there have been three collisions in six years on Haverford Road.

“That’s not really what the county would consider a significant collision history,” Hickman said.

The intersection at Haverford Road and Elm Street also has not shown any significant numbers, Hickman said, with only one collision in the past six years.

Hickman said being in an agricultural area, the speed limit on Haverford Road is 45 mph, but since it is not posted, the speed limit is 55 mph. Hickman said that of 100 cars studied in the survey by the county, the top speed was 45 to 50 miles per hour.                      

Mohr brought up the fact that the county study was done in the daytime and the majority of the speeding cars are in the evening.

“Most of the speeding goes from dusk to dawn,” she said. “I invite anyone to come sit in my bedroom or living room; it’s really loud. Our neighborhood has adjusted to the speed.”

The group voted to send a letter to the county requesting speed limit signs of 45 mph be posted on Haverford Road and that street lighting be added to the intersection with Elm Street.

Planning group member Chad Anderson also suggested to Mohr that she consider placing homemade speed-limit signs along Haverford Road.

Dennis Sprong, chairman of the Trails & Transportation subcommittee, reported on upcoming changes in public transportation proposed for Ramona. There will be a public hearing by the North County Transit District on April 21 in Oceanside., beginning at 2 p.m. at 810 Mission Ave. If there is enough interest, NCTD has offered to host a meeting in Ramona to explain the proposed changes. Local resident LaVonna Connelly has asked residents to contact her online at lavonna@cconnelly.com if they would like to see a meeting scheduled in Ramona.

There also was discussion on having an all-way stop sign at Ramona Street and Hanson Lane. Traffic congestion has been reported here at the beginning and end of the school day, with four schools in the area using the two streets. The planning group will send a letter to the Ramona Unified School District requesting the schools stagger their beginning and ending times by at least an additional 15 minutes in an effort to alleviate the traffic problems. The planning group will send a letter to the county stating its opposition to an all-way stop sign.

The group also talked about the obstructions blocking the extension of Ramona Street from Boundary Street to Dye Road. Some of the obstructions are caused by fences and driveways on private property, including at least one fence that has been there 30 years, according to member Scotty Ensign. There was some question as to whether or not the county has an easement for the extension; not everyone agreed.

“It’s on record,” member Chris Anderson said. “It’s absolutely clear they have the easement.”

On another matter, Jim Piva, president of the planning group, said some of the members will meet as early as next week with county Supervisor Dianne Jacob regarding the flood control issues in Ramona. He asked some the residents who live in the affected areas to attend the meeting. After a plan is determined for dealing with the areas that typically flood during heavy storms, a public workshop will be scheduled in Ramona. Affected areas include the playing fields at Ramona Community Park and the residential areas on Kelly Street.

There also will be a public workshop scheduled to evaluate the current design of the intersection at state Route 67 with Highland Valley and Dye roads.

The planning group discussed the safety of bicyclists on state Route 78 from Ramona to Escondido and also from Ramona to Ocotillo Wells. Also included was bicycle safety along Old Julian Highway and on Highland Valley Road. The matter will be discussed with bicycling clubs to determine what needs to be done and the issue will be brought back to the planning group.

The group will send a letter of support for the mural project in the planning stages for Ramona businesses. Paintings of historical interest are planned for the outside of buildings, such as the empty wall on the Ramona Food & Clothes Closet building at 773 Main St. The suggestion there is to have a painting of the old Kenilworth Inn which was located at that location from 1887 until 1943 when it was destroyed by fire.

The mural project is a five-year project, with plans for five paintings a year. The letter of support will be sent to Ramona Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Committee.