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“The high traffic volume at the Ortega Highway/I-5 Freeway interchange creates downstream congestion at the intersection of Ortega Highway and Del Obispo Street,” Siegel said. Siegel also pointed to the downtown at-grade rail crossing on Del Obispo Street, which interrupts traffic flow and traffic signal coordination any time there is an Amtrak, Metrolink or freight train passing through. “For a community of our size, this is a very high concentration of schools, and with them comes significant traffic during the school year. During summer, winter and spring breaks, the traffic volume is considerably lighter.” Margaret’s Episcopal School Capistrano Valley Christian School Capistrano Union High School Kinoshita Elementary School Marco Forster Middle School Del Obispo Elementary School, Fairmont School and JSerra High School,” Siegel said in an email. “Just off the top of my head, these would include San Juan Elementary School Mission Basilica School OCASA College Prep St. When asked about San Juan’s traffic issues by The Capistrano Dispatch, City Manager Ben Siegel said there are a few unique challenges facing San Juan Capistrano when it comes to downtown traffic-including the numerous public and private schools in the area. The Del Obispo Street corridor near Ortega Highway-a segment derisively nicknamed “Fast Food Alley” by some local residents due to the number of fast-food locations in the area-is another area where traffic tends to build up, particularly on weekday afternoons during the school year, when children leave campus at the end of the school day. The Staffords and other residents sent letters to councilmembers opposing the restaurant before the vote. A potential opening of a new In-N-Out location at the current Marie Callender’s site earned widespread scorn among San Juan residents because of concerns the drive-through restaurant will add to traffic congestion. The local community’s grievances over traffic came into focus earlier this year when the City Council discussed and ultimately approved allowing an In-N-Out Burger location on Del Obispo Street, provided the company meets conditional requirements relating to the site’s design. Since then, the traffic has gotten exponentially worse.” “There was some construction going on, but it really wasn’t that bad. Back then, it wasn’t too bad,” Shane Stafford said. “We moved in July 2013 from Laguna Niguel. Shane Stafford said trying to get their kids to school across town at Mission Basilica School, from their home near the intersection of Ortega Highway and Antonio Parkway, is an “absolute nightmare.” Margaret’s (Episcopal School) is getting out at the same time,” Rebecca Stafford said. “Just trying to get across town from 2:30 to 3:30 (p.m.), it’s just gridlock, trying to get over the freeway. Daily traffic gridlock in San Juan Capistrano is an exasperating ordeal for the Staffords, as it is for many San Juan residents. Instead-like some other local residents-they use a back way to Calle Arroyo if they want to get to other parts of the city from their Mission Springs neighborhood. Photo: Collin BreauxĮven though married couple Rebecca and Shane Stafford live 50 feet from Ortega Highway, they rarely use the corridor to travel throughout San Juan Capistrano. Thank you.įeatured image: Frequent heavy traffic on Ortega Highway causes some nearby San Juan Capistrano residents to take a back route when they want to travel throughout town.
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