Traffic Plan Weighed for Beachmont Street

The Ventura City Council will consider a plan Monday to reduce traffic on Beachmont Street near the Ventura Harbor.

Residents on Beachmont have complained for years about cars, trucks and boat trailers whizzing through their neighborhood.

The council has taken steps in the past to ease traffic by posting signs and putting restrictions on commercial truckloads, but officials say those efforts have not been completely successful.

Residents are now asking the city to close the eastbound lane of Beachmont at the Arundell Barranca Bridge. The westbound lane would remain open.

According to a city report, the proposal would “substantially reduce high traffic volumes and speeding.” But it would also restrict access to the harbor.

City staff members have suggested that rather than immediately adopt that plan, the council should consider less severe steps such as posting additional speed limit signs.

The staff report to the council also recommends encouraging harbor merchants, mobile-home park tenants and condominium owners to refrain from using Beachmont.

The goal would be to reduce traffic on Beachmont and Seaview Avenue to fewer than 800 trips a day. The half-street closure proposal would be tabled until the results of the city staff plan are implemented and measured.

The issue will be discussed during a hearing Monday night at City Hall, 501 Poli St. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.