I used to work for a traffic information provider company in Minneapolis for a couple years and later transferred the job to LA. My job required me to input data from our traffic sources (i.e. police, fire, highway patrol and emergency scanners, traffic software data, cameras, radio stations, traffic congestion flow maps) and enter it into our system so that our customers and clients (local TV and/or radio stations) could receive and provide information to their customers. It was a great move because I was able to figure out my way around SoCal a lot quicker!
There is a lifesaver when driving about LA: the best thing for you to do to stay on top of the traffic is to download the SigAlert App.
By definition, a “SigAlert” is when more than one lane will be blocked for more than 30 minutes due to an unplanned event (i.e. accident, debris, fire). The SigAlert App also shows you the traffic congestion time on the freeway by color – red (jammed), orange (moderately jammed), yellow (slow) and green (clear). It shows the traffic via the California Highway Patrol traffic cameras depending on the roadway. We weren’t allowed to use this feature when I worked for my company (it was our competition) but in my opinion, SigAlert is the most accurate app when dealing with the traffic. I swear by it every time before I drive a freeway!
I also devised some answers to possibly the most common questions asked when driving around LA just from my experiences living here and my days as a traffic editor/producer (note: these are my personal opinions):
What is the worst merge in LA?
The 101 SB (Hollywood Freeway) to the 110 SB (heading downtown). After merging onto the on ramp, you immediately have to get over 3 lanes to stay on the 110 SB, otherwise you will be stuck getting off at Wilshire/6th St or 4th St or 3rd St (seen in the picture above). You are also dealing with merging traffic from people already heading south on the 110.
Wait, why do Californians say “the” before freeways? Why not Interstate such and such?
According to an article from KCET, “the answer begins with the region’s early embrace of the freeway. Long before the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956 gave most U.S. cities their first freeways, Los Angeles had built several. These weren’t simply extensions of federal interstate highways through the city; they were local routes, engineered to carry local traffic and (partly) paid for by local funds. It only made sense that, as they opened one by one, they’d get local names, ones that succinctly denoted their route or destination. The freeway through the Cahuenga Pass thus became the Cahuenga Pass Freeway, and Angelenos knew the freeway to San Bernardino as the San Bernardino Freeway.”
Is there a way going towards/away the valley from the 405 NB/SB?
Yes, there is hope…kind of. You can try Sepulveda Blvd, it runs parallel to the 405. I used to work at CBS LA as a fill-in traffic producer in the morning and would take Sepulveda back down towards my home. It’s really a hit or miss because sometimes traffic will be jammed there too just like the freeway.
I want to go to San Diego this weekend. Which freeway should I take?
Honestly? I’d rather take the 405 SB than the 5 SB coming from LA. The 405 SB will eventually run into the 5 SB but amazingly I have found that traffic past the airport is very light compared to the 5 from to Commerce to Anaheim (or try 605 SB to 405 SB to 5 SB depending on where you live).
The PCH is closed south going towards Santa Monica, I already drove half of it and I am in Malibu. I really need to get there, what do I do?
Take Kanan Dune Rd (above) or Westlake Blvd to the 101 SB, then the 405 SB to the 10 WB. That’s your last hope. Also, Westlake Blvd is very curvy as it leads to some of the hot wine spots in Malibu.
I want to go to Santa Barbara this weekend. What time should I leave?
I now live up this way in Ventura County and I cannot stress enough to leave early. The 101 (Ventura Freeway) usually gets jammed NB from about Thousand Oaks all the way through Ventura around 9 or 10 am. Then once you hit Carpinteria (first city in Santa Barbara County), it can be jammed all the way to the City of Santa Barbara. The earlier you can leave, the better.
The 101 NB/SB (Ventura Freeway) is jammed in the valley. I don’t like this and want to go faster. What back road can I take?
Ventura Blvd, but good luck, you have a 50/50 chance of this also being jammed up.
I’m visiting a friend in LA and I live north of the valley. What time should I leave to go home?
Leave between 8-9 p.m but always check SigAlert first!
What is the worst day for traffic?
Uh everyday? When I worked at the traffic center and analyzed the data, I always found that Thursday and Friday afternoons are the worst. For the morning commute, I found Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s to be the worst.
What are some good roads to take to Downtown LA from Hollywood?
Try Olympic Blvd, Pico Blvd or Venice Blvd. This is something to check with Google Maps though, as they are accurate with traffic on side streets.
What if I want to go to OC?
I still try to avoid the 5 like the plague before Anaheim. It really depends on where you’re coming from. Want Disneyland? 605 SB to the 91 EB to the 5 SB. Newport Beach or Huntington Beach? 405 SB to Beach Blvd (then take the PCH depending on which direction you want to go) or to the 55 or Jamboree Rd (going to Newport).
Any other secret routes you know about to avoid traffic?
Actually there is one my friend Nicole taught me! She used to live in Culver City and would take Jefferson Blvd to Hauser Blvd to go to Hollywood in no time.
I also know more traffic tips for getting around Santa Barbara if anyone is interested. You can contact me here if you want the details.
Safe travels! 🙂
