20 (32)
Susana Barrios
From:Danielle Gorsha <daniellegorsha@yahoo.com>
Sent:Monday, June 22, 2026 6:56 PM
To:Public Comment; Ashleigh Aitken; Carlos A. Leon; Ryan Balius; Natalie Rubalcava;
Norma C. Kurtz; Kristen Maahs; Natalie Meeks
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Anaheim Hills Traffic Gridlock: Potential Solutions and Concerns
Attachments:Friday traffic-Anaheim-Hills.png; Saturday traffic-anaheim-hills.png
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Dear Council and Traffic Department,
I'm a 26-year Anaheim Hills resident and small business owner. My team and I drive throughout Anaheim for
my rental business, and in fact, we have driven 88,028 miles throughout the city from 2023 to the present. We
spend most of our time within six miles of Disneyland, servicing the millions of tourists staying in hotels and
Airbnbs, but we drive throughout the city daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. Suffice it to say, I know the streets and
traffic patterns of Anaheim.
I'm always impressed with the traffic flow throughout the resort area. I also notice that police teams direct traffic
during large conventions at the Convention Center as well as events at the Honda Center, Angel Stadium and
busy days at the Disneyland parking structures. I rarely experience long traffic delays, even during the busiest
times.
The same cannot be said for Anaheim Hills. There is gridlock seven days a week on Imperial, Weir Canyon,
Serrano, and Nohl Ranch. My freeway exit is Imperial Highway, but Google Maps almost always recommends I
exit at either Lakeview or Lincoln/Nohl Ranch. When I do exit at Imperial, I can rarely get over into one of the
two left-turn lanes onto Santa Ana Canyon. Trips to Costco, Target and nearby restaurants are not considered
between 4 and 7pm. The congestion is no longer limited to Fridays at 5 p.m. The gridlock now occurs every
day starting around noon. The freeway intersections are a mess, and road rage is becoming increasingly
common.
It is no wonder the Council receives so much pushback from residents when evaluating new
developments that will add thousands of additional vehicle trips to the area.
We all know that congestion on the 91 freeway and the associated cut-through traffic are the major issues.
This traffic is not only overcrowding our streets, but it is also creating significant wear and tear on local roads.
In addition, very few of these commuters contribute to our local economy by stopping at our stores or
restaurants.
I asked AI to identify solutions that other cities and countries have used to address similar problems, and the
list is below. I would like to know whether any of these strategies are being considered for East Anaheim.
From AI
Insight:
Anaheim Hills is particularly vulnerable because congestion on the 91 freeway pushes commuters into local
neighborhoods, creating exactly the type of "rat-running" or cut-through traffic problem that transportation
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planners study. The issue is well documented, and many cities have addressed it through targeted
neighborhood traffic programs.
Below are some of the most relevant solutions used by cities, including several that could realistically apply to
Anaheim Hills.
1. Charging Drivers to Enter Certain Areas (Congestion Pricing)
Cities install cameras or electronic toll points and charge drivers during peak hours.
Examples:
Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden, charge vehicles entering the city center during busy hours.
Traffic volumes dropped by approximately 10% during charged periods after implementation.
Singapore, London, and parts of Chile also use electronic tolling systems to reduce congestion.
How this could apply to Anaheim Hills:
Charge vehicles entering specific neighborhood zones
Only charge during peak hours (for example, 3–7 p.m.)
Exempt local residents through license plate registration
This concept is sometimes called a "Low Traffic Zone" or congestion zone.
2. Restricting Turns During Rush Hour
This approach is already used in many U.S. cities.
Examples:
No left turns from 3–7 p.m.
No through traffic except for residents
Right-turn-only intersections
These restrictions can reduce the ability of commuters to shortcut through neighborhoods.
3. "Local Traffic Only" Streets With Camera Enforcement
Some cities use license-plate cameras to create local traffic zones.
These systems:
Allow residents, deliveries, and emergency vehicles
Automatically fine vehicles using streets as shortcuts
Reduce through traffic while maintaining neighborhood access
4. Physical Barriers That Prevent Cut-Through Routes
Examples include:
Diagonal diverters
Partial street closures
Median barriers
Dead-end conversions
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Cities such as Berkeley, California, have implemented these measures specifically to reduce cut-through
traffic.
5. Traffic Calming Measures
Examples include:
Speed humps
Mini traffic circles
Narrowed lanes
Raised crosswalks
Curb extensions
These measures do not block vehicles but make neighborhood streets less attractive as commuter routes.
6. License-Plate Driving Restrictions
Some cities restrict vehicle access based on license plate numbers to reduce traffic and pollution.
While more extreme, similar concepts have been used during major events and periods of high congestion.
7. Smart Navigation Blocking
Some cities now work directly with Google Maps and Waze to discourage routing through neighborhoods.
Strategies include:
Changing street classifications
Adding turn restrictions
Creating traffic patterns that make routing algorithms avoid residential streets
Realistic Solutions for Anaheim Hills
High-impact ideas:
Rush-hour turn restrictions
Local-traffic-only zones with camera enforcement
Street diverters that break cut-through routes
Medium-impact ideas:
Traffic calming measures
One-way street conversions
More difficult but potentially effective:
Congestion pricing for entering certain zones
Freeway ramp metering combined with neighborhood restrictions
A Strategy That Works Best
Many successful cities combine:
Turn restrictions
Physical diverters
Traffic calming measures
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Together, these strategies make neighborhood routes slower and less convenient than remaining on the
freeway.
Thank you for your time. I would appreciate understanding whether any of these strategies are being
considered and how residents can continue this conversation with the City. Most importantly, residents need
confidence that this issue is being actively addressed.
Danielle Gorsha
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