ERA Southern California
 Assets for Road Warriors

   
FREEWAY TRAFFIC INFO: Sigalert.com  or  Commutesmart.info
Have someone in your office check it when you call in.  (See freeway shortcuts at bottom of page.)

 

TRAFFICGAUGE - REAL TIME TRAFFIC INFO AS YOU DRIVE
For $80 + $7/month from www.trafficgauge.com the PDA-like device shows a fixed map of a regional freeway system. Currently it only works in L.A./Orange County and Seattle, but 20 more cities are planned. When traffic is light, paths on the display look clear. As conditions worsen, they fill with lines that are either solid (slow) or blinking (stop-and-go). Data is updated every four minutes during peak times, beamed from regional transit authorities by radio signals, so there are no dead zones. Football, baseball, or basketball icons pop up when a game is nearby. The simple map doesn’t scroll, you can’t zoom for details, and only freeways are covered. The upside? Nothing to mess with while driving. The sole button turns on a dim yet functional backlight.  TrafficGauge doesn’t make the congestion disappear, but it helps us outsmart the worst of it. And that’s a start.
(From Popular Science Magazine, June 2005, Tech for the Traveling Life by Xeni Jardin)



      WHERE TO EAT, where to STAY: Click a region below for detailed information.
 

See RESTAURANTS in all areas
 

FREEWAY SHORTCUTS

Gary Smith
OC to SFV    From Yorba Linda we never go through LA, we use the 210 to get from OC to the Valley or back and we never use the 5 freeway, too risky time wise.

Gary Smith
OC to LA    91 and 405 have car pool lanes from OC to So. Bay.

Gary Smith
OC to RIV     Toll roads are good but normally take us too far out of our way. Normally we use them when there is a traffic alert. Going from Fullerton area to Riverside County I normally use Coal Canyon Rd. instead of the 91 or the 60 freeway.

Dean Marxer:
SFV to OC    I use the Coast Hwy when returning from Oxnard, may not save much time, but an easy drive against traffic, plus it is scenic on both sides.

Bob O’Brien:
LA    Take 5 south to the 10 west to the Long Beach south to the 5 south to miss 5 level interchange

Rich Grenn:
OC    I have been using the toll ways in Orange County lately.  They work really well, however, very expensive.

David Derksen:
OC    Going south on the 5 near the 55. If traffic is at a standstill, exit the 55 on 4th or any exit on the 5 south of 4th and head southeast.  4th Street becomes Irvine Blvd which becomes Trabuco and gets you to Mission Viejo.

Steve Geldman:
SFV to LA    405/101 - Use Sepulveda Blvd instead of 405 to/from SFV ~ Los Angeles (Sepulveda Pass) if 405 is backed up over the grade.

Steve Geldman:
SFV    101 from Las Virginas to Westlake Blvd; use Agoura Rd. if 101 is backed up
 

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