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(By Karen Jonas) The Santa Clarita City Council voted to move ahead with studying the extension of Dockweiler Drive to Lyons Avenue Tuesday night, despite opposition from some Placerita Canyon residents. The city has been eyeing the Dockweiler Drive alignment since its first General Plan was created in 1991 and most recently approved the alignment in the One Valley One Vision plan in June 2011, according to staff reports. Two-lane Dockweiler Drive connects to Sierra Highway in the east but currently ends 500 feet west of Valle del Oro. The study will examine extending Lyons Avenue eastward to the western property line of The Master’s College and consider different crossing options for the railroad tracks, including an at-grade crossing.

The study would examine widening Dockweiler Drive to two lanes in each direction by eliminating street parking, according to staff. Councilman TimBen Boydston said he wanted the people living on Dockweiler Drive to know that their parking would be affected by the changes before proceeding with the item.

Several Placerita Canyon residents were upset at the plan to study the Dockweiler Drive extension, citing concerns about the risks of an at-grade crossing and the potential changes to Placerita Canyon as a result of the proposed extension.

“I think that the residents of Placerita Canyon like our canyon the way it is,” said Placerita Canyon resident Nanette Meister. “We really don’t want this road to come in and change what we love and cherish.”

City staff and some council members stressed that Tuesday’s action was merely to look at the feasibility of extending Dockweiler Drive – the City Council wasn’t approving the project, but was merely examining it to see if it was possible.

“Information is the name of the game and this is the tool required to get to that point,” said Mayor Pro Tem Bob Kellar.

The City Council voted 3-1-1 to approve the contract for the study – which will include community outreach, preliminary engineering, environmental and CEQA review and applying with the California Public Utilities Commission. The study will cost up to $461,886 in bridge and thoroughfare funds paid by developers.

Boydston voted no, saying that he did not feel comfortable voting yes on the study because the neighborhoods impacted by the study had not been notified. Councilwoman Laurene Weste abstained from the vote and discussion because of the proximity of her home to the proposed study area.

Along with approving the study, the City Council also approved new bike lanes on several streets and changes to speed limits on streets throughout the city at Tuesday’s meeting.

Speed limit changes

The City Council unanimously approved changing several speed limits in the city based on an engineering and traffic survey conducted this spring. The city last conducted an engineering and traffic survey in 2005.

As a result of the survey, nine street segments will see 5 mph decreases in the speed limits, while 16 streets will have speed limits increased by 5 mph to 10 mph. Most of the speed limit increases were due to the recent construction of raised medians or adjoining street segments with higher speed limits.

New signs or sign adjustments will be installed for $16,000 in gas tax funds.

Bike lanes

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to add restripe and add bike lanes to several streets.

The new bike lanes will be added to: Centre Pointe Parkway from Golden Triangle Road to Golden Valley Road, Golden Triangle Road from Centre Pointe Parkway to Rainbow Glen Drive, Orchard Village Road from McBean Parkway to Lyons Avenue, Tourney Road from Valencia Boulevard to Magic Mountain Parkway and Decoro Drive from Copper Hill Drive to Copperstone Drive.

A total of 90 percent of the contract amount of up to $196,790 will come from the Caltrans Bicycle Transportation Account program with the remaining 10 percent funded through a local match.