|
From the Desk of Mayor Barry Groveman
September 2005
July/August 2005
June 2005 |
Traffic in Calabasas
As we all know, traffic congestion
is a source of immense frustration on highways and major roads in the Los
Angeles area. According to a March 2005 survey conducted by the
non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, 78% of San Fernando
Valley residents consider traffic congestion to be “a big problem.” These
results come as no surprise to anyone who drives in our area. With highways
clogged, the importance of manageable traffic flow on our interior roads has
never been greater. The City of Calabasas is continually working to improve
road conditions and provide transportation alternatives for residents, young
and old.
Over the past few years, the City has taken
several significant actions toward reducing traffic and promoting safe
driving habits. Our Transportation Department
implemented a Citywide
Traffic Calming Program that included installation of landscaped median
islands and speed humps. Additionally, the Comprehensive Vehicle Management
program, launched in 2003, has reduced incidents of reckless driving and
eased traffic congestion near schools. Most notably, the City worked with
the Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) to initiate expanded,
affordable and safe school bus service for Calabasas residents.
Early data suggests this
program is having a major impact on reducing congestion around schools.
The City also runs a free, fixed-route
Calabasas Trolley service for the public that runs on natural gas and
performs an hour loop throughout the City.
The investment we
have made as a City in school buses and trolleys has helped, in a tangible
way, to alleviate commuter traffic and to reduce pollution by putting
cleaner burning, mass transportation vehicles on the road. The City has
applied for and received a Federal Transit Administration grant to purchase
two additional City buses. One of the two new buses will be used for a “Job
Access and Reverse Commute” public transit route. This new route will link
the MTA and LADOT transit lines along Calabasas Road, Parkway Calabasas and
Park Granada to communities in eastern Calabasas. The new
buses, coupled with our trolley system and school buses, will offer
practical and efficient local public transportation options for our
residents. Through the resulting reduction of congestion on our interior
roads, we can ease access to major roads and highways and do our part to
reduce the strain and stress of increasing traffic in and near our City.
Traffic will remain our top priority. |
|
