This morning, Metro Board Director Ara Najarian and Deputy CEO Lindy Lee participated in groundbreaking ceremonies for the Empire Project which will enhance travel along Interstate 5 in Burbank. Metro is supplying $180 million of the total $355 million budget and improvements include a new carpool lane, building a new interchange at I-5 and Empire Avenue, reconstructing the Burbank Boulevard overcrossing and realigning ramps, elevating the railroad at Buena Vista Street and San Fernando Boulevard. The project will relieve congestion, improve traffic flow and provide easier access to Bob Hope Airport and shopping centers.
Categories: Transportation News
Just a Person
My complaint wasn’t about San Fernando being closed but that the detour route had been reduced from two lanes in each direction to one lane and a traffic signal had become inoperative flashing red continually.
For Mr. Dunn and the other two that are complaining. My comment above is in fact critism. I have mentioned the same thing before about other ‘ground breakings’ that were not at the actual work site.
There are many people that see the good and the bad in Metro and post about it. If your refrain is always the same, you are not adding any new content to the conversation. Don’t like new HOV lanes? Get involved in the planning process, don’t complain once the project is in motion. Want better rail station locations? Get involved in the process early on. Don’t think it that it will work? Look at the gap in the 710. South Pasadena didn’t want the freeway to go through and they stopped it. This has lasted long enough for a tunnel to be a real option.
And as Mr. Johnston pointed out above, these projects that have been underway on the 405, the 5 north of the 134, and the 5 south of the 605 are more than just adding a lane. Caltrans and Metro (and local cities) have taken the oppourtunity to address other transportation related infrastructure issues. They are having real positive effects.
Government does not like criticisms. They only exist to shove down what they think it’s best for the masses for their own agenda.
If government heeded to criticisms, they would not have raised fares. A vast majority did not want it, they did it anyway.
That’s funny, no where in your rules does it forbid a dialog. Since I worked at the MTA for over 30 years I would think you would welcome my comments especially when others are posting mis- information. Also I take exception that certain posts are directed directly to me in a offending manner.
While not excited by yet another widened freeway, the railway bridge is very important and hopefully designed with CHSR in mind as the LAUS to Sylmar is the entry point to LA from the north.
Pouring concrete is terribly short-sighted.
How interesting. I posted the first comment and it’s already been deleted. I guess since I didn’t say great but instead pointed out what a mess it is already my comment was deleted.
That is because the Mr. Hymon, is and remains, a CENSOR, and will not tolerate LOGICAL CRITICISMS against the MTA! Or its the MTA “public relations” policy. One of the two!
Unfortunately we have a few readers who insist on leaving multiple comments on many different posts. As I’ve said in the past, my intent is to keep the comment board open and interesting to all — not just serve as a place where a couple of people can argue to their hearts’ content. Here is our very reasonable comment policy: http://thesource.metro.net/2010/09/08/the-sources-comment-policy/.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Isn’t it “wonderful” to see the MTA invest MILLIONS in freeway “enhancements” that TOTALLY DEFEATS the idea of getting motorists OUT OF THEIR CARS, and ON TO TRANSIT? But then, considering the MTA has CUT more transit in the last 5 years, then ADDED, its no surprise there is this bias! And then they RAISE FARES on the transit riders! Nice corporate FLEECING AND GOUGHING TACTIC MTA!
Yet another photo of Officials throwing dirt on plastic in a parking lot. Oh, and the project is already underway.
While I understand funding sources, breaking larger projects into smaller chunks (for contract purposes, etc., to the public, the I-5 HOV project is a single project. Why not have ground breakings and ribbon cuttings for every on/off-ramp and bridge that is worked on?
A good report; although more details would be good. Presumably they will be forthcoming. Of perhaps greatest importance, and not mentioned, is the factor of public safety. The locations mentioned, especially the Buena Vista / San Fernando crossing, have been the sites of several very serious accidents, including railroad/vehicles/individuals, and fatalities. As such, these improvements, as described, should help to alleviate these very dangerous situations. It is important to bring this up for a very practical reason as well. Funding for projects such as these should be easier to obtain, if the public, as well as the funding source(s) are apprised of this consideration. Published statistics should provide a major justification.