Transportation

Traffic Signals Will Receive Upgrades in Long Beach and Whittier

Damaged traffic signals and equipment in Long Beach and Whittier will be replaced with new equipment, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

The project in Long Beach is at the intersection of Del Amo Boulevard and Susana Road, and involves the installation and modification of the traffic signals at the intersection. The estimated cost of the project is $1,718,375. Construction will begin this month, and the projected completion date is February 2008.

The Whittier project is located at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard. This project will involve the installation of conduits, conductors, pull boxes, retrofit kits and lamps to convert the existing out-dated, poorly functioning street light system to a more modern and reliable system. The cost estimate for the project is $192,260. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2007 and be complete by June 2008.

Los Angeles County Adopts Green Building Construction Plan

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a series of changes this week to building design policies for County construction projects. The new standards will require all new County buildings over 10,000 square feet to meet strict sustainability guidelines set by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

Among the sustainability rules adopted by the Board are requirements that buildings commissioned by the County include drought-resistant landscaping, water use efficiencies, natural indoor lighting and recycled construction materials whenever appropriate. The County Data Center, currently under construction in the Fourth District on the campus of Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, was designed to meet the new standards and will be the first County facility to apply for LEED certification once construction is complete.

This is an opportunity for Los Angeles County to be a leader in sustainable construction. We already own or operate over 5,000 buildings, from animal shelters to office buildings, to fire stations and we are building dozens of new facilities every year, said Supervisor Don Knabe. Using sustainable design techniques in the construction of these buildings will have an important impact in reducing the use of resources needed to operate our facilities.

The new construction policies adopted this week are not the only changes the County has made in the area of sustainable operations recently. The use of recycled water for landscape irrigation is already occurring at several County parks and golf courses. At Supervisor Knabe’s direction, the Department of Public Works is currently investigating ways to expand uses of recycled water for other purposes across the County.

Los Angeles County Provides New Radar Speed Trailers to the CHP

Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that the County of Los Angeles has purchased 10 new radar speed trailers for use by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) exclusively in the County’s unincorporated areas.

The radar speed trailers were purchased by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works with a $160,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The trailers will be utilized by the 10 CHP Southern Division offices servicing the unincorporated communities of Los Angeles County, and will be temporarily set up at locations where speeding problems persist. Under the California State Constitution, the CHP is charged with providing traffic enforcement in the unincorporated areas of California’s counties.

Within the Rowland Heights community, the CHP is planning to deploy the trailers on streets that have been previously identified as having problems with speeding drivers, such as Saleroso Drive, Fullerton Road, Colima Road, Pathfinder Road, and Victoria Avenue.

These radar trailers will help to ensure that motorists driving through our unincorporated communities are mindful of the speed limit in the area and follow it, said Supervisor Knabe.

Maintaining safe traffic flow throughout our communities is a priority with the Department of Public Works and I am very pleased to be able to provide the CHP with these trailers, explained Don Wolfe, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

Knabe Congratulates New Port Director

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe offered his support and congratulations this morning to Geraldine Knatz, the newly named Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. Knatz comes to her new job after serving as Managing Director of Development for the Port of Long Beach.

Geraldine is a great choice and I have truly enjoyed working with her over the years, said Supervisor Knabe. She has a strong knowledge of the issues facing our two port complexes that comes with the 24 years she spent at the Port of Long Beach and her several years with Los Angeles Harbor Department before that. Geraldine also shares my support and interest in the future of the Alameda Corridor and I look forward to working with her in this new role.

Both the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach are located within the Fourth District, which Supervisor Knabe has represented since 1996.

There are many challenges ahead for whoever was ultimately selected to lead the Port, said Knabe. We must continue to find ways of keeping this complex competitive in an increasingly aggressive global market and, more importantly, we must work to constantly improve and upgrade the security of our ports from the ongoing threats of terrorism. I know Geraldine will do an excellent job in both areas.

Improving Traffic Congestion in Diamond Bar

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced plans today for a traffic signal synchronization project in the City of Diamond Bar. The total cost of the project is expected to be $700,600, with funding coming from several sources. Approximately $595,600 will come from the County, with $516,400 coming from the County’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Grant Fund and $79,200 coming from other County funds. The remaining $105,000 will come from a contribution by the City of Diamond Bar.

The project involves equipment installations on Golden Springs Drive from Adel Avenue to Copley Drive and also along other portions of Copley Drive. Upgrades will also occur on Pathfinder Road from Brea Canyon Road to the State Route 57 southbound ramp, Brea Canyon Road from Golden Springs Drive to Washington Street, Diamond Bar Boulevard from Gentle Springs Drive/Palomino Drive to the State Route 60 eastbound ramp, and on Golden Springs Drive from Brea Canyon Road to the State Route 60 eastbound ramp.

This project is part of the County’s larger effort to install and administer Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) within various cities and unincorporated areas. Since its start in 1995, ITS projects added traffic control systems and signal synchronization systems in communities throughout the County

Traffic Signal Upgrade Project Planned for Carson Street in Long Beach

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced plans today for the County to contract for the synchronization of traffic signals along Carson Street in Long Beach and portions of Lakewood and Hawaiian Gardens.

The project involves the synchronizing of traffic signals at 28 different intersections along a 7.3-mile stretch of Carson Street between Long Beach Boulevard and Bloomfield Avenue. Synchronizing the signals and improving their operation will reduce traffic delays on this route.

The project is the result of a joint partnership between the City of Long Beach and the County of Los Angeles, with both agencies contributing a portion of the construction funding. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2.13 million, with $1.7 million coming from a Metropolitan Transportation Authority grant, $205,000 from the County and $221,000 from the City of Long Beach.

The project is part of the County’s ongoing program of synchronizing traffic signals to improve the flow of traffic on streets and highways.

Knabe Selected as Chairman of the I-710 Freeway Improvement Project

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe has been elected as the new Chair of the I-710 Executive Committee.

The central function of the I-710 Executive Committee is to provide policy guidance and general direction to the I-710 Corridor Improvement Program. The project will be a difficult undertaking that seeks to make major refurbishments to the 710 Freeway and its surrounding environment that connects the County’s two seaports to the rest of the region. This 20-mile stretch of freeway is a vital part of the trade capacity of the entire region.

I appreciate the support of my colleagues in selecting me to Chair this important committee, said Supervisor Knabe. This committee has a difficult task ahead of it, but improving the 710 will be good for the entire region. Reducing congestion and improving safety on this freeway will not only benefit the surrounding neighborhoods, but also the private and commercial drivers that use the freeway daily.

Other members of the committee include: Los Angeles County Supervisors Gloria Molina and Yvonne Burke, City of Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, City of Long Beach Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal, City of Commerce Mayor Nancy Ramos, Caltrans District 7 Director Doug Failing, Port of Long Beach Commissioner Mike Walter and Port of Los Angeles Commissioner Jerilyn Mendoza.

Knabe Funds Peninsula Transit Shuttle

A $5,000 reward has been unanimously approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to assist in the investigation of the fatal hit and run accident that claimed the life of 16-year-old Casie Hyde in Redondo Beach last December.

On the night of December 2, 2005, Hyde and her boyfriend, Mike Archuletta were in a car accident in the 2700 block of Manhattan Beach Boulevard. Redondo Beach detectives are investigating the accident as a possible road rage case as several witnesses reported seeing a black pickup truck involved in the accident that left the scene.

Supervisor Don Knabe requested the $5,000 reward from the Board of Supervisors during the meeting of Tuesday, March 28. The County’s reward joins a $25,000 reward announced by Hyde’s family last week.

Anyone having any information related to this accident is asked to call the Redondo Beach Police Department at (310) 379-2477.

Planning for the Future of Hacienda Heights

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is inviting residents and local business owners in Hacienda Heights to attend the kick-off meeting of a planned Community Planning Advisory Group.

Supervisor Knabe, along with the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, recently started the process of involving local residents in evaluation and updating of local community plans. The community group will also help explore priorities for local fee revenues coming from the last expansion of the Puente Hills Landfill.

This first meeting is planned for Wednesday, February 22, 2006 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Steinmetz Park Senior Center. The park is located at 1545 South Stimson Avenue in Hacienda Heights. The purpose of this meeting is to hear a report from the County’s consultants on the findings of their community interviews. This meeting is also the first opportunity for Hacienda Heights residents to come together to influence community planning priorities.

I look forward to personally addressing the Hacienda Heights community on Wednesday night, said Supervisor Knabe. This is an important process for outlining the future of Hacienda Heights and I want to thank the residents and local business owners for their help in shaping the future of this community.

New Transit Services Comes to South Whittier

On the morning of Saturday, January 21, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will participate in the inaugural ride and dedication ceremony for the new South Whittier Shuttle Service. The new community shuttle will make stops at more than three dozen locations between the Whittwood Town Center and Sorensen Park. The service will also connect to other transit systems run by the MTA and other local cities.

This is a true milestone for the South Whittier community, said Supervisor Knabe. We are adding a valuable service for hundreds of families, workers and residents who will be able to access this shuttle service.

The $811,225 contract cost to fund the route will be spilt between two sources. 75 percent, or a little over $600,000, was approved by Supervisor Knabe from his Proposition A transit funds. The remaining 25 percent was contributed by Supervisor Gloria Molina. An additional $400,000 was appropriated by Congresswoman Linda Sanchez for the purchase of the two 29-seat, propane powered buses that will be used on the route.

The shuttle dedication will happen as part of a larger transit fair Saturday morning at the Community Resource Center at 10750 Laurel Avenue in South Whittier.

The transit fair begins at 9 a.m. with the actual dedication ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m.

The first week of shuttle service will be free to the public. After January 18, rides will cost 25 cents per trip. More information about the shuttle is available online at
http://www.southwhittiershuttle.info