Transportation

Traffic Congestion Relief Comes To The Cites Of Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach And Torrance

Countrywood Avenue in the unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights will soon undergo significant improvements, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The project is part of Los Angeles County’s effort to provide improved infrastructure in its unincorporated areas.

The $2.3 million project will reconstruct and resurface Countrywood’s roadway pavement; and reconstruct adjacent sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters. The funds for this project are included in the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Fund Budget. This project is scheduled to start in March 2010 and be completed in August 2010.

“It is important that we constantly look for ways to improve the roads and increase motorist safety in our County,” said Supervisor Knabe. “By improving Countrywood Avenue, not only will the residents of Hacienda Heights benefit, but so will the residents of neighboring cities and our other unincorporated communities that travel this route.”

Traffic Congestion Relief Comes To The Cites Of Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach And Torrance

Countrywood Avenue in the unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights will soon undergo significant improvements, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The project is part of Los Angeles County’s effort to provide improved infrastructure in its unincorporated areas.

The $2.3 million project will reconstruct and resurface Countrywood’s roadway pavement; and reconstruct adjacent sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters. The funds for this project are included in the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Fund Budget. This project is scheduled to start in March 2010 and be completed in August 2010.

It is important that we constantly look for ways to improve the roads and increase motorist safety in our County, said Supervisor Knabe. By improving Countrywood Avenue, not only will the residents of Hacienda Heights benefit, but so will the residents of neighboring cities and our other unincorporated communities that travel this route.

Residents/Businesses Urged To Sign Up For Emergency Alerts

With the renewed threat of rainstorms, Los Angeles County officials today urged residents and businesses to sign up for emergency alerts by registering their cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses on the http://alert.lacounty.gov website.

The County’s emergency mass notification system, called Alert LA County, has the capability to use phone, text and e-mail messages to alert residents and businesses when there is an emergency situation in their area and advises of needed actions, like evacuations.

The system was activated 25 times between January 18 – 22 due to rain, flooding and mudslides, with some warnings going to as few as 34 people and some to as many as 513.

All landlines are already included in the system, but people must register their cell phone numbers, Voice over IP phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. This information can be added on the http://alert.lacounty.gov website.

Because the Alert LA County system uses geomapping, each telephone number and/or e-mail address can only be associated with one street address in the system.

The Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Center uses the system to issue local and regional alerts, drawing the boundaries of the area to be notified on a computer map. Recorded alerts provide information on the nature of the emergency and necessary actions.

If calls are picked up by an answering machine, the system will leave a recorded message. If the number called is busy or does not answer, the system will redial the number in an attempt to deliver the message. The system is TTY/TDD compatible.

Until implementation of Alert LA County in May 2009, the County had no consistent way to contact residents and businesses in case of regional or local emergencies.

The notification system improves the County’s ability to communicate faster, better and more reliably, providing the ability to target messages and follow-up information to residents in affected areas, and reduce the potential for miscommunication by distributing accurate and consistent messages.

Shoaling Reports At North Entrance To Marina Del Rey

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors announced today shoaling has been reported at the north entrance to Marina del Rey from recent storms. Currently, the north entrance remains open to mariners with approximately 100-120 yards clearance. The majority of the entrance has approximately 15′ to 17′ depth.
The Marina del Rey Sheriff’s Department has placed additional Aids to Navigation (green buoys) and Hazard Buoys (white buoys) to guide boaters through the north entrance for a minimum depth clearance of 10′ at low tide. Mariners are urged to stay outside the buoy area and should use extreme caution when transiting the north entrance since conditions are changing and buoys can move. Attention to astronomical low tides during monthly full and new moon periods is advised, as well as staying clear of the jetties, and utilizing the south entrance to Marina del Rey. These areas will be monitored by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Marina del Rey Station.
For additional information, contact the Marina del Rey Harbor Master at (310) 482-6000 for north entrance shoaling updates or VHF Channel 16.

Knabe Calls For New Budget Spending Controls

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe called for a plan today to begin a 100-percent freeze on the purchase of all supplies and services and the replacement of fixed assets in all County departments.

The County’s Chief Executive Office has already applied a 25-percent cap on the services and supplies, and fixed assets budgets of all departments. This means departments can only spend up to 75-percent of the budgets that had been previously approved, with the remaining savings from this cost avoidance available to help offset future budget shortfalls. Under Knabe’s proposal, this 25-percent cap would be maximized to 100-percent, meaning that any equipment or supply purchases would be put through a process of rigorous review and extreme scrutiny before approval. Exceptions to this plan would be considered for the County’s emergency services, such as hospitals, public safety, and public health.

Los Angeles County’s current financial shortfalls have been minimal due to conservative financial spending in good fiscal years and the creation of rainy day funds for past budget surpluses. The County has been able to continue to all existing programs and services to residents through hiring freezes, cuts in administrative costs, and the use of reserves. Budget leaders have advised, however, that the County faces a deficit in the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year of several hundred million dollars.

Every computer and every desk we hold off on buying today means the impact will be less tomorrow, said Supervisor Knabe. Every dollar we save this year is a dollar we can apply to the deficit next year. Every little bit is going to help as we work to keep programs working and County services flowing.

County Provides New Funding For Rowland Heights Community Center Project At Pathfinder Park

A new community center in Rowland Heights moved another step closer to reality today with approval by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to hire an architect to design the facility at Pathfinder Park.

Today’s action by the Board of Supervisors awarded a $1.2 million contract to Gonzalez Goodale Architects for design services, preparation of construction documents, and other related architectural services, including assistance during the bidding and construction phases. The funding comes from the Fourth District Capital Project Fund.

Rowland Heights has a tremendous need for a community center for group activities, social support, and recreation space, said Supervisor Knabe. Pathfinder Park is the perfect place to meet these needs.

The new community center will be up to 15,000 square feet, and will accommodate increased programming and community services for the residents of the unincorporated community of Rowland Heights. In addition, the facility will be designed to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified.

Countrywood Avenue To Be Improved In Hacienda Heights

Countrywood Avenue in the unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights will soon undergo significant improvements, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The project is part of Los Angeles County’s effort to provide improved infrastructure in its unincorporated areas.

The $2.3 million project will reconstruct and resurface Countrywood’s roadway pavement; and reconstruct adjacent sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters. The funds for this project are included in the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Fund Budget. This project is scheduled to start in March 2010 and be completed in August 2010.

It is important that we constantly look for ways to improve the roads and increase motorist safety in our County, said Supervisor Knabe. By improving Countrywood Avenue, not only will the residents of Hacienda Heights benefit, but so will the residents of neighboring cities and our other unincorporated communities that travel this route.

Plans Halted For Transit Maintenance Yards In El Segundo And Westchester

Proposals to build a massive light rail maintenance facility and service yard in El Segundo, as well as an alternative site for the facility in Westchester, have been permanently halted, thanks to an effort by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and other local community and government leaders.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is in the initial design and environmental review process for the Crenshaw Corridor – a $1.7 billion mass-transit proposal that would run nearly 10 miles through Central Los Angeles, Inglewood, Hawthorne, connecting to the existing Green Line near LAX. Four sites were under consideration for the large maintenance yard needed for the transit line, including a 15 acre site in El Segundo near Sepulveda Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue, and a 16 acre site along 83rd Street in Westchester.

The El Segundo site had significant community opposition, including official opposition adopted by the El Segundo City Council last week, citing negative impacts the City’s economic development and traffic improvement efforts. The Westchester site would have required significant demolition of existing buildings and a large amount of community disruption.

Supervisor Knabe, who also serves as Metro’s First Vice Chair, shared the communities concerns and brought forward a motion which was amended and approved today, removing the El Segundo and Westchester sites from any current or future consideration.

Metro planners will now begin reviewing two other proposed sites that were already under consideration, as well as examining other possible sites for the maintenance yard.

Road Reconstruction And Resurfacing Project In Hacienda Heights Receives County Funding

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a project today to reconstruct and resurface several roads in the unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights, Supervisor Don Knabe announced.

The project, which is entirely in the community of Hacienda Heights, will reconstruct and resurface the roadway pavement on Countrywood Avenue, Barford Avenue, Charlemont Avenue, Falstone Avenue, Pepper Brook Way, and various other roads, and will cost an estimated $2,800,000 to $3,200,000. The funding is available from the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Construction Program in the Fiscal Year 2009-10 Road Fund Budget. It is estimated that the project will start in March 2010 and be completed in August 2010.

It is important that we are constantly looking for ways to improve the roads throughout the County, said Supervisor Knabe. By improving roads like Countrywood Avenue, the residents of Hacienda Heights, along with the residents of nearby cities and unincorporated County areas that travel these roads will benefit.

Dockweiler Beach Youth Center Dedicated

Nearly 20 years after it was first envisioned, a new youth and community center was dedicated this week at Dockweiler State Beach by Supervisor Knabe and County leaders. The $7 million project is jointly funded by County of Los Angeles Prop A and a grant from the State of California through Proposition 12 bond funds.

The new building provides a youth activity center at Dockweiler State Beach and will serve as the southern headquarters for the Los Angeles County W.A.T.E.R. (Water Awareness, Training, Education and Recreation) youth education program offering aquatic sports camps. The program was developed in 1986 to provide Los Angeles County youth with education and recreation regarding the water and beachfront environment. During this time, this program has been administered out of a series of trailers and storage facilities in Marina del Rey.

The 8,800 square foot building has multi-purpose meeting and training facilities, administrative space, indoor storage facilities, restroom and locker facilities and storage for beach equipment. Planning for the building first started in 1991, when the County originally approved the General Plan for Dockweiler State Beach.

This project is actually Phase 2 of improvements to Dockweiler State Beach. Phase 1 was finished in 2007, when the County completed $14 million in projects, including building four new restroom buildings, a brand-new entry kiosk, refurbishment of the maintenance/lifeguard facility, refurbishment of the RV Park, including conversion of all spaces to full hookups and resurfacing of the parking lots.