The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on April 21 will recognize five community groups selected as recipients of the inaugural Green Leadership Awards. The County created the program in 2008 to recognize outstanding energy conservation and environmental efforts made by individuals, public agencies, businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Green Leadership Awards will be presented at 10:00 a.m. during the Board of Supervisors regular meeting at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in Los Angeles. The five recipients are: Interior Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling Project, Interior Removal Specialist, Inc., South Gate; Planet Pals, Grand View Elementary School, Manhattan Beach; Citizens for a Cleaner City, Old Torrance Neighborhood Association, Torrance; City of Monrovia Environmental Accords, City of Monrovia; and On-Line Green Training, Planning and Development Department, City of Pasadena.
Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said the projects benefit the residents of Los Angeles County by creating opportunities to inspire other organizations to adopt the best green practices in their communities.
This County program is very important, said Supervisor Knabe. It helps promote environmental awareness and responsibility for the sustainability of communities, and enhances the County’s role as a leader by honoring local outstanding environmental programs.
The five award-winners were selected for the following accomplishments:
Interior Removal Specialist, Inc., South Gate Interior Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling Project
Interior Removal Specialist is the leader in Los Angeles County in diverting and recycling materials such as drywall, carpet, ceiling tile and manufactured lumber. Its 80% diversion efforts extend the life of existing landfills and reduce the environmental impact of construction and demolition debris. Additionally, the donations made by recycling furniture and other materials reintroduce nearly 100 tons of materials back to the community.
Grand View Elementary School, Manhattan Beach Planet Pals Project – Trash Free Tuesdays
Students at Grand View Elementary School bring their lunches to school in reusable trash-free lunchboxes each Tuesday. This, as well as composting and recycling measures, enabled the school to generate a record low of one-half bag of trash for more than 700 students, opposed to 40 bags previously. Grand View has diverted more than 1,500 large bags of trash from landfills. This program has been rolled out to seven other elementary schools, reaching 8,500 kids. Old Torrance Neighborhood Association, Torrance Citizens for a Cleaner City Project
Residents of Torrance accepted the mayor’s challenge to contribute to a safe, clean and well-maintained city. Volunteers from age 6 to 85 began a bi-monthly Saturday clean-up day concentrating on the highest payoff areas, such as entrance and exit areas to the city. Since 2006 they have removed more than two tons of trash and debris and recycled items like aluminum cans. The cost benefit to the city is evident by the number of volunteer hours donated, freeing city employees to take on other essential services. This is a model program for other cities. City of Monrovia Environmental Accords
The City of Monrovia created a Green Team responsible for implementing green projects and policies. In less than two years, the city reduced lighting energy consumption by 20% by replacing regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps. The city installed cool roofs at their historic museum and the police department, reducing air pollution and smog formation. Installation of 22 waterless urinals in city facilities led to an annual savings of 888,000 gallons of water. The newly built energy-efficient library provides an improved working environment for library patrons and staff and sets the precedent for future construction trends.
City of Pasadena On-Line Green Training project
Through an interactive, Internet-based design, Pasadena’s 1,880 full-time employees receive training on the Green City Action Plan while receiving inspirational and practical tips for going green at work and at home. The city benefits from having a workforce educated and engaged in environmental stewardship. Visitors who complete the green training gain knowledge about available local resources, services and rebates that will help them reduce their utility bills, eliminate waste, and cut their transportation costs.
Transportation
Fullerton Road To Be Improved In Rowland Heights
Fullerton Road in the unincorporated community of Rowland Heights will soon undergo improvements, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The project is part of the County’s effort to provide improved infrastructure in its unincorporated areas.
The $308,505 project will focus on the resurfacing of the roadway pavement; the reconstruction of curb and gutter, sidewalk, and driveways; and the construction of curb ramps. The project will be financed with State Proposition 1B funds and is included in the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Fund Budget. This project is scheduled to start in June and be completed in July.
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 Fullerton Road, not only will the residents of Rowland Heights benefit, but so will the residents of neighboring cities and our other unincorporated communities that travel this route.
Traffic Congestion Relief For Downey, Norwalk, and La Mirada
Supervisor Don Knabe announced a new traffic reduction effort in the Cities of Downey, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and South Gate as part of an expansion of the County’s Traffic Synchronization Program.
The $1.27 million project will modify traffic signals, install fiber optic equipment, and closed circuit television cameras on Firestone Boulevard from Stewart & Gray Road to Imperial Highway, Imperial Highway from Firestone Boulevard to Carmenita Road, and Imperial Highway from Paramount Boulevard to Bellflower Boulevard.
The County’s Traffic Synchronization Program began over 20 years ago. It’s now stretched across the South Bay, San Gabriel Valley, and Gateway Cities. The County has completed 122 projects on 81 different routes, synchronizing over 2,300 intersections. Another 434 intersections are currently being synchronized and the County plans to upgrade an additional 313 intersections over the next few years.
On roadways where the County has completed synchronization upgrades, commuter travel times have been reduced by as much as 29%. The result is drivers saving $387 million in vehicle costs annually, saving 26.3 million travel hours in their cars, saving 32.6 million gallons of fuel per year, and eliminating 11,400 tons of pollutants from going into the environment each year.
The expansion approved today will install a wireless communications network, known as an Intelligent Transportation System, along Firestone Boulevard and Imperial Highway. It will allow the County to change traffic lights in real-time, and immediately respond to accidents and congestion from the Countywide Traffic Management Center in Alhambra. Work is scheduled to start in May 2009 and be completed January 2010.
Traffic synchronization works and is a huge benefit to commuters, said Supervisor Don Knabe. As soon as we complete a project, it has an immediate impact on reducing commute times and reducing our impact on the environment."
Road Resurfacing Project In Whittier Receives County Funding
The County of Los Angeles will provide $200,000 in the form of Highways-Through-Cities funds to the City of Whittier for their resurfacing project on Lambert Road, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.
The project, which is entirely in the City of Whittier, will resurface Lambert Road from Washington Boulevard to Leffingwell Road, and cost an estimated $1,800,000, of which $200,000 will be financed by the County. The funding for the County’s contribution is available from the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Construction Program in the Fiscal Year 2008-09 Road Fund Budget. The estimated completion date of the project is April 2009.
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 Lambert Road, both the residents of Whittier and the nearby unincorporated County areas that travel this route will benefit.
Community Input Needed For Hacienda Heights Community Center Project
Supervisor Don Knabe is inviting residents, business owners, and other interested persons to attend two upcoming community workshops on the proposed Hillgrove Community Center in Hacienda Heights.
The Supervisor initiated a community process to explore priorities for using the tipping fee money coming from the last expansion of the Puente Hills Landfill. This effort over the last two years has resulted in strong community support for the development of a community center on an approximately nine acre property on Turnbull Canyon Road, just north of the 60 Freeway. The County has entered into an option agreement with the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District for a long-term ground lease of this property.
Two community workshops are scheduled to obtain community input into the Hillgrove Community Center Master Plan: Monday, March 16, 2009 from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Los Altos High School Gymnasium, located at 15325 East Los Robles Avenue.
I look forward to learning what facilities and programs are important to the Hacienda Heights community and thank in advance the good citizens of this community for their efforts to help bring this important improvement to Hacienda Heights, said Supervisor Knabe.
In addition to the upcoming community workshops, a brief survey is available on the right side of this page where interested persons can also express their opinions of what facilities and programs are most needed in the Hacienda Heights community.
Full Freeway Closure: Closed Freeway Connectors:
Eastbound and westbound SR-91 to northbound I-710
Eastbound and westbound I-105 to southbound I-710
Beginning Saturday at 7:00 a.m. until Sunday at 11:00 p.m., a reduced number of lanes will be available to motorists: two lanes for northbound traffic and three lanes for southbound traffic. Speeds will be reduced to 45 mph. Oversized loads are not permitted during these times due to narrower lane widths. To decrease delay time, motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the project area. All closures are weather permitting, as paving requires temperatures above 50 degrees and dry conditions.
The work involves rehabilitating aging pavement and providing the roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public. Roadway widening will occur where possible to provide standard lanes and shoulders, widening the Compton Creek bridge and Atlantic Avenue undercrossings, and overlaying nine miles of the existing pavement with 10″ inches of Long Life Asphalt Concrete.
More information on the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project, closures, route and detour maps, is available on the Caltrans District 7 website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07
County To Evaluate Transit Needs In Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, East Whittier And North Whittier
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a study to evaluate the transit needs of the unincorporated communities of Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, East Whittier and North Whittier, and recommend route or service changes to existing services or recommend new services.
The $102,000 Transit Needs Study will be performed by IBI Group, and will take approximately ten months to complete. The goal of the study is to identify unmet transit needs and recommend improvements to transit services for the residents in these communities. As part of the evaluation, public outreach and planning sessions will be utilized to get feedback from local stakeholders and community groups. The study is funded by the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Proposition A Local Return Transit Program, and is part of the County’s ongoing effort to evaluate the transit needs of its unincorporated communities.
This study is critical to understanding the transit needs of our residents that live in these areas, said Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. It will not only identify gaps or deficiencies in the current transit network, but also recommend ways to improve services.
Rowland Heights Railroad Safety Project Receives County Funding
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has committed $12 million in funding towards the Nogales Street Railroad Grade Separation project in Rowland Heights. The project is designed to greatly improve vehicle, pedestrian, and rail safety by building a traffic overpass above the railroad tracks on the border between Rowland Heights and the City of Industry.
The total project cost is currently estimated to be $86.95 million. In addition to the County’s $12 million contribution, the City of Industry has committed an additional $12 million, plus $2 million from Union Pacific. The remaining funds will come from Proposition 1B railroad safety funds and grants from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The actual design and construction of the overpass will be completed by the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority. Design plans are scheduled to be completed in September 2009 with construction beginning in March 2010 and completion in March 2013.
Dredging Of The Marina Del Rey South Entrance Channel Has Begun
The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors announced that the United States Army Corps of Engineers began dredging the south entrance channel to Marina del Rey on January 2, and will continue until the approximate completion date of March 15, 2009.
The $3 million dredging project will remove 50,000 cubic meters of contaminated sediment using a hydraulic dredge to remove a tip shoal area at the south entrance of the Marina harbor. Upon completion of the project, the dredged portion of the south entrance will return to the design depth of -20 feet mean lower low water. The sediment will be pumped to a temporary sand separation plant situated on parking lot # 3 located at 8600 Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey. Utilizing a new application, the treatment facility will separate sand from other materials and contaminants, resulting in sand suitable for nourishment at Dockweiler State Beach. The material unsuitable for beach placement will be trucked to an inland landfill.
For more information, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Office at (213) 452-3925 or click here.
Supervisors Want Explanation On Future Of Palmdale Airport
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and Board Chairman Don Knabe, directing the County’s Chief Executive Officer to prepare a formal request to Los Angeles World Airports, the Board of Airport Commissioners, and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, to explain its plans for the undeveloped property adjacent to the Palmdale Airport.
This vital property is not being utilized as was promised when it was taken by eminent domain from property owners over 40 years ago, said Supervisor Antonovich. The City of Los Angeles has an obligation to explain fully its plans for using the property.
For four decades, this land has been sitting vacant, not being used for the development of another critically-needed regional commercial airport, which was the intended use of this land, said Supervisor Knabe. Today’s action will hopefully get us some answers about how this vital facility will be used for regionalizing commercial air traffic.
In the 1960s, the Los Angeles City Airport Commission acquired Ontario Airport, the 17,000-acre Palmdale airport site, and later contracted with the United States Air Force for Palmdale’s Plant 42’s runway and air terminal, for a regional airport network to meet future population needs. To date, the City’s Los Angeles World Airports Department has failed to develop this property.