City May Take Over Topanga Canyon Blvd.
LOS ANGELES — The city could ease congestion along Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley by squeezing more lanes into the roadway and improving traffic lights, officials said Tuesday.
The problem: the state of California controls the road, has just spent $6 million to repave it in the San Fernando Valley and, for safety reasons, opposes narrowing the lanes.
The solution: Los Angeles could take control of the stretch of the boulevard between the Ventura and Reagan freeways and make whatever improvements it sees fit. The transportation committee of the Los Angeles City Council thought enough of the proposal Tuesday to order a study.
“Topanga Canyon Boulevard is one of the major north-south thoroughfares,” said Councilwoman Laura Chick. “It is a very important route to the freeways. The city should be able to control it.”
Caltrans is willing to give up control of the boulevard to the city, according to Margie Tiritilli, an agency spokeswoman.
The state is just three months from finishing a $6-million upgrade of the boulevard, including repaving and new signals and signs, Tiritilli said.
It was unclear whether the city would in the end accept the financial burden of maintaining the roadway. The panel called for a study to look at the costs.
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