Buck Wargo
CITY HALL -- A striping plan for North Verdugo Boulevard that replaces
two lanes with one turn lane and bike paths has come under fire from
residents.
The Glendale City Council will consider the striping plan tonight that
calls for changing the lay out of the four lanes between Verdugo Loma
Drive and the north fork of Canada Boulevard, just north of Glendale
Community College.
The Public Works Department has proposed a one-year trial in which one
northbound and southbound lane are replaced with a center turn lane that
goes in both directions. A five-foot bike path would be striped on the
outer edges on both sides of Verdugo Road.
A resident complained to the council Tuesday about the plan and city
officials have had other requests to leave the striping unchanged.
Ron Magneson, who lives Mira Vista Drive in the Verdugo Woodlands
neighborhood, said an outline of the proposed changes already marked on
the street has already added congestion.
"I don't think it is a swift idea. It's not going to alleviate any
problems. It will exacerbate them. You are winding up in a single lane,
and there is a line of cars at each point where people slow down to turn
right. This is ludicrous," Magneson said. "There is only two main streets
in Glendale going north and south. I would give a nickel to each
bicyclist in the course of a week that I see. It wouldn't be very many
nickels. There are groups of them that go through one day a week, but
that shouldn't hamper the community seven days a week."
City Manager Jim Starbird said the striping could slow speeding
traffic and encourage cars to travel on Canada Boulevard, which is better
designed to handle more traffic cutting through the area.
Public Works Director Kerry Morford said the change will create a
balance and improve safety on a winding road that has trucks, buses,
cars, pedestrians and bicyclists. He said many cars trying to turn left
on Verdugo Road have a difficult time because of the four lanes.
"We are attempting to reach a balance to have optimum safety so that
we can move traffic at safe speeds," Morford said.
Glendale's 1996 Bikeway Master Plan called for the city to create an
interconnected bicycle transportation system.
Glendale Mayor Ginger Bremberg said she opposes the plan because the
striping will add to congestion.
IN OTHER ACTION
The Glendale City Council will meet at 6 p.m. today in the council
chambers of City Hall, 613 E. Broadway. The Glendale Housing Authority
and Glendale Redevelopment Agency will meet at 3:30 p.m. The meetings
will be televised on Charter Cable Channel 6. In other action, the
council will:
* As the housing authority, solicit developers interested in building
affordable housing in Glendale.
* Approve a resolution for a library grant program.
* Get an update on needed zoning changes for the proposed police
headquarters.
