Sepulveda makeover is a go

Despite much community opposition, a major makeover for Sepulveda Boulevard -- including a reversal lane -- is sailing through:

A plan for a reversible traffic lane, bike lanes and other improvements to reduce congestion on Sepulveda Boulevard was given a green light today by two Los Angeles City Council committees. In a joint meeting, members of the Transportation and Public Works committees approved the plan, which will be forwarded to the full council. The city plans to convert the existing southbound center lane on an 1,800-foot segment of Sepulveda Boulevard -- through the tunnel at Mulholland Drive -- into a reversible lane that would allow traffic to operate in the northbound direction between 4-7 p.m. The Department of Public Works also plans to add northbound and southbound right-turn pockets on Wilshire Boulevard; lengthen the northbound left-turn pocket at Moraga Drive; install bike lanes from Skirball Center Drive to Bel Air Crest Road; and add a northbound right-turn lane at Skirball Center Drive. Construction on the $11.3 million project is scheduled to begin next year, and take 12 to 18 months to complete. (CNS)

Comments

[Dan W.]

What we really need is a rail line going from LAX north to UCLA over/through the Sepulveda Pass up to the Van Nuys Metrolink station.

This will allow for many transfers (Purple Line, Expo Line, Orange Line, Metrolink, several popular rapid bus lines and numerous local bus lines.

[Larry Scholnick]

Back in the days before left-turn lanes, many streets had reversible lanes. One example was Olympic Blvd (which was CA-26 before the Santa Monica Freeway opened) from La Cienega Blvd (at the Beverly Hills border) to downtown. There was an extra eastbound lane in the mornings and an extra westbound lane in the afternoons. My grandparents lived near Olympic and Fairfax, and I remember walking down the block to watch the man put up the traffic cones in the early afternoon.

[Kate]

"The city plans to convert the existing southbound center lane on an 1,800-foot segment of Sepulveda Boulevard -- through the tunnel at Mulholland Drive -- into a reversible lane that would allow traffic to operate in the northbound direction between 4-7 p.m."

It would be great if they'd also find a way to make that tunnel safe for cyclists.

[n simon]

is there any way to view this plan? are they going to have both north and south bike lanes that go all the way from ventura to olympic or at least wilshire?