Mayor’s Corner

As we all know, traffic congestion is a source of immense frustration on highways and major roads in the Los Angeles area. According to a March 2005 survey conducted by the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, 78 percent of San Fernando Valley residents consider traffic congestion to be “a big problem.” These results come as no surprise to anyone who drives in our area.

With highways clogged, the importance of manageable traffic flow on our interior roads has never been greater. The city of Calabasas is continually working to improve road conditions and provide transportation alternatives for residents, young and old.

Over the past few years, the city has taken several significant actions toward reducing traffic and promoting safe driving habits. Our Transportation Department implemented a Citywide Traffic Calming Program that included installation of landscaped median islands and speed humps. Additionally, the Comprehensive Vehicle Management program, launched in 2003, has reduced incidents of reckless driving and eased traffic congestion near schools.

Most notably, the city worked with the Las Virgenes Unified School District to initiate expanded, affordable and safe school bus service for Calabasas residents. Early data suggests this program is having a major impact on reducing congestion around schools.

The city also runs a free, fixedroute Calabasas Trolley service for the public that runs on natural gas and performs an hour loop throughout the city.

The investment we have made in school buses and trolleys has helped to alleviate commuter traffic and to reduce pollution by putting cleaner burning, mass transportation vehicles on the road.

The city has applied for and received a Federal Transit Administration grant to purchase two additional city buses. One of the two new buses will be used for a “Job Access and Reverse Commute” public transit route. This new route will link the MTA and LADOT transit lines along Calabasas Road, Parkway Calabasas and Park Granada to communities in eastern Calabasas.

The new buses, coupled with our trolley system and school buses, will offer practical and efficient local public transportation options for our residents. Through the resulting reduction of congestion on our interior roads, we can ease access to major roads and highways and do our part to reduce the strain and stress of increasing traffic in and near our city.

Traffic will remain our top priority.