Westlake Joins Growing Tide of Opposition to Diamond Lane

The Westlake Village City Council has joined a growing list of opponents to a proposed diamond lane for car pools and buses on a 13-mile section of the eastbound Ventura Freeway.

With two members abstaining, the council voted 3 to 0 to oppose the diamond lane, which would extend from Topanga Canyon Boulevard to the Hollywood Freeway as part of a $12-million, freeway-widening project.

The two council members who abstained said they wanted more information before taking a position.

Westlake Village City Manager James E. Emmons said the Tuesday night council vote was taken after representatives of Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) and state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia) asked for city support in fighting the car-pool lane.

Wright and Davis are fighting the diamond lane proposal along with Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) and Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge), who represent areas along the Ventura Freeway.

They contend that the diamond lane will cause congestion, accidents and aggravation to motorists.

Representatives of the legislators have already won support from the Thousand Oaks City Council and plan to seek a similar anti-diamond lane proclamation from the Agoura Hills City Council at its Feb. 17 meeting, according to Mike Murphy, Wright’s field representative.

The information will be turned over to the 68-member Ventura Freeway Corridor Operations Advisory Committee, which is scheduled to vote on the issue Thursday. Caltrans has indicated that it will abide by the committee’s decision.

McClintock, La Follette and Davis are members of the committee.

The extra lane would at first be available to vehicles with two or more occupants, but Caltrans has projected that use of the lane will be restricted after 18 months to vehicles with three or more occupants.