Local News in Brief : Freeway Truck Ban Stalls

State transportation officials threw up a roadblock Wednesday to a proposed rush-hour ban on trucks using the Ventura Freeway while a widening project is under way.

Despite unanimous support for such a ban from the Los Angeles City Council, Caltrans wants to give its traffic management plan “an opportunity to work” before it considers a ban, said David J. Kilmurray, a Caltrans engineer. Caltrans’ approval is required for a truck ban.

Caltrans’ plan includes calling on truck drivers to voluntarily avoid the freeway during peak commuting hours. To encourage truckers to do that, the City Council is expected Friday to lift restrictions on early morning and late night deliveries in residential neighborhoods.

Caltrans has implemented a number of other traffic reduction measures, such as establishing a telephone information line--800 CALL VIP--to keep motorists informed of construction schedules. In April, similar information will be available on AM radio and, in May, will be displayed on signs along the freeway.

The four-year, $96-million improvement project, which began last month, will add an additional lane in each direction between Calabasas and Universal City.