Glendale Enlists Business in Battle on Traffic

The city of Glendale plans to establish a committee with private industry to reduce traffic congestion.

During a study session Tuesday with the City Council and representatives of business and industry, Glendale traffic engineers said peak-hour congestion must be reduced by at least 10% within three years and by 25% in five years.

To do that, the city needs to implement a coordinated traffic-management program involving both the private and public sectors, said City Manager David Ramsay.

Ramsay said he expects to ask the council within a few weeks to allocate the funds needed to launch that partnership.

“We need to provide the seed money to get it going,” which he said will require “a sizable commitment from the city up front.”

However, officials said, they hope the committee will become self-supporting within 18 to 24 months through fees charged for the committee’s services.

The Glendale Partners, a private organization of business and civic representatives, has pledged $10,000 toward the transportation proposal, said Richard Jutras, a spokesman for the partners.

The committee would coordinate a wide variety of traffic-reduction efforts by employers, such as promoting ride-sharing and greater use of public transportation and other alternatives.

Tom Horne, city traffic and transportation administrator, said the committee, for instance, could operate a single computer service, preferably in a transportation center located in retail space, that could be used to match up ride-sharing commuters from several nearby offices.

City and private representatives already have met informally to discuss the transportation committee proposal at the request of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce. The second session was scheduled for late Wednesday.