The Effects of More Parking at Tar Pits

Your article regarding the proposed new parking structure for the Los Angeles County Museums (Times, Feb. 19) was both interesting and informative. You obviously did considerable research on the subject. You failed, however, to address the serious ramifications that will occur as a direct result of the additional parking facilities.

Being a local architect and planner who lives quite close to the La Brea Tar Pits, I am familiar with the current museum situation. In the last decade the entire complex has enjoyed tremendous expansion and improvements. It is a popular attraction for city residents and tourists and at times it can be difficult to find a parking space.

Parking, however, is not a serious problem. The museum traffic peaks on the weekends, while the nearby office building traffic peaks on weekdays. Also, my observation is that most of the people who visit the museum would be unwilling to pay for parking.

What needs to be recognized is that some minor parking problems presents a healthy scenario for a large public facility such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Excessive parking can severely damage delicate pedestrian and mass transit systems which are vital to the success of the museum complex and local community. The net impact of 600 additional parking spaces for the La Brea Tar Pits shall most certainly include the following:

1. An increase in the automotive traffic on the surrounding streets.

2. The need to expand the street system resulting in more hazardous driving speeds, longer walking distances for pedestrians and the potential elimination of valuable parallel parking on the local streets in order to provide for that street expansion.

3. Serious security problems which historically have accompanied large underground public parking structure.

4. Potential aesthetic damage to the park. (Underground parking structures have a poor track record in terms of successfully putting landscaping above them. I direct your attention to Pershing Square.)

In short, a massive parking addition for the La Brea Tar Pits is an expensive and harmful solution to the perceived parking problem. Continued support and improvement of our mass transit systems so that we have an alternative means of transportation is currently the only viable way to improve access to the museums and parks. Providing additional support for an automotive population will only further damage our now struggling pedestrian bus riding population.

It comes to no surprise yet much bewilderment that this question has not been adequately addressed in an environmental impact report. I frequently visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and enjoy the wonderful exhibits and surrounding parks. It concerns me that major decisions regarding the area are being made today without apparent adequate consideration for the social and communal effects of such decisions.

PAUL A. QVALE

Los Angeles