Wider Roads Just Create More Traffic
While citizens say more Warner Center growth is acceptable “as long as it doesn’t get like Century City,” city planners proceed apace to do just the opposite.
Six-lane elevated roadways may mitigate flow and congestion problems, but they certainly do not reduce traffic volume. In fact, they simply encourage more automotive use.
The problem with Century City is not that the roads are only four lanes wide. The problem is the automobile-based transportation infrastructure, and that is the lesson that must be brought home to Warner Center.
Off-site parking connected by trolley to Warner Center and a DASH or trolley system within the center would do more to eliminate traffic problems than wider streets and elevated roadways.
Regrettably, as long as our local pols perceive an opportunity to extort $15,000 per car trip from developers, it is unlikely that they will seriously explore alternatives which reduce the volume of traffic flowing in and out of the center.
ALAN M. SCHWARTZ, Woodland Hills
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