Plan Approved to Shut Traffic Lanes

Riverside Drive will be temporarily narrowed from four lanes to two as part of the first phase of the Rancho Neighborhood Protection Plan.

Burbank Mayor Robert Bowne strongly opposed the plan, approved by the City Council in a 3-1 vote this week. Councilman Michael Hastings abstained, saying he lives close to Riverside Drive.

Bowne cited the opposition by Police Chief David Newsham, who said in a memo that the plan would result in higher traffic accidents, gridlock during special events at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and increased volume of traffic diverted from Riverside Drive to surrounding streets.

The Neighborhood Protection Plan is aimed at reducing traffic and making the equestrian neighborhood safer by adding improvements such as a lane for horse riding, cycling and jogging, as well as horse crossings, signs and more-efficient traffic lights.

But the support was not unanimous.

“Never have so many done so much for so few,” said Burbank resident Robert Spencer, who spoke against the plan. “What if other neighborhoods did this? It would take all day to get from one end of the city to the other.”

Supporters said the plan would protect the Rancho neighborhood, a unique feature of the city, and would make Burbank more attractive to newcomers.

“This is not for a few eccentric horse people,” said Roy Simison, a committee member. “This is something that’s good for all of Burbank.”

The narrowing of Riverside Drive will be for one year, after which the city will consider making the change permanent.