LOS ANGELES : Braude Calls for Permanent Car-Pool Lane on Freeway
Despite public outcry at the idea 18 years ago, Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude proposed Tuesday that the city call for a permanent car-pool lane on the Santa Monica Freeway.
In 1978, a barrage of lawsuits and public complaints ended a car-pool project on the freeway after 21 weeks. A temporary version of that project has been installed to speed motorists past sections of the freeway damaged in the Northridge earthquake.
But Braude said Tuesday that the temporary car-pool lane has worked so well that city officials should ask Caltrans to permanently convert the fast lanes on both sides of the freeway between the San Diego and Harbor freeways into car-pool lanes.
“It’s working wonderfully,” he said. “Let’s try it again.”
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena, Mayor Richard Riordan and other city officials have in recent weeks proposed the idea behind closed doors. Braude is the first to suggest that the city take a public stand.
The failed car-pool lane project 18 years ago required at least three passengers per car. But Braude said the program will be more successful if the minimum is reduced to two passengers.
The City Council is expected to vote Friday on the proposal.
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