Trees, Flowers and Freeway Sound Walls
The Metropolitan Transit Authority has voted to plant trees and wildflowers along Metrolink’s Santa Clarita route. The program, known as the Northwest San Fernando Valley Greenway Project, is a welcome attempt to beautify the environment.
At the same time that this and similar projects are under way, Caltrans is ripping out foliage along Valley freeways and erecting miles of unsightly--soon to be graffiti-covered--sound walls.
These are frequently unnecessary for insulating homeowners against offensive traffic noise. Earthen berms or sound walls placed behind the existing greenery would work nearly as well and be far more pleasing to motorists than the current trend of covering the Valley in cement.
No place is this more apparent and obnoxious than along the Ventura Freeway, an area which is beginning to resemble a concrete box. Let’s halt this practice and save our trees before it’s too late.
FRANCINE OSCHIN
Sherman Oaks
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