Santa Monica Boulevard Upkeep to Go on Ballot
West Hollywood voters will be asked in November whether they want to pay for the city to take over the maintenance of a three-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard that traverses the city.
The thoroughfare is maintained by Caltrans because it was once part of the historic Route 66.
But up to 66,000 cars use Santa Monica Boulevard to cross West Hollywood each day, and it is filled with potholes and cracks that Caltrans has not fixed, said Joan English, the city’s transportation and public works director.
“It’s our main street. Every time we want to do something such as have the crosswalks painted, we have to go to Caltrans and they frequently say no,” said English, who added that the agency has done no major paving work since West Hollywood was incorporated 13 years ago.
In stating their intention to put the measure on the November ballot, City Council members put off a decision on what kind of tax or fee would pay the $500,000 annual cost.
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