The Road to Resurfacing Is Bumpy

Dear Traffic Talk:

How do I go about requesting repairs for a few streets in dire need in my neighborhood? They have been patched up a great number of times, and it seems that the end result is a plain old bumpier street.

The streets in question are: Farralone Avenue between Saticoy Street and Sherman Way, Cohasset Street between Nita Avenue and Topanga Canyon Boulevard and the 7500 block of Nita Avenue.

I thank you in advance for your assistance.

Ed Prado

Canoga Park

Dear Ed:

The agency responsible for street resurfacing, the Bureau of Street Services, is aware that the above areas need work. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

Richard Evans, superintendent of street maintenance for the West Valley, says Farralone Avenue is scheduled to be resurfaced in the 1998-99 fiscal year, but the work is on a utility hold by the Department of Water and Power because a water pipe relining must be completed by that agency before the street can be resurfaced.

The other two locations are on the resurfacing program for 1999-2000, but both are also on utility holds by the DWP for the same reason.

Evans suggests you call the DWP at (213) 367-1314 for information on the status of the pipe work.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

Every morning and evening at rush hour, I see a lot of carpool lane violators on the Hollywood Freeway.

For $271 per violation, in just one day the city can make at least $20,000 easily. Can anyone do something about this?

A. Em-Ochwattana

Arleta

Dear A. Em-Ochwattana:

The California Highway Patrol tries to monitor the carpool lanes closely, but there are not enough resources to have an officer every 100 feet, says Lou Aviles of the CHP.

Last year the CHP wrote 11,360 citations to carpool violators in the Los Angeles City Southern Division alone.

“We definitely are catching many of them,” Aviles said. “But it’s impossible to catch them all.”

Aviles thanks you for bringing up the Hollywood Freeway violators and says CHP officers will now watch that area closely.

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Dear Traffic Talk:

Driving north on Del Moreno Drive from Wells Drive in Woodland Hills, there is a stop sign at Delta Avenue that is completely blocked by a tree. Thank you.

Stuart Leibsohn

Van Nuys

Dear Stuart:

Tree trimming is handled by the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Maintenance.

This kind of request can be made with the bureau’s service request station at (213) 485-5661.

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Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com