Some Roads Get a Pass on Repaving

Dear Traffic Talk:

Now that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Red Line subway station at Universal City is complete, are there any plans to repave the 3900 block of Kentucky Drive between Lankershim Boulevard and Fredonia Drive? It is in dire need of repaving.

--Paige Zito

Valley Village

Dear Paige:

That portion of Kentucky Drive is “unimproved,” meaning the city can perform only minor repairs, said Robert Reed, a spokesman for the city Department of Public Works.

Call the Public Works assessment division at (213) 485-2822 to have the street inspected, Reed said. The city will tell residents what improvements need to be made to change its status to “improved,” which would allow the city to repave it, he said. Property owners will be charged for costs associated with improving the status, Reed said.

Past work on the street was done without the city’s permission, Reed said. Once the status is changed to “improved,” residents may ask the city Bureau of Street Services to repave it by calling (800) 996-2489.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Why do my neighbors on the 10300 block of Babbit Avenue in Granada Hills and the surrounding cul-de-sacs get ticketed for parking on the street after it has been swept Mondays and Tuesdays? The sign says, “No parking from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.” Also, why is street sweeping done two days before trash pickup rather than two days later? I think everyone knows what happens on a windy day when trash is picked up.

--John King

Granada Hills

Dear John:

A citation issued after the regulated time is not valid and is easy to cancel, said Rudy Carrasco, deputy chief of the city Office of Parking Management.

Residents may discuss the disputed citations with a supervisor at (818) 756-9975. To request a hearing to dispute a parking citation, call (818) 901-7027.

City workers rarely give street sweeping tickets to vehicles parked legally, Carrasco said.

Cars may have received citations for violations unconnected to street sweeping, including parking in the same place for longer than 72 hours, Carrasco said. To discuss street sweeping times, call the Bureau of Street services at (800) 996-2489.

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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.news@latimes.com.