Ventura Supervisors Divided Over Study of Traffic Impact

County supervisors in Ventura County are divided on whether to do a new study of the traffic impact of the controversial Ahmanson Ranch project, just outside the Los Angeles County border near Thousand Oaks.

The traffic projections used by the supervisors in approving the massive 10,000-resident project have come under review since Los Angeles County officials said they understated the impact on the already crowded Ventura Freeway by up to 20%.

For example, along a stretch of Ventura Freeway between Lost Hills and Las Virgenes roads, the 1992 Ventura report estimated 218,000 average daily trips in the year 2010. Los Angeles County, however, now projects more traffic, with 274,000 average daily trips for that freeway section.

Traffic projections have long been a contentious issue between supporters and opponents of Ahmanson Ranch, a project proposed for just inside Ventura County’s eastern border with Los Angeles County.

Supervisors Judy Mikels and Frank Schillo both agree that an updated study should be performed.

Mikels said new numbers, if significantly higher, could mean another battle in court. “I’d hate to see it end up in court, but it probably will,” she said.

Schillo also sees the potential for another court challenge, but said he had “asked specifically the last time that we make sure we have an updated study on traffic included in the supplemental report.”

But supervisor John Flynn opposed a new study. “I think you can drag these things out for such a long time, it’s a good strategy [for opponents],” he said.