Resident Sees Red Over Curb Color

Dear Traffic Talk:

Witzel Drive is a narrow, winding street in the hills of Sherman Oaks. Parking has never been allowed on one side. Imagine my surprise when I recently came home to find the curb in front of my house painted red. Not only can I have no guests or tradespeople park there, it adds nothing to my “curb appeal.”

A city Department of Transportation official informed me that one of my neighbors had complained about speeding. None of the residents were notified of this beforehand or given any say in the matter.

Can the transportation department arbitrarily decide what it deems best for our situation based on one complaint without consulting the majority of the homeowners? What recourse do we have?

Audrey Gladstone

Sherman Oaks

Dear Audrey:

Following complaints from many residents, workers have removed the red curb markings, said Irwin L. Chodash, East Valley District engineer at the city transportation department.

According to Chodash, red curbs were installed after a resident requested center-line striping to increase safety on Witzel, between Hollyline Avenue and Sherwood Place. After workers clearly marked the two sides of traffic on the narrow street, red curbs were installed because there no longer was enough space for parking in some areas.

At the time, officials said they believed there was broad support for the request.

After reevaluating the street, officials decided it was more important to preserve residents’ ability to park as close to their homes as possible, Chodash said. There is no sidewalk on the street, making walking dangerous, he added.

In general, long segments of red curb on residential streets will not be installed without the support of affected homeowners unless there is a history of accidents that could be reduced with the measure, Chodash said.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Please explain the underground construction at the intersection of Camarillo Street and Cahuenga Boulevard in North Hollywood.

The repair work here has been going on for nearly a year. In recent months, what appears to be related underground construction has also begun at Cahuenga and Magnolia boulevards, as well as at Cahuenga and the eastbound ramp of the Ventura Freeway.

Jennifer Goodhue

North Hollywood

Dear Jennifer:

Workers in these areas had been constructing the first phase of the North Hollywood interceptor project, which will collect sewage and send it to the Los Angeles Hyperion Treatment Plant, officials said.

The yearlong construction of the interceptor’s first phase along Cahuenga, between Camarillo and just south of Burbank Boulevard, was recently completed, said Richard Calvo, a construction inspector with the city Department of Public Works.

Crews are now building the interceptor’s second phase along Burbank Boulevard, between Cahuenga and Lankershim boulevards, Calvo said.

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