Politics & Government

Do Locals Want a Road Diet Test Case in Montrose?

The Honolulu Avenue road diet launches a heated discussion among Glendale transportation officials and residents, both supporters and opponents to the project.

Locals on inch-thin wheels or monster truck tires have at least one thing in common: both riders share the road.

One particular road--Honolulu Avenue in Montrose--drew a local crowd including everyone from spandex-loving cyclists to strictly automobile enthusiasts inside Sparr Heights Community Center Wednesday.

The group came to comment on the road diet test case that will slim four vehicle lanes to two lanes, adding a center turn lane and a bike lane heading both east and west along Honolulu Avenue, between Las Palmas Avenue and Ramsdell Avenue.

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Glendale City Council approved the test case in February and also approved Glendale's new draft Bicycle Transportation Plan on Tuesday.  

Several locals were concerned that the city did not ask for local output.

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"The city's already made up thier mind to put it in and we're finding out now," said Bill Warner, who has lived in the area for 45 years.

"I'm concerned that the motorist is taking the short end of the deal," Warner said.

Glendale officials disagree. The road diet test case proposal was publicized on the city's website, in the draft Bicycle Transportation Plan and eventually .

Residents came with a number of questions and comments for Glendale transportation officials, including some of these:

Why was Honolulu Avenue, between Las Palmas Avenue and Ramsdell Avenue, chosen for a road diet? 

About 11,000 to 12,000 cars drive along Honolulu Avenue each day, said Jano Baghdanian, Traffic and Transportation Administrator for the City of Glendale. 

"We’ve really gone and studied the street. We’ve looked at it to see what are the implications. In general, when you’re narrowing down a street, the speed of traffic goes down," Baghdanian said. 

He said the location was chosen as a test case to see if the lane changes could either decrease or increase travel time in the area. 

"I emphasize this is a test. Speed, volume, accident history [are] going to be factors in the evaluation," Baghdanian said. 

The one-year study could begin in either May or June, he said. Following the test will be a six to nine month evaluation, speed survey and bicycle count.  

"We’ll be happy to come back and share the results of the study," Baghdanian said. "The Transportation Commission will review the study, city council will review and decide whether to make it permanent or not." 

How many cyclists ride along the road diet area? 

About 108 cyclists passed during a four-hour period at Honolulu and La Crescenta avenues, Baghdanian said.

Several people at the meeting began repeatedly shouting, 'No,' while Baghdanian continued to give the presentation. 

Later, Bill Weisman, Transportation & Parking Commissioner, said he was the person who conducted the count, saying that the figure was accurate.

"It is so not gratifying to think so many people in this room think I’m a liar. We did not count people on skateboards or ghosts bicyclists," Weisman said, adding that the study also noted what direction cyclists entered the intersections. 

Leann Warner, a lifetime La Crescenta resident, still wasn't convinced.

"I travel Honolulu all the time and I don't see 100 bicycles each day," she told Patch. 

How will the city fund the road diet and bicycle lanes?

"We have funds that we’ve allocated exactly for bicycle facilities," Baghdanian said.

funds, Baghdanian said in February, when the road diet was approved.

The Transportation Development Act supports public projects that plan facilities for pedestrian and bicycling, according to Glendale's Bicycle Transportation Plan

Comments:

"A road diet is so good for non-bicyclists because it reduces the pollution, fewer cars on the road, it slows the traffic down so it's safer, fewer accidents and I just like to see the exercise," Sharon Weisman told Patch.

She described another area with bike lanes in La Crescenta, along Santa Carlota Street. 

"Moms with strollers, dog walkers, they're all out with the bicyclists in the bike lane and it's charming, it makes it a lot friendlier. you meet your neighbors, there are all kinds of positive things." 

She suggested that La Crescenta locals look to examples like York Boulevard road diet in Eagle Rock, which also hosts small businesses within a residential area. 

"I think people need to just give it a chance. People get angry and they don't stop and think about it. So i hope they will," she said.

Verdugo Woodlands resident Arye Gross said he wants to see how the test case works. 

"Let's try a mile of road diet and let's see what works about it and see what doesn't work about it," Gross said. 

Gross thinks it's crucial for the area to curb the number of vehicles on the road and keep people safe. 

"We as the residents of Glendale, and north Glendale, we are absolutely 100% responsible for every car accident that happens on these roads if we do not start implementing traffic holding measures and nobody's going to make it happen for us," Gross said.

"The situation's not going to improve unless we do it," Gross said. 

"We cannot live in a city where... elderly people and children take their life in their hands when they go out to walk on the street or to ride bicycles, or for that matter, get behind the wheel of a car," Gross said. 

How can locals send personal feedback about the road diet?

Information available for review on the Honolulu Avenue Road Diet website, honoluluroaddiet.com. .

Anyone with questions or comments is encouraged to contact Glendale's Traffic & Transportation Division at (818) 548-3960 or email HonoluluRoadDiet@ci.glendale.ca.us.

People who want to learn more about bicycling and walking advocacy in Glendale can also visit Walk Bike Glendale's website at walkbikeglendale.wordpress.com

[Note: A previous version of this article stated that 180 bikes were counted during a four-hour period at Honolulu and La Crescenta avenues. This is incorrect. The correct number is 108 and Montrose Patch regrets this error.] 

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