The potential impact of Las Lomas on an already-overburdened northern Los Angeles freeway system is, no doubt, the most controversial aspect of the project.
These factors include:
- Unmitigated upstream housing developments in Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale and other communities.
- Approved and proposed significant residential and commercial developments north of the Las Lomas site.
- Increased population growth, 80 percent of which will come from children of those already dwelling in this region.
There is no significant assistance on the horizon to help relieve this bottleneck. Las Lomas plans to be a part of the solution by providing regionally significant transportation improvements that will add traffic capacity in this already heavily impacted area.
Given the scope of the traffic challenges in this area, a significant public-private partnership will be required to alleviate the current and projected challenges. Any future developments must address this issue –and build into the fabric of its plan a transit-oriented capability.
The Las Lomas project includes a $150 million Transportation Mitigation Program that includes the following major elements:
Las Lomas will create and pay for a continuous four-lane roadway parallel to the I-5 through the following projects, which are all listed by LADOT as Potential Transportation Improvement Projects for which the funding is not currently available:
- Widening of The Old Road to four lanes, with median turn lanes, including the replacement of one of the I-5 truck lane bridges over The Old Road, which creates a current bottleneck.
- Widening of the Sierra Highway connection between The Old Road and San Fernando Road to six lanes.
- Widening of Foothill Boulevard on the east side of the I-5 between Sierra Highway and Balboa Boulevard .
- Widening Sepulveda Boulevard to four lanes between San Fernando Road and Roxford Street .
- Constructing a new four-lane road on the west side of the I-5 along DWP property, extending Sepulveda Boulevard and connecting Roxford Street to Rinaldi Street . This new four-lane parallel roadway will provide significant relief to the I-5 corridor on typical days and will constitute a much-needed alternate route during emergency situations. It will also create an alternative to the use of Balboa Boulevard .
In addition to the off-site transportation improvement program, Las Lomas' mixed-use environment includes a blend of residential options, commercial office space with significant employment opportunities, a marquis hotel, retail, and municipal and school facilities, that will keep many of the project vehicular trips confined to the internal circulation system.
Las Lomas will utilize internal transit shuttles and encourage walking and the use of bicycles for mobility. The Las Lomas community will also purchase commuter buses (to be operated by LADOT as Commuter Express routes or Metro as Rapid Buses) connecting Las Lomas to Warner Center, the North Hollywood Metro Red Line and major residential and employment sites in the San Fernando Valley.
Las Lomas' focus on reducing traffic congestion in the Northwest San Fernando Valley by providing a $150 million transportation improvement package will help lessen the daily challenges faced by regional commuters, while the smart growth principles that serve as the foundation of the Las Lomas development will provide cohesive internal transportation and reduce the project impact on the local and regional transportation system.