Have you ever wondered why the landscaping is so poorly maintained along the 101/134 freeway in the San Fernando Valley? Yet the landscaping along this same freeway, as it runs through Burbank, Calabasas and Glendale, is well maintained. The on/off ramps in the Valley have just recently been updated with plants and some pink concrete designed to look like faux brick. These improvements looked very nice when first installed; but as the concrete has aged, cracks are appearing, no doubt a result of Caltrans using a lowest-bid process (which turns into the highest cost after all the cost overruns). In addition, due to the poor construction and lack of continuous maintenance, weeds are now growing through the cracks. If these areas do not receive maintenance on an ongoing basis, in a few years motorists will be confronting a forest of weeds growing between pieces of broken and cracked concrete interspersed by mounds of trash and garbage. Given the many years that those of us who drive the 101/134 freeway have been waiting for new landscaping and hardscaping, it is both a disappointment and surprise that the bureaucrats would not go the extra mile and do it right. An effort should have been made to develop these areas so that they would last for many years instead of becoming long-term, high-maintenance projects. As we all know, a job done half-right never lasts, and that is the case here. With a little investigation, due diligence and review of other projects in other parts of the county or state, those in charge of freeway landscaping would have found many good ideas that would have provided much longer lasting results. With the freeway landscape project now completed, we need to find a long-term solution to keep this key Valley freeway maintained so that it doesn’t revert to what it looked like a couple of years ago. Then there is the challenge of raising the funding to do the job correctly and permanently so driving our freeway is, if not pleasurable, at least less burdensome. Installing signs One solution would be to install small identification signs one-quarter or one-half mile in advance of each off ramp. These small but large-enough-to-read rectangular signs would hold four business logos advertising the businesses located at the next off ramp (i.e., fast-food restaurants, gas stations, hotels/motels and banks). Many motorists who travel along the Valley’s freeways are in need of such services, but are not always aware of what is available at the next off-ramp. Not having to miss an exit or get off on the wrong ramp would be a very valuable service to motorists. Businesses that would like their location identified with an off-ramp would pay an advertising fee. These monies collected would then pay for an ongoing landscaping/hardscaping maintenance program. Local landscapers could be used and have a small identification sign in the landscaping area identifying their company’s name and phone number. This way it will almost ensure the landscaping would be well maintained and litter removal would be improved. This is neither a new idea nor is it unheard of by cty employees or Caltrans. When driving across our great state, I have noticed many areas which employ this approach to improve freeway design and maintenance with creative funding sources. This approach is used for graffiti removal, why not landscaping? I have witnessed this along highways in numerous other states. Why not here? I asked these questions to Caltrans and to some of the employees at DOT. Their “state of the art” answers were: (1) It is not in the ordinance or (2) The area is too dense and it would not be allowed. Others, use as an excuse, their contention that there are already too many signs on the freeway. My response: get rid of the signs that do not make sense such as signs that read “North 101” conflicting with the signs that read “West 101”. I am not sure which one is correct. Wake up Valley leaders and Caltrans. Let’s make our landscaping as good, or better, than that of adjacent cities. Rickey M. Gelb is general partner of the Gelb Group A Family of Companies.
