Below is a big long message from Metro, which is coordinating all efforts related to the closure of the 405 this weekend.  You can read the whole schmageggy, but I will summarize it for you here:  There will be extra LAPD and LAFD officers stationed at Fire Station 99, just east of BG at Mulholland.  Apparently 71 (at Sunset) will not have additional staffing.

If you have an EMERGENCY this coming weekend, please dial 9-1-1 as usual.  If you have a non-emergency, you can call 3-1-1 or 877-ASK-LAPD.  There is no special non-emergency number being staffed for this event.  The Metro 405 project hotline mentioned in the blurb below is a voice mail only number – feel free to call and leave a message if you have a question.

The attachment at the bottom is a press release from LA Fire Dept basically gives you a longer version of the above.

Here’s the longer version from an e-mail from Metro’s 405 project manager:

“Some of you requested a special number where you can call to report traffic and other emergencies over the 405 closure weekend.  I’d like to report back that the 405 project team brought your concerns and requests directly to the Unified Command  regarding a special number for emergencies, as it is under their jurisdiction.  The Unified Command gave serious consideration to the requests and in the end based their decisions solely on the safety  and security  of all residents and commuters during the weekend closure.  The Unified Command is doing everything they can to protect the safety of all of the citizens of Los Angeles.

The Unified Command decided not to provide the public a special call to number.  They believe it’s best that  ALL  emergency calls (medical, traffic or other)  should be placed to 911.  911 has special capabilities that a 1-800 # would not.  If a call is dropped, 911 has the ability to trace the call and send responders to that location.   911 automatically records and monitors every call.  911 dispatchers are trained to provide critical pre-arrival instructions, such as CPR or the Heimlich Maneuver.   911  is set up to directly communicate with the Unified Command to alert them to police, medical , fire or traffic related emergencies allowing each agency to respond as necessary.  Some of you have expressed concern that the 911 system can be overloaded.  It has been confirmed that there is no chance of an overload to the system occurring and there will be additional resources staffing 911 over the weekend.

Keep in mind that the Unified Command will have set up 13 satellite divisions throughout the area for the weekend.  These will be fixed posts and will have personnel from police, fire and traffic ready to respond.  The locations of these have not been made public as part of their plan.  However, they will cover areas north, south, east and west of the bridge.

The Unified Command will be located at a central location in the City of Los Angeles’ Emergency Operation Center (translation from bureaucratese:  in City Hall).  They will have direct contact to emergency responders and also to hundreds of traffic control officers located around the closure and detour areas.  Trained engineers and signal experts will also be on the ground to make changes to signals when necessary.  The Unified Command will also have access to thousands of signal cameras throughout the City which will enable them to make decisions at a moment’s notice.  Technical engineers will also be working at the Caltrans Traffic Management Center monitoring conditions on regional freeways.  It is worthy of noting that there will be regularly scheduled media briefings throughout the weekend and so the public will not be without critical information.  If you are interested in following the details, your best bet for doing so is to follow up us on Twitter.com/i_405 or tune in to KNX 1070 AM.

For real time traffic conditions, the public is encouraged to call 511 or visit Go511.com.  For City related issues, the public can call 311 .  Extra personnel will be on hand during the weekend closure with extended hours.  311 will be operational from 8:00am to 10:00pm from Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17.  People in the County can call 211.   The 405 project hotline, (213) 922-3665, will also be checked regularly throughout the weekend (again – this is a voice mail number only – no human will pick up at this number).  The hotline will not handle emergency situations or provide directions, but will be made available for other questions and concerns.”

405 Closure Fire Dept. Release 0711

Hello Neighbors!

We hope you are enjoying your summer, and that soon we will all look back on the coming weekend during which the 405 will be closed, having survived it!

Below are some links with information that you may find useful:

Bel Air Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council page with info on the freeway closure.

Visit http://www.metro.net/projects/I-405/ for the most current information

Other information on the I-405 weekend closure and associated traffic impacts can be found at http://www.beagreencommuter.com/blog/?cat=266

For airport ground transportation and travel tips on getting to and from LAX go to http://www.lawa.org/405/

Two websites for viewing real-time traffic conditions before getting in your vehicle are Sigalert.com for the freeways and http://trafficinfo.lacity.org/ for surface streets in Los Angeles.

Here’s the official detour map (pdf document will open in a new window) – but don’t expect people to stick to these routes…..

And finally, here’s a list of Metro and Metrolink rail and bus lines that will be free next weekend!  Leave the car at home – use transit!!

Hi neighbors!

I monitored a live web-chat today hosted by Metro.  There were two gentlemen answering questions:

Doug Failing, Metro’s Executive Director of Highway Projects (who previously worked for CalTrans for 29 years)

Krishniah Murthy, Executive Director of Transit Project Delivery for Metro (he oversees all of Metro’s construction projects)

The transcript of the web-chat is attached here; you would read from the bottom up if you want to see the questions in the chronological order in which they were asked.

I have bolded the questions to make it easier to read.  I have also turned my own question about the canyons and another question from a Roscomare resident red.

Please refer to the post below for more details about the closure, which will begin on Friday, July 15th and end on Monday, July 18th.

Evelyn Alexander
Traffic Committee Chair

Metro 405 Live Chat 6-29-11

Hello Neighbors!

If you don’t already know it, the 405 freeway will be closed the weekend of July 15 through July 18, from the 101 freeway to the 10 freeway.  Metro will be demolishing the Mulholland Bridge that weekend (which will of course also be closed!) in the process of improving the 405 freeway.  You can find more information here:  http://www.metro.net/projects/I-405/.

Councilmember Paul Koretz and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky have encouraged people to avoid the area or stay home that weekend.  Unfortunately for us, we are a thoroughfare that many will use as an alternate when the freeway is closed.  This means that we will be experiencing higher than normal traffic through Beverly Glen that weekend.  Councilmember Koretz assures us that measures have been taken to ensure that public safety services to canyon residents will not be impacted.  You can read an article about LAFD and LAPD’s planning for this weekend here:  http://shermanoaks.patch.com/articles/public-safety-will-be-the-priority-during-405-closure-officials-say-2#comments.

You can also call Councilman Koretz’s office at 818-971-3088 if you have questions.

If you haven’t seen the sign at the fire station at Sunset and Beverly Glen, pancake fundraiser tomorrow, 8-11am.  Its free and all donations go to help the fire station improvements, with the City’s budget situation, we have to take care of our own hard working firemen and women.

Pancake Breakfast Flyer

If you can’t make it, please consider donating to the following:

ADOPT FIRE STATION #71

Residents and Beverly Glen, Inc., in cooperation with the applicant, is hosting a meeting to allow residents that may be affected by this proposed two (2) home single family development to learn and ask questions.

When: Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Time: 7:30pm

Where: Les and Dorothy River Community Center
10409 Scenario Lane
Los Angeles, CA 90077

Application Materials:ZA 2010 3363 ZAA Application

 ZA 2010 3363 Site Plan

ZA 2010 3363 Application Package

Budget Hearings are coming up in March and Councilmember Paul Koretz is hosting a Budget and Ballot Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, February 24 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm.  

The event will be held at the John Thomas Dye School located at 11414 Chalon Road.  There will be an opportunity for community members to ask questions, share views, hear from the Councilmember and gain key information about ballot measures and budgetary decisions capable of having a major impact on our City.  

 For more information, please contact the Councilman’s office or visit at http://cd5.lacity.org

Ever wondered who to call in West LAPD?  Here is the contact sheet from our Senior Lead Officer Chris Ragsdale who presented them at the last BABCNC meeting:

West LAPD Five Points of Contact

FOR EMERGENCIES, CALL 911, THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE BUT ONLY FOR NON-EMERGENCY QUESTIONS.

The City is undertaking a change of its Development Review Process in an effort to reduce processing times, increase transparency and make the process easier.  In this effort, they have organized forums to allow residents to provide their input.  All four forums are the same so pick any of the four but pick one, the change will be dramatic and likely easier for developers unless we provide our input on what is important to us.

Information about the forums and the notice can be found by downloading City Review Process Forums notice.