March 29, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Tunneling for Mobility

Starting this year permits from the Santa Monica Planning Department will require a  new additional fee called “Travel Demand Forecasting Model.” 

This has come not a moment too soon, as the model predicts that the neighborhood of Sunset Park will reach traffic paralysis at  5:22 p.m. on April 1, 2022. At that time evening traffic, having already gridlocked all the streets, will start to overload all the possible alleys via Waze and that quarter of the City will freeze in terminal rigor mortis. This is due to the approximately 2-mile barrier along our southern border formed by the Airport and Penmar Park, leaving only three undersized outlets for southbound traffic: Lincoln Blvd, 23rd Street/Walgrove and Bundy/Centinela.  

Fortunately the traffic wizards of S.M.art (Santa Monican Architects for Responsible Tunneling) are implementing a brilliant solution: drilling a mile long tunnel straight north under the airport from the intersection of Walgrove and Airport Avenue, to the east edge of Virginia Park at the Cloverfield Blvd and Kansas intersection. 

There will be signals at each end allowing the two reversible lanes to be northbound in the morning and southbound in the evening. 

This added capacity will not only keep traffic out of Sunset Park but also alleviate traffic along 23rd Street, Bundy and Lincoln, currently all streets which are in total gridlock. The tunnel will feed traffic to Cloverfield, Pico and the 10 Freeway at the north end while at the south end it can feed Rose, Beethoven or Venice Blvd via Walgrove. The City of Los Angeles has already agreed to optimize Walgrove by removing allowed parking on the east side in the morning (7-9 a.m.) and on the west side in the evening (4-7 p.m.). These parking changes will expedite flow and prevent enormous lines at the tunnel’s exit. 

There will be three ventilation shafts along tunnel’s length: at the Northwest corner of the runway, and at the eastern “T” legs of the two alleys north of the intersections of Pearl and Cloverfield and north of Ocean Park and Cloverfield. 

Finally, now that it is shortened, the construction staging area will be at the west end of the runway. 

The excavated soil will be used to raise the parking lot north of the Pier and to build a curving vehicle ramp west of the Life Guard Station Headquarters to allow emergency vehicles and periodic deliveries to go from Seaside Terrace up to the vacated pier parking lot.  This ramp road will have a traffic light at Ocean Front Walk.  These shoreline improvements will defend our greatest tourist asset, the Pier, and our most vulnerable transportation asset, the Mc Clure tunnel, from inevitable sea level rise and will avoid the need for another vehicle bridge at the south edge of the pier when the existing pier bridge is rebuilt  for pedestrian use only. 

It will take three years to complete (two years of design, EIR and bidding followed by one year of construction) and will cost an estimated $70 million or half the cost of the new City Hall Annex. 

While value engineering is still underway, the City may consider making the tunnel car-sized only, with trucks buses etc still using 23rd Street.  The City manager, R. Coal, valiantly trying to staunch the red ink in the City budget, has persuaded Elon Tusk to loan the City for free, the boring equipment used for the experimental car tunnel in Hawthorne.  In that case we will have two smaller tunnels instead of one larger tunnel. 

Finally to reduce operating costs, the tunnel(s) will have continuously projected advertisements on the interior side of the tunnel(s) that are synchronized to the speed of individual cars like they have in the Shanghai subways.  

This being Santa Monica, everybody has an opinion. Several well-known community activists have already weighed in.  Z. Josephson says “I can’t believe it took the City this long to figure this out”, while J. Roobin says he “Loves it: and now with this beautiful tunnel, Santa Monica will finally have a world class airport like Van Nuys not to mention LAX”. 

As expected several community organizations have also been throwing up red flags. Bird wants a lane just for scooters. The ecologists want to make sure the water that the drilling may tap into, will be available for the landscape of the public park proposed in the event the airport closes. The Santa Monica Conservers have objected because the tunnel would disturb the natural setting of the Omni Directional Antenna (ODA), that round navigation aid at the southwest end of the runway.The Conservers wanted this ODA to be their next Landmark that would be a bookend to the already Landmarked aviation beacon at the other end of the runway. Finally, the Sierra Club has indicated concern because the tunnel will disturb the coyotes that live at the end of the runway. 

Apparently, they are the only natural way for a Green City to control the rampant raccoons, that with their prehensile hands, masks and nighttime habits, are responsible for Santa Monica’s crime increase. Finally, the City Council is debating if Sunset Park gets this benefit, what will the other districts get? 

Sometimes the solution to the most complicated problems is right below our feet. Happy April Fools Day.

By Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA

For Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

Sam Tolkin, Architect; Dan Jansenson Building and Safety Commissioner, Architect; Mario Fonda-Bonardi, AIA, Planning Commissioner; Ron Goldman, FAIA;  Thane Roberts,Architect; Bob. Taylor, AIA; Phil Brock, Arts Commissioner. 

in News
Related Posts

Customers at These Palisades Stores Can Get Cash Rewards for Sharing Their Experience

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Thumzup is Starting its L.A. Footprint Expansion with Pacific Palisades Thumzup, a company which aims to democratize the social media...

Homeless Man Sentenced to State Prison for Crimes Against Homeless Women

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Man Pleads No Contest to Series of Sexual Assaults Anthony Pittman, currently homeless, has pled no contest to a series...

(Video) Series A Coffee Now Open in Beverly Hills at 8328 Wilshire Blvd

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Located in the space that formerly housed a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Try the Black Pearl Iced Coffee. @smmirrornews...

Los Angeles County Braces for Heavy Rain, Snow, and Possible Thunderstorms Over Weekend

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

National Weather Service Issues Alerts for Flooding and Possible Tornado  According to the latest reports from the National Weather Service...

Hotel Workers to Speak Out on Harassment Endured at Santa Monica Hampton Inn

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

The Hotel Is One of Five Hotels in the Charter City That Are Still in a Labor Dispute By Zach...

Santa Monica Rotary Club Raises Over $21,000 for SMC Guardian Scholars Program

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

This Grant Will Provide Essential Support to Current and Former Foster Youth Enrolled at the College The Rotary Club of...

 (Video) Philz Coffee Set to Close Westside Location Next Month

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

The Franchise Recently Made Headlines for Changing Headquarters @smmirrornews Philz is closing its Santa Monica shop #coffeeaddict #coffee #coffeeshop #losangeles...

Fleurs et Sel Bakery Opens Storefront in West Adams, Welcomes Customers Three Days a Week

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Indulge in Freshly Baked Cookies at the New West Adams Location Fleurs et Sel Bakery, known for its delectable cookies...

Easter Specials Guide: Brunch Spots, Desserts, and More in West Los Angeles

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Discover the Best Easter Eats and Treats in LA for Your Holiday Celebration Easter is almost here, so here are...

Famous Literary Critic and Palisadian Passes Away at 92

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

A Memoriam Post Stated She Overturned Views on T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound and Other Canonized Artists By Zach Armstrong...

Mixed-Use Development Set for Sloping Property along Chautauqua Boulevard

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

“Canyon Place” Is Set to Include Two Apartment Units and 1,415 Sq. Ft. of Office Space By Zach Armstrong A...

Over Five Miles of Venice Blvd. to Temporarily Close, Become Public Park in April

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

The Initiative, Which Started in 2010, Aims to Connect Communities and Promote Sustainable Transportation Options On Sunday, April 21 from...

(Video) Workers Strike at Luxury Hotel in Downtown Santa Monica

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Meanwhile, Unite Here Local 11 Recently Announced a Contract Was Ratified at 34 Hotels @smmirrornews Workers are striking at Proper...

(Video) Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE at the Beyond Fest Screening...

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Thousands of Hotel Workers At 34 Hotels

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

UNITE HERE Local 11 Negotiates Agreement Ensuring Wage Increases  Hotel workers, who spearheaded the largest hotel strike in modern U.S....