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| Councilmember Krekorian with Metro Board Chair John Fasana, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Tony Cardenas, Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes, and community leaders celebrated the opening of the new Metro pedestrian tunnel. | Photo: CD2 |
Dear Friend:
For the thousands of riders who connect between the Orange and Red Line stations in North Hollywood, rushing across busy, and often times dangerous Lankershim Boulevard has become part of their commute, but not anymore.
On Monday, I joined my Metro Board colleagues to mark the opening of Metro's North Hollywood Underpass Project, a brand new pedestrian tunnel that directly connects the Orange and Red Lines. An exciting day in the history of North Hollywood's forward progress, the pedestrian tunnel marks the continued growth of this great community as the transit capital of the San Fernando Valley.
The $22 million pedestrian tunnel is an important step toward making North Hollywood a safer,
more connected neighborhood.
Equipped with stairs, escalator
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Photo:
Metro/Steve Hymon
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and dual elevators, the tunnel will save transit users up to five minutes when walking from the Orange Line Station plaza to the Red Line platform, making it easier and safer for riders to connect to the Metro system.
The tunnel will reduce conflicts between drivers and walkers, and help reduce the risk of injury along this busy section of Lankershim Boulevard. It will also improve traffic and safety for drivers, who can avoid the sea of pedestrians crossing the street to make their transit connections.
The Orange Line plaza's tunnel entrance is also marked by a newly designed station sign, a "Metro Pin." The large station identifier, which also debuted this week, includes an illuminated M for better visibility at night. Its design will be added to future Metro stations on the system.
More Improvements to Come
The Valley's early history is entwined with rail, which played a major role in the region's rapid growth.
The Lankershim Depot, which opened in 1896, brought both residents and goods to and from the Valley. The Orange Line now travels on the former railroad right-of-way.
In 2014, the historic depot was meticulously and carefully restored, and this fall Lankershim Depot will officially open for the first time in many decades.
Now that the tunnel construction is complete, North Hollywood's own Groundwork Coffee will move into the depot and the entire Orange Line station plaza will be open for everyone to enjoy. The addition of a new park at the corner of Lankershim and Chandler Boulevards will soon follow.
A Metro Bike Hub is set to open in 2018 and will provide secure bicycle parking, retail and repair services on depot grounds.
Metro is also moving forward with plans to develop nearly 16 acres of agency-owned property adjacent to the station. The joint-development project will transform the area,
bring good architecture and a range of housing opportunities and retail that serve the growing NoHo community.
Together, all of these efforts will continue North Hollywood's revitalization and boost its role as the preeminent transportation hub for the San Fernando Valley.
I am trilled to be working with Metro, the community and all our Valley transportation stakeholders to make it all possible.
Very truly yours,
Councilmember Paul Krekorian, District 2
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Transit Measure Heads to the November Ballot
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LOS ANGELES - This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved placing Measure M on the November ballot, which will provide $860 million in funding for public transportation improvements yearly with a half-cent sales tax increase. This follows the Metro Board of Directors' approval of the ballot placement in June. If it passes with more than two-thirds of the vote, Measure M will expand LA's growing transportation network by creating additional rail lines, bus service, bike lanes and paths, and road, freeway and pedestrian safety improvements countywide.
The San Fernando Valley will receive billions in transportation and community funding if Measure M is approved. Here are some of the local Valley projects that will be funded:
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Transit connection between the Valley and the Westside through the Sepulveda Pass,
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Light rail connection to the North Valley through the East San Fernando Valley corridor,
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405 enhancements and other highway improvement projects,
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Orange Line busway improvements and conversion to light rail,
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Extended rapid transit connection between North Hollywood and Pasadena,
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Dedicated bus service to CSUN and the surrounding area,
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Local street, sidewalk and signal improvements,
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Affordable fares for seniors, students and the disabled,
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Completion of full LA River Bikeway, and
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Expanded walkways and bike paths throughout the Valley.
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New City Program Educates Renters
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LOS ANGELES - This summer, the LA Housing and Community Investment Department launched a new program to help educate Angelenos on renters' rights under the city's Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO).
One in every two LA families lives in an apartment protected by the RSO. The "Home for Renters" campaign provides information to both tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities as renters and owners of the city's 640,000 rent-controlled units.
The program aims to bring better awareness to renters about how to protect against excessive rent increases and unlawful evictions, while providing owners with information on how to receive reasonable returns on their rental housing investment in a responsible way.
For more information about the city's law, how it applies and more
about the Home for Renters program, visit
www.HomeForLArenters.org
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A Safe and Smart Start to School
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LOS ANGELES - This week, hundreds of thousands of students in Los Angeles went back to school. As students get back to learning, the LAPD, the LA Unified School District and city officials remind parents, families and students to be safe and smart while making their way to school.
LA police want drivers to use caution and common sense on the roads. Motorists, including all parents, should slow down in school zones, be alert for small children and come to a full stop when a school bus's flashing lights are activated. Additionally, students should remember to look both ways before crossing the street and use designated crosswalks and intersections.
Homework Help
As the homework begins to pile up, don't let the anxiety get the best of you and your family. The LA Public Library has many resources to help students get through their assignments. The library's Live Homework Help program can give them the tools they need to get ahead in school.
More than 3,000 online tutors are available on demand every day from 11 a.m to 11 p.m. for one-on-one help with homework, skills building and test prep.
Professionally trained and experienced tutors will help K-12 students and adult learners with math, science, English, writing, foreign languages and social studies.
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Krekorian, Community Discuss Safety and Services
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EAST VALLEY - Councilmember Krekorian joined the members of the North Hollywood Community Police Activities Board and LAPD North Hollywood Division Captain Stephen Carmona for a discussion about homelessness and neighborhood crime prevention.
Dozens of neighborhood volunteers received updates about LA's plan to address homelessness through more funding for critical housing projects and programs, and how law enforcement is helping reduce crime by increasing community outreach and improving enforcement to make our streets safer.
To get more involved in ensuring the safety of your community, call Councilmember Krekorian's office: 818-755-7676 or LAPD's North Hollywood Area Community Relations Office: 818-623-4001.
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Councilmember Krekorian with Harper Lambert, a Council District 2 summer intern at City Hall. Harper is a junior at Cleveland High School. | Photo: CD2
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Salsa dancing at NoHo Plaza, as a part of the Experience NoHo Plaza entertainment series on Thursday nights. | Photo: CD2
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Summer Movies in the Park - Gravity
Saturday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m.
North Hollywood Park
5099 Tujunga Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91606
The summer movie series continues with a screening of the outer space thriller,
Gravity,
starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Bring a picnic, blanket and the whole family to watch this fun film under the stars.
For a list of all the summer movies in this series, click here.
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Summer Nights with LACMA at NoHo Plaza - Sonic Visualization
Saturday, Aug. 20, 6 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
NoHo Plaza
Between 5223/ 5225 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
NoHo is home to some of the top recording studios in the country. Legendary artists from Miles Davis to Metallica to Michael Jackson recorded many of their top hits in NoHo. Many of these album covers are influenced by visual art, making them equally as memorable. Create your own version of these landmark records, using images of artworks in LACMA's collection and from select albums.
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Experience NoHo Plaza -
Grease
Movie Night
Thursday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m.
NoHo Plaza
Between 5223/ 5225 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91606
NoHo Plaza's summer entertainment series hosts free weekly performances, comedy shows, plays and much more. Join the next event and catch a screening of the classic
Grease,
starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. Bring your friends, family and neighbors for a movie under the stars.
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Summer Movies in the Park -
Seabiscuit
Friday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Villa Cabrini Park
9401 Villa Cabrini Dr. West
Sun Valley 91504
The summer movie series continues with a screening of this story of triumph,
Seabiscuit,
Tobey Maguire and
Jeff Bridges
. Bring a picnic, blanket and the whole family to watch this fun film under the stars.
For a list of all the summer movies in this series, click here .
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Women's Equality Day Celebration & Film Screening
Friday, Aug. 26, 11 a.m.
NoHo Amelia Earhart Regional Library
5211 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood
The North Hollywood Library and the American Association of University Women, San Fernando Valley Branch, invite you to a celebration of Women's Equality Day, featuring a film screening of "Forward Into Light" a recently released documentary film about the life of Inez Milholland, one of the leading voices of the women's suffrage movement. For more information, call (818) 766-7185.
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