A new $5.2-million park-and-ride facility near the Lindero Canyon Road Interchange in Westlake Village was opened by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and the city of Westlake Village.
The 400-space Highway 101 Park & Ride lot was fully paid for with Measure R sales tax funds for Highway Operational Improvements, and will help promote carpooling and vanpooling on the congested 101 freeway in the Las Virgenes-Malibu area of Los Angeles County.
The facility, located at 31107 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, includes landscaping and irrigation improvements and lighting for the parking lot and new access roads.
“This project is the perfect example of how our Measure R transportation sales tax is bringing mobility benefits to freeway commuters,” said John Fasana, Metro Board chair and Duarte City Council member. “It will give motorists in the Las Virgenes-Malibu area a place to meet and share the ride, which reduces pollution and vehicle miles traveled, and improves our ability to manage 101 freeway capacity.”
“In concert with Metro, the city of Westlake Village is extremely pleased to introduce our new park and ride facility to serve the needs of the Conejo Valley region and beyond,” said Sue McSweeney, mayor for the city of Westlake Village. “This significant improvement was made possible through the funding of Measure R, the Los Angeles County half-cent sales tax, as well as the outstanding cooperation and assistance of Metro. Our new park and ride facility, along with numerous other major traffic improvements funded by Measure R throughout the County, will have a lasting and highly beneficial impact in reducing congestion and enhancing traffic flow throughout the county for years to come.”
The new park & ride facility is the second transportation improvement that opened this week in the Las Virgenes-Malibu region. On Tuesday, Metro celebrated the construction of a $32 million Agoura Road Widening project that improves safety and provides for multi-modal mobility along approximately two miles of Agoura Road and one mile of Canwood Street.
“The 101 freeway is one of the most heavily traveled routes on our regional freeway system, linking both Los Angeles and Ventura County areas,” said Ara Najarian, MTA board member and Glendale City Council member. “It is nothing less than a lifeline that directly connects hundreds of thousands of commuters on a daily basis. New rideshare amenities like this can help us in efforts to keep this major artery moving as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Under Measure R, Metro committed $175 million to capital projects for the Las Virgenes-Malibu area.
“This is the latest milestone in Metro’s infrastructure revolution that is now spreading throughout L.A. County,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “Metro is now delivering critically needed highway projects that will provide a mobility inheritance for our children. Stay tuned, because even more highway improvement projects are now in the works.”
“The Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments values its partnership with Metro,” said Terry Dipple, executive director for the Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments. “Measure R, the county sales tax measure approved in 2008, has funded important projects in the region that reduce traffic congestion and improve quality of life for residents in our local communities.”
