---
[ ARCHIVE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive)
# Alert: Public Works Committee Sends Unsafe Glendale-Hyperion Bridge To Full Council
June 05 2015
Written by Joe Linton.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
VOICES-The city of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering’s (BOE) sidewalk-deficient Glendale-Hyperion Bridge design was heard today in the LA City Council’s Public Works Committee.
As at the [earlier Public Works Board hearing](http://la.streetsblog.org/2015/05/15/public-works-board-approves-sidewalk-deficient-glendale-hyperion-bridge/), the BOE trotted out dire Level of Service predictions and threats that the city would lose $50 million if the project is delayed. Councilmember Tom LaBonge and Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell’s staff spoke in favor of BOE’s unsafe design, and against a [road diet option that BOE’s earlier traffic predictions had shown was feasible](http://la.streetsblog.org/2014/08/04/glendale-hyperion-bridge-traffic-projections-favor-bike-lanes-option/).
Public testimony strongly favored the road diet option. Numerous speakers appeared to be setting the stage for a possible lawsuit, alledging lack of compliance with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental justice provisions. Most compelling though was courageous testimony from Caltrans engineer Dale Benson. Benson clarified that Caltrans was not in favor of any specific option, but his statements seemed to call into question the BOE’s dire predictions of immediate funding loss for any delay.
Committee members present, Councilmembers Joe Buscaino and Curren Price, spoke of having to struggle with being “under the gun for approval” for the inadequate sidewalk option being pushed by BOE, even as[ the city just settled a multi-billion dollar lawsuit over failing to meet disability requirements for sidewalks](http://la.streetsblog.org/2015/04/02/l-a-finally-shamed-into-doing-something-about-decrepit-sidewalks/).
Ultimately both Price and Buscaino decided not to approve the bridge item, but to send it to the full City Council with no recommendation. Given councilmembers’ practice of deferring to each other for matters located within a specific council district, the Public Works Committee’s non-approval is unlikely to get in the way of Councilmembers LaBonge and O’Farrell prevailing when the item is heard in council, expected to be next Tuesday June 9.
*(Joe Linton is the editor of [LA Streetsblog](http://[la.streetsblog.org) … where this report was first posted.)*
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 46
Pub: Jun 5, 2015
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Name
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33444-lahsa-is-gone-but-the-homeless-industrial-complex-lives-on)
### [LAHSA Is Gone, but the Homeless-Industrial-Complex Lives On](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33444-lahsa-is-gone-but-the-homeless-industrial-complex-lives-on)
HOMELESSNESS - Los Angeles’s homelessness program is in complete disarray, undermined by systemic gridlock, structural…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33434-karen-bass-trails-in-reelection-race-can-she-turn-it-around)
### [Karen Bass Trails in Reelection Race — Can She Turn It Around?](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33434-karen-bass-trails-in-reelection-race-can-she-turn-it-around)
WESTSIDE - As of September 27, 2026, Karen Bass is in a substantially weaker position than she was entering the June pr…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/finance/33442-the-settlement-bill-nobody-is-managing-inside-los-angeles-countys-sheriff-litigation-tab)
### [The Settlement Bill Nobody Is Managing — Inside Los Angeles County's Sheriff Litigation Tab](https://www.citywatchla.com/finance/33442-the-settlement-bill-nobody-is-managing-inside-los-angeles-countys-sheriff-litigation-tab)
THE NAVARRO REPORT - Last month, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $12.5 million settlement over t…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33461-are-small-businesses-and-workers-fighting-their-true-adversary-in-the-fast-food-battle)
### [Are Small Businesses And Workers Fighting Their True Adversary In The Fast-Food Battle?](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33461-are-small-businesses-and-workers-fighting-their-true-adversary-in-the-fast-food-battle)
THE WORKPLACE - On Sept. 8, the Los Angeles City Council voted to get one step closer to expanding Fair Work Week to fa…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33445-follow-the-money-the-underdog-vs-the-bike-path)
### [Follow the Money: The Underdog vs. the Bike Path](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33445-follow-the-money-the-underdog-vs-the-bike-path)
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY - Years ago, I was shooting ringside as a boxing photographer when I noticed Sylvester Stallone s…
---
## [ ARCHIVE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15339-early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles)### [Early Intervention and Jobs are Key to Stemming Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15339-early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles)
### [Tucker Carlson and Gay Rightwinger Blame California Wildfires On Hiring LGBTQ People](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/18755-tucker-carlson-and-gay-rightwinger-blame-california-wildfires-on-hiring-lgbtq-people)
### [Anti-LGBTQ Veep Just Can’t Stop Talking about Mayor Pete](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/17690-anti-lgbtq-veep-just-can-t-stop-talking-about-mayor-pete)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15316-news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties)### [NEWS PULSE: ‘Corrupt System’ Reason for Not Voting in 2018 … Majority Wants More Than Two Parties](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15316-news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/10245-dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles)### [Dead Dog Set on Fire … Sparks Fears for Strays in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/10245-dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles)