Jan
26
Los Al Base to go in new BRAC round(s)?
Filed Under 2012 Issues, Planning & Zoning, The Base, Traffic | 19 Comments
(1/26/2012, Los Alamitos) Earlier today the word was that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (left, with General Martin Dempsey, Joint Chiefs Chairman) would seek two new rounds of military base closures, in 2013 and 2015.
Ultimately, Panetta’s announcement wasn’t quite a specific, but did include a strong recommendation for more military base closures. As the New York Times put it, “Pentagon Plan Includes Base Closings and Read more
Jan
3
405/605/Seal Beach Blvd. Construction update
Filed Under News you can use, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(1/3/2012, Los Alamitos) by Christine Byrne, Orange County Transportation District:
WEST SEGMENT - Seal Beach Boulevard to I-605
- Falsework construction on the northbound I-405 (from Seal Beach Boulevard to the I-605 freeway) will continue nightly this week, between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., Monday through Friday and between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., Saturday and Sunday weather permitting. Pending any unforeseen circumstances, falsework construction along the northbound I-405 should be completed this week.
- Falsework construction on the southbound I-405 freeway (between the I-605 and Seal Beach Boulevard) is tentatively set to begin as early as Read more
Dec
21
Gas leak repairs on Los Al Blvd. to end Thursday
Filed Under 2012 Issues, News you can use, Traffic | 4 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 12/21/2011) Late Wednesday update: Repairs should be completed around mid day Thursday. When I drove by mid morning enroute to Nicks II for Nate’s breakfast burrito Americano, traffic wasn’t too severely affected but by mid day it was a different story.
Gas leak?
This morning, when I snapped the above photo, I noticed no significant markings on the trucks, but several holes being dug in the middle of the Boulevard. One of the workers told me it they were doing an emergency repair to do what he thought was a gas leak at Read more
Nov
10
Increased crime, traffic, noise? This is why:
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council, Crime & Police, Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, Traffic | 13 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 11/10/11) by Highlands Guy: Over the last year I have read a number of Let’s Fix Los Al posts from a bunch of disgruntled local folks in Rossmoor and Los Alamitos. Their comments revolved around an increase in crime, traffic, noise and air pollution, and any semblance to the area’s former small town ambiance.
It’s not rocket science, this is Read more
Oct
2
Council making a bad fix permanent tonight?
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council Meetings, Traffic | Leave a Comment
Time for a simple solution?
(10/2/11, Los Alamitos) This post was originally published over three years ago. It’s especially timely now, because Item 8D on Monday’s City Council Agenda is a “Consent Calendar” move to make permanent a temporary fix that may not be necessary. What’s worse, it adds to the congestion on Katella.
While I commend the City Staff for finally addressing this issue, I wish the Council would take the time to actually study if it’s the best solution. In light of the imminent possible annexation of the area affected, taking the time to get it right just makes sense!)
(Originally posted 9/25/2011 [updated comments in brackets]) I’ve lost track of how long we’ve had these “temporary” barriers in place at the corner of Chestnut and Katella (at the exit from Polly’s and Blockbuster), but I know it’s been way too long. To me, it’s another example of current and prior Los Alamitos City Councils not making traffic congestion and safety a high enough priority.
Even worse, the Council’s “solution” is to spend $117,000 of taxpayers’ money to make the barricades permanent, except for left turns from Katella onto Chestnut. [The good news is the current proposal only costs about $17,000, but it still worsens congestion on Katella and may be unnecessary]
I’m not saying it’s easy, and I’m not saying the Council doesn’t care. I’ve been on boards large and small, and I know full well how the minutia of bureaucracies and demanding individuals can keep Read more
Aug
30
Traffic Advisory: Los Al Schools open Wednesday, 8/31
Filed Under Education & Schools, News you can use, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(8/30/11, Los Alamitos) If you’re a parent, you already know. For the rest of us, Los Alamitos Schools (except for year-round Weaver Elementary) open earlier this year. That means:
- All of us need to keep our eyes on the road, watch out for little pedestrians and cyclists, & keep our cell phones in the back seat, like we should have been doing all along.
- The commuters among us need to allow extra time to get past the “normal” congestion of all secondary students being transported to the very northern boundary of the District, incoming traffic from out of district students, & the added flow of teachers & workers.
FYI, our Middle Schools have changed their Read more
Jul
31
Council urged to spend money researching conflicts of interest
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Traffic, Troy Edgar | 2 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 7/31/2011) Our City Manager wants to spend your tax money to see if there’s some way to free Council Member Edgar’s most supportive colleagues to push through two of Mr. Edgar’s pet projects:
1. ”Revitalizing” the one city block of Los Alamitos Blvd. that partially adjoins George Briggeman’s properties, and
2. Giving Cypress all they want from us in traffic Read more
Jul
29
Council Conflicts, Sheridan Sanctions, Massage & Tattoo on Monday, 8/1 Council Agenda
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council, Traffic | 23 Comments
(7/29/2011, Los Alamitos) The Agenda & staff reports for the Monday, 8/1/2011 Los Alamitos City Council Regular Meeting are now online, & there are some interesting items, as mentioned above.
I haven’t had a chance to get beyond Read more
Jul
8
605 Southbound closed at Katella Saturday night
Filed Under News you can use, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(7/8/11, Los Alamitos)Looks like we’re getting a little practice run this weekend to get us ready for “Carmageddon” next weekend, when the 405 will be closed in both directions between the 10 and 101 freeways all weekend long.
Compared to that, this weekend’s closure will be nothing, since it’s only from tomorrow night (Saturday, 7/9) to 7 Sunday morning. Basically it means you can’t take the 605 to the 405 during the “wee hours.” Keep your party right here in Los Al, & you’ll be fine. . . just make sure Read more
Jun
16
Extend our reach
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Parks and Recreation, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(6/16/2011, Los Alamitos)(More good questions & outside the box thinking from our Thursday columnist) by “Highlands Guy”
Yes, many of the challenges we face in our little community are important. Some are relatively transitory, some are not too important when looked at in the “big picture”, and some will have long reaching impact. But, sometimes we have to think about and talk about city-related issues that have, perhaps, very long term implications that need to be viewed with a philosophical big-picture perspective.
For a moment step out of the” Los Alamitos, Love it or Leave it” mindset. Take a look at our actions and think about how we Read more
Jun
4
Summer bicycle safety tips
Filed Under News you can use, Parks and Recreation, Traffic, sports | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 6/4/2011)With summer almost here and the bikeway to the beach or El Dorado Park not far away, it may be time for a refresher on bike safety.
The most important rule is for drivers of motor vehicles: Keep on the lookout for bikes!
- For some reason bikes seem to be invisible to drivers, even if they aren’t talking on a phone! (See # 5 in the NHSA’s bike safety tips below for the flip side of this.)
- Drivers tend to underestimate the speed of many bikes. A few years back I had a driver make a left turn directly in front of me into El Dorado Park Estates as I was heading west on Cerritos from Los Al Blvd. A road bike has about 1 square inch of rubber meeting the road, which limits braking dramatically. There was no way I could stop. ”I didn’t think you Read more
May
11
In N Out, News Enterprise, & more: Your weekly local media reporting
Filed Under News Enterprise & other local media, Seal Beach, Traffic | 10 Comments
(5/11/11) I haven’t seen today’s News Enterprise yet, but I do have something to report that will affect us all from a local media source that has NEVER been mentioned on this site before!
First, the news, about the In N Out that’s coming to “The Shops at Rossmoor” that are actually in Seal Beach.
Most of our readers are already aware of the Inn N Out that’s bursting in, Animal Style on our main north-south artery, right next to the new Chipotle Grill.
We all know it’s practically going to Double-Double traffic on Los Alamitos/Seal Beach Blvd. What you may not know is that this coming Monday, 5/16/11, is the last day an appeal can be filed to the Seal Beach Planning Commission’s Conditional Use Permit approving the Read more
Feb
23
(2/23/2011, Los Alamitos) According to OCTD there will be a FULL CLOSURE of the Seal Beach Boulevard bridge, between Old Ranch Parkway and North Gate Road, on Feb. 23 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for lane restriping, surveying, and installation of “signal cameras” [?] and & “loops.”
Sounds loopy to me, but I guess Seal Beach needs the money? I wasn’t aware Steal Beach had signal cameras, thought it was just Los Al, Stanton, and Cerritos in our neighborhood.
Feb
18
405/605 Connectors Update: No work this weekend, but bridge closures coming
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(2/19/2011, Los Alamitos, CA) Looks like the Cal Trans crews get the Presidents Weekend off, quite possibly due to extra travel or a psychic alert as to this weekend’s weather.
But you’d better enjoy the break, because, beginning in March, we’ll have major bridge work going on for a four years! The good news is it starts with the Valley View Bridge, at least:
Schedule for Valley View & Seal Beach Blvd. 405 Bridges:
The Valley View Bridge nighttime demolition is tentatively scheduled for March 10 – Read more
Feb
11
Applications for 3 Commissions close Monday, 2/14
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Commission Meetings, News you can use, Parks and Recreation, Traffic | 3 Comments
(2/11/11, Los Alamitos) This is a great opportunity to get involved and to give back to our community in an area of interest or concern to you! But you’ve only got until 5 this Monday to apply to serve on three Los Alamitos City Commissions:
- Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Commission
- Personnel Appeals Commission
- Traffic Commission
Applications Are Available On-Line or from the City Clerk’s Office. Completed Applications Must Be Submitted To The City Clerk’s Office By Monday, February 14, 2011.
Most commissions meet once a month. Commissioners serve without pay, but it really is a great way to learn first hand how our city works, to get to know a great group of people, both staff and fellow Commissioners, and to Read more