2-MILE BIKEWAY READY TODAY FOR OFFICIAL ROLLOUT.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

BURBANK - A $2.6 million bikeway along Chandler Boulevard will officially open today as the mayor, middle school cheerleaders and residents celebrate the completion of the two-mile-long project.

Despite its name, the Chandler Bikeway in Burbank is not only for bikes. Pedestrians, in-line skaters and dog owners can use it, but the only motorized vehicles allowed are motorized wheelchairs.

The two-mile bikeway goes from Mariposa Street to Clybourn Avenue at the North Hollywood border.

It was all but completed several weeks ago, and residents have been using it since. But the opening ceremony was delayed as the finishing touches were put on.

``I've driven by in the evening to see people walking with their child or with their dogs. And it can be late in the evening and people will be enjoying their neighborhood and ... it's just a tremendous asset to the entire neighborhood along that area,'' said Mayor Marsha Ramos.

Ramos and other members of the City Council will ride around on bikes at this evening's opening ceremony, along with members of the Burbank Police Department's bike detail.

Luther Burbank Middle School cheerleaders will perform a special cheer, and there will be activities for children and a performance by the doo-wop group The Alley Cats.

The bikeway is an improvement for homeowners along Chandler, who for years looked out their windows at a neglected rail line.

``There was trash, there was broken glass, there were nails - it was a dumping ground,'' said Principal Planner Joy Forbes.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Burbank bought the right of way in 1991.

Construction work to turn the former rail line into a bikeway was originally supposed to begin in 1999, but it was delayed as the project was redesigned.

In December 2002, the City Council voted to remove the railroad tracks.

Reasons for the delays included changes in how the project was funded and a conflict with the MTA when the city wanted to plant trees along the path, contrary to guidelines from the agency, which wanted to keep options open for future transit along the route. The city eventually planted 244 trees.

``I think we need to continually communicate that it has the possibility of public transit, whether it be bikeway or future buses. But it is a public route, and the emphasis at this point, and I'd like to see it continued, is for those bicycle commuters,'' Ramos said.

The bikeway will extend along Chandler into Los Angeles. The nearly one-mile Los Angeles segment will go to Vineland Avenue and feed into a dedicated bike lane to the MTA's North Hollywood Red Line station. It is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

Along Chandler going west of the North Hollywood Red Line station the MTA has undertaken a multimillion-dollar busway across the San Fernando Valley to Woodland Hills, a project that also includes a bikeway. Commuters can also use the Burbank bikeway on their way to the Burbank Metrolink station.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

--WHAT: Chandler Bikeway dedication

--WHEN: 6 p.m. today

--WHERE: Chandler Boulevard and Lima Street

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