EXPANSION OUTLOOK GOOD PROJECT WOULD ALLEVIATE CONGESTION ON 23 FREEWAY.

Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Ventura County commuters could see construction begin as early as this spring to add one new lane in each direction on the 23 Freeway between Moorpark and Thousand Oaks, officials say.

But they said that if approved later this month, the project aimed at relieving rush-hour congestion could take two to three years to complete.

The widening project would take place between New Los Angeles Avenue in Moorpark to the Ventura 101 Freeway.

And more work will be needed to expand the interchange between the 23 and the 101 freeways, which creates a bottleneck in Thousand Oaks.

The construction work itself could occasionally make congestion worse, although officials said they will try to minimize the impact.

The California Transportation Commission is scheduled to consider $58 million in funding for adding the new lanes and soundwalls to the 23 at the commission's Aug. 18 meeting in Sacramento.

``The people of Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Moorpark will welcome this,'' said Jan Smith, the governmental and economic development manager for the Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce, who commutes from her home in Simi Valley.

Smith said that because of the daily traffic jams on the 23 Freeway, she and other commuters are sometimes forced to take surface streets through Thousand Oaks, which adds to the congestion in that city.

``I'm extremely pleased to see movement on the 23, which will relieve a lot of traffic problems,'' she said.

Dennis Gillette, mayor pro tem of Thousand Oaks, said he will be in Sacramento for the commission meeting.

``The 23 Freeway widening is the highest priority transportation project for Ventura County,'' Gillette said. ``Residents have been patiently waiting for this project to begin for several years, and I want to be there to make certain funding is secured to begin construction at the earliest possible date.''

Caltrans completed design on the 23 widening years ago and it was ready for construction in 2003.

But because gasoline tax transportation funds from Proposition 42 were diverted for other spending during the administration of Gov. Gray Davis, the local freeway project was suspended.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's reinstatement of Proposition 42 transportation funding in this year's budget means that money will be available for the 23 project, Gillette said.

But he and others warned that during construction, residents of the area could be inconvenienced.

Deborah Harris, chief of public affairs for the Department of Transportation's District 7 in Los Angeles, said Caltrans will take a number of steps to keep the traffic impact to a minimum.

``Long-term lane closures won't be necessary for the Route 23 widening because the work will be done in the middle of the freeway behind concrete construction barriers,'' she said. ``Lane closures might be necessary from time to time to move equipment in and out, but for the most part the lanes will be open to traffic.''

She said officials will try to do construction that might impact traffic in off-peak hours, possibly at night.

Under current plans the 23-101 connector will be expanded after the 23 is widened.

So although the 23 widening might be completed in 2009, it might not be until 2011 that all the improvements are completed in the area, officials said. Everything is contingent on funding, and it is possible the work could be completed earlier or later than expected.

Ginger Gherardi, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, said if voters had approved the Measure B transportation sales tax increase last year, construction could have started already, but starting in 2006 would be welcome news.

``We're lucky the Proposition 42 funding came through,'' she said. ``We expect the 23 project will be approved by the California Transportation Commission this month.''

Douglas Failing, director of District 7 for the Department of Transportation, said he was optimistic, although he couldn't predict how the Transportation Commission will vote.

``It looks very favorable for this project,'' he said.

The environmental impact report on the expansion of the interchange said it would also improve operations along U.S. 101 and the 23 and should improve air quality in Thousand Oaks because it will keep traffic moving.

The Moorpark Chamber of Commerce recently organized the Go 23 Now! Coalition, which includes nearly 100 members from countywide businesses, residents and elected officials aimed at pressuring the state to follow through on the Route 23 project.

Last week Barry Sedlik, the state's undersecretary for business, transportation and housing, met with community leaders in Ventura County, which received more than $11 million out of $1.3 billion in Proposition 42 funds reinstated under Schwarzenegger's budget this year.

The $11 million included about $10.7 million approved last month by the California Transportation Commission for three projects in Ventura County, including $8.2 million for improvements on Highway 126 between Ventura and Santa Paula.

Sedlik said Schwarzenegger was committed to restoring and protecting funds from Proposition 42, which voters approved in 2002 to use gasoline tax money for transportation projects.

``The governor felt it was critical to our state's future,'' he said. ``The governor wants to strengthen Proposition 42 safeguards. We are hoping to pay back borrowed transportation funds and significantly ramp up transportation spending. This governor wants to get these projects moving.''

But he warned that freeway widening won't solve the state's transportations problems without alternative modes of transportation and other measures to prevent cars and trucks from jamming the roads.

Eric Leach, [phone]

eric.leach(at)dailynews.com

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Plan to add one lane in each direction between the 118 and 101 freeways