NEIGHBORS LOOK FORWARD TO CHANDLER BIKEWAY.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

BURBANK - In a symbolic ceremony, city officials pried four stakes Friday from the century-old Chandler Boulevard railroad tracks where a much-anticipated bike and walking path will be built.

During a brief ceremony at the juncture of Burbank and North Hollywood, residents of Chandler Boulevard snapped photographs and rejoiced at the prospect of a bikeway and pedestrian path lined with 250 trees.

``Hallelujah!'' exclaimed Ilayne Lucas, a Chandler Boulevard resident for 15 years.

Lucas said she remembered when the train still passed through her neighborhood. All that's left are yards of rusted, inactive tracks, wild shrubs and broken glass along the rocky median strip of Chandler, a sight residents can't wait to see cleaned up.

``It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so filthy,'' Lucas said. ``This is absolutely one of the best projects Burbank is doing.''

The $2.7 million project, funded largely by grants, is expected to be completed by 2004.

The City Council last month approved the demolition of two miles of railroad between Mariposa Street and Clybourn Avenue. Pending final approval from Caltrans next month, construction will begin in July.

The project was launched in 1992 as part of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority master plan to create more bikeways and bike lanes throughout Los Angeles County. The agency two years ago released an ambitious, multimillion-dollar plan to build 1,800 miles of bike paths and lanes throughout the county.

Although Burbank and the MTA had been working toward the goal of sprucing up the former railroad land and providing alternative forms of transportation for a decade, the two sides spent several years haggling over landscaping.

Plans for the bikeway include the installation of a 14-foot-wide cement bicycle and pedestrian pathway flanked by grass and up to 250 trees.

Eventually, the pathway will connect to others, stretching north toward Warner Center in Woodland Hills and west toward the beach.

Chandler resident Ernie Seiler said he has already made plans to enjoy the the pathway.

``I cleared out my grass in the front yard and replaced it with stone, like a patio, so I can watch the people and their dogs pass by,'' he said. ``The bikeway will improve the area and will motivate me to walk. This is a dream come true.''

Other residents gathered around city officials and began spouting ideas of how to decorate the pathway during holidays. They envisioned a Burbank version of marathons and parades, flags on Memorial Day and candy canes at Christmas.

``This will definitely be a unifying experience for the whole neighborhood,'' said City Manager Robert ``Bud'' Ovrom.

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(1 -- 2 -- 1 ran in Glen/Bur edition only) Burbank Mayor David Laurell, above, addresses a crowd Friday at a groundbreaking ceremony, below, for a Chandler Boulevard bikeway and walking path.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer