PROJECT PAVES THE WAY FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

Byline: Joseph Giordono Staff Writer

OAK PARK - A major repaving project to repair a neighborhood of residential streets, some of which have not been worked on for more than 20 years, is scheduled to begin this week now that federal and county funds are secured, officials said Wednesday.

The $892,000 price tag on the project will be split evenly between federal transportation funds won by Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Woodland Hills, in 1998 and matching county funds appropriated by the Board of Supervisors.

``I'm pleased to see this project is now underway. It was painfully obvious that something had to be done to meet this repair need,'' said Sherman, whose district includes the area.

According to Sherman spokesman Bill Grady, after two years of denied funding requests, the congressman went directly to the House Transportation Committee and requested the funds be added into the 1998 transportation appropriations bill.

Supervisor Frank Schillo said he was pleased to be able to keep a campaign promise he made six years ago.

``When I was running for office in 1994, I was knocking on doors and one gentleman on Bayberry pulled me aside and pointed to all the holes in the street.

``I told him that I'd look into it, and six years later, I still had his card on my desk and was finally able to call him,'' Schillo said.

According to Schillo, once federal funds and local matching funds were secured, the project was given an immediate green light from the county.

Phase one of the project, which starts this week, will include the repaving of Oak Hills Drive, Conifer Street and all streets east of Kanan Road that have not been repaved in two decades.

Phase two is scheduled to begin in 2002, when additional local and federal funds will come available for completing the project. All roads west of Kanan Road will be repaved in phase two.