SOUND WALL ALONG 118 REJECTED IN SACRAMENTO.

Byline: Christopher Noxon Daily News Staff Writer

A legal opinion that Caltrans is not obligated to pay for sound walls along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley has been added another layer of frustration for residents and civic leaders.

Attorneys in the state Legislature believe that Caltrans is not required to provide a buffer for freeway noise in Simi Valley, a representative of state Sen. Cathie Wright, R-Simi Valley, told a group of city officials and neighbors working on reducing highway noise along the freeway.

Neighbors contend that the state highway authority should build a noise barrier because of increased traffic resulting from the connection to the Moorpark Freeway three years ago.

``The 23 killed us,'' said John Luden, who owns a house that backs onto the highway. ``There are more trucks on the freeway now than ever before. That connection has had a drastic impact on our valley, and Caltrans refuses to accept responsibility.''

But state legal officials say Caltrans is only obligated to build sound walls within two miles of the connection, Dave Butler, field representative for Wright, said Monday.

``They felt that if you broaden the definition of improvement to include homes five miles down the road from a project, what's to stop you from including homes 10 miles or 20 miles down the road?'' Butler said. ``You're talking about these kinds of impacts way up and down the state. The impact on Caltrans would be significant.''

Even if Caltrans agreed to pay for sound walls, it would be at least seven years before construction could begin, Butler said. Department of Transportation officials say it would cost $1.3 million to build 3,200 feet of buffer.

Simi Valley City Councilwoman Barbara Williamson said that the latest news from the state is not surprising, given the previous reluctance of state officials to reduce highway noise.

``This comes as no big shock to me,'' Williamson said. ``The government seems to be wearing down the public with this bureaucratic B.S. If anything happens, it will only be because we push, push, push and don't take no for an answer.''

But Mayor Greg Stratton says most civic leaders have resigned themselves to the fact that Caltrans will not contribute to the cost of sound walls.

``It's pretty clear they're not going to pay,'' Stratton said. ``Until the highway is widened in 2004, there's not much chance of seeing any sound walls.''

However, many neighbors of the freeway say they simply cannot wait that long. Homeowners say truck traffic along the highway is so loud they have difficulty sleeping or even talking on the phone.

``I will have met my maker if I have to wait seven to 10 years,'' said neighbor Jack Goodman.

Officers at the Highway Patrol report that truck traffic has increased substantially since the connection was made. But trucks are not traveling along the 118 to avoid scales at the Conejo Grade on the Ventura Freeway, according to Lt. Terry Enright.

``When they travel the 118 they're not avoiding the scales,'' Enright said. ``The drivers who take the 118 take it because they prefer the route. It's shorter and there's no grade to climb. . . . Trucks traversing the 118 are getting as many inspections as the ones traversing the 101.''