July 28, 2006 - News update on Staring Lane Project

Gwynn Shamlin Sr. recently spoke with Mr. Newkirk, Director of the Dept. of Public Works, and found that due to cost increases, the city has moved the Staring Lane Expansion Project to number 16 on the list, from last or second to last where it had been. Interestingly, number 15 on the list is the Staring Lane Extension Project, which will run down to Burbank. Newkirk says that work on Staring Lane has been moved up and will be done in the next THREE years, rather than in the next EIGHT, as was originally planned. The move up in ranking was due to the need to completely replace the sewage line that runs directly beneath Staring Lane as soon as possible. Newkirk also said, according to Shamlin, that the city is leaning toward only THREE-laning Staring Lane, which would prevent any need of additional right-of-ways. Shamlin says that Newkirk opted to NOT put anything in writing just yet. He will contact Shamlin when he has more information for us.