Railroad Crossing at Mason Approved
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A plan to ease the north-south traffic flow in the San Fernando Valley by connecting two dead-end segments of Mason Avenue got City Council approval Wednesday.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority approval, a necessary step before the proposed railroad crossing at Mason between Nordhoff and Plummer streets can proceed, has been a stumbling block in the past.
Councilman Hal Bernson, who represents the northwest Valley, has sought MTA approval for the project throughout his 16 years in office, according to his aide, Francine Oschin.
If the project is approved by the MTA and other agencies, the $600,000 cost of the crossing would be split between the MTA and developers of the proposed Porter Ranch project, with the latter paying about one-third.
Bernson’s motion approved by the council directs the Department of Transportation to first seek Public Utilities Commission approval to move forward.
The motion maintains that traffic on De Soto, Corbin, Tampa and Winnetka avenues would be reduced by the Mason extension, improving travel from the north Valley to southern hubs such as Pierce College and Warner Center.
The crossing area is industrial, not residential, Oschin said, adding that track owner Southern Pacific railroad supports the project.
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