CM LaBonge discusses next steps for 1st Street Trunk Line project

Councilmember LaBonge discussed the 1st Street Trunk Line project with members of the Wilshire-area community on Monday.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge and officials from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power announced plans before a gathering of residents and local business owners on Monday to address traffic and community impacts relating to the installation of a new five-foot-wide water pipe along First Street in the Mid-Wilshire area.

The new water line will connect the lines from two city reservoirs, Lake Hollywood and the Silver Lake Reservoir. It is required to provide uninterrupted service to residents of Central and South Los Angeles who are currently serviced by the Silver Lake Reservoir. The United States Environmental Protection Agency requires that the Silver Lake Reservoir be removed from service because of the discovery of low-level contamination last fall.

“We are working hard to keep traffic in L.A. moving as improvements to our great city’s infrastructure continue here in the 4th Council District,” said Councilmember LaBonge, whose office is taking great care in working with the LADOT to reroute traffic in an efficient and effective manner, he explained.

The First Street Trunk Line project, which began in February 2008 and is slated to continue until December 2009, is broken into segments to lessen the impact of the work on the community.