City of Thousand Oaks Opens Household Hazardous Waste Facility This Month

Household Hazardous Waste Facility photo courtesy City of Thousand OaksThe City of Thousand Oaks announces the opening of its new permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2010 Conejo Center Drive in Newbury Park.  Beginning May 30, 2014, this state-of-the-art hazardous material collection facility will be open by appointment Friday and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm for residents of Thousand Oaks and Unincorporated Ventura County areas to dispose of unwanted household hazardous waste products like paint, household cleaners, solvents, fertilizers, etc.

More information on local hazardous waste disposal options at THIS LINK or visit the City's GoGreen website at www.toaks.org/GoGreen.

City of Calabasas to Host Delegation of Special Olympics Athletes in 2015

The City of Calabasas will serve as a host city for a delegation of Special Olympics athletes before the opening of the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles.

About 7,000 participants from 170 nations will compete in more than 20 sports between July 25 and Aug. 2 next year at arenas including USC and UCLA. Among the competitions are aquatics, gymnastics, kayaking, basketball and soccer.

Calabasas will be one of 100 Southern California cities participating in a four-day pre-games celebration— hailing athletes from around the globe.

Host towns are responsible for providing accommodations, meals, activities and local transportation for the athletes and their sponsors.

Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/special-olympics.html to find information about volunteering and  sponsorship opportunities.

Hideout Indoor Playground in Thousand Oaks Grand Opening on March 1st

The new Hideout Indoor Playground is opening this Saturday in Thousand Oaks at the North Ranch Pavilion Center, 1125 Lindero Canyon Road, Unit A7. The grand opening event takes place from 11am to 4pm and will feature free activities, raffle prizes, entertainment and refreshments.

This brand new facility was custom designed by Sherry Ehya, with a play area that was uniquely designed with a modern tree house, play stage, art studio, indoor climbing area and more. There's also a spacious parent lounge with comfortable seating, TV and free WiFi.

Learn more at www.hideoutplayground.com.

US 101 / SR 23 Interchange Improvement Project Closures Begin February 10th

On Monday, February 10th, Southern California Gas Co. will begin performing utility relocation work in preparation for the start of construction on the US 101 / SR-23 Interchange Improvement Project. This work is expected to continue intermittently through mid-March 2014.

The following closures will be in effect for approximately the next two to three weeks, to facilitate this work:

• Southbound 101 Moorpark Rd. off-ramp will be closed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., nightly, Monday through Friday, through mid-March.
• Northbound  traffic on Moorpark Rd. at the US 101 undercrossing, will be reduced to one lane only, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., nightly, Monday through Friday, through mid-March.
• Conejo School Rd. will be reduced to one lane only, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., daily, Monday through Saturday, through mid-March.  Flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic and maintain traffic flow.        

To avoid delays, please plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination if your trip involves any of these routes.

Additional lane reductions and/or closures will take place over the next few weeks as utility providers work to relocate their equipment before construction begins on the US 101 / SR-23 Interchange Improvement Project. The project team will make every effort to provide advanced notice of this work to assist the traveling public.

View Ramp/Lane Closures for Utility Relocation in a larger map

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised these dates and times are subject to change due to unforeseen operational factors or inclement weather.

Source: www.toaks.org/10123

55 Hour Closures of 118 / 23 Freeway Interchange February 7-10 and 21-24

55-HOUR CLOSURES OF SR-118/SR-23 INTERCHANGE PLANNED 2/7-2/10

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close the northbound Moorpark Freeway (SR-23) connector to the eastbound Ronald Reagan Freeway (SR-118) at Los Angeles Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday, February 7 until 5 a.m. Monday, February 10.

The closure is required to implement emergency repairs of bridge joints on the Arroyo Simi Overhead structure.

Electronic freeway message signs will begin warning of the impending closure a week in advance. Caltrans is urging motorists to avoid the interchange if at all possible and to expect delays.

Eastbound SR-118 will be directed to exit northbound SR-23 at Tierra Rejada Road, travel eastbound and then turn left onto Madera Road to return to eastbound SR-118.

Motorists continuing on eastbound SR-118 from eastbound SR-118/Los Angeles Avenue will take southbound SR-23 to Tierra Rejada Road.

Work will take place around the clock and may generate noise and dust for residents adjacent to the freeway. Otherwise, the work is not expected to involve significant community impacts.

A second 55-hour closure will be required to perform the same work on the westbound Sr-118 connector to southbound SR-23, currently scheduled from 10 p.m. Friday, February 21 through 5 a.m. Monday, February 24. Additional information will be provided closer to that date.

Source: Caltrans District 7 www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/news

The 101/23 Interchange Improvement Project in Thousand Oaks Starting Soon

The City of Thousand Oaks, Caltrans and Ventura County Transportation Commission are initiating the US Highway 101/State Route 23 Interchange Improvement Project soon!

The 101/23 interchange is one of the most congested freeway segments in Ventura County during peak travel periods. The project will widen the freeway and some of the existing connectors and ramps. Specifically, the project will:

• Add a lane to the southbound 23 to northbound 101 connector and southbound 23 to southbound 101 connector.

• Add a lane to the northbound and southbound US 101 freeway at various locations between the Los Angeles/Ventura County line and Moorpark Road.

• Widen three bridges (northbound side only) at Hampshire Road, Conejo School Road and Moorpark Road. Construct soundwalls between Hampshire Road and Conejo School Road on  northbound side of 101 and between Manzanita Lane and Hampshire Road on the southbound side of the 101 freeway.

• Realign Moorpark Road northbound onramp and offramp. The 101 northbound onramp will be reconstructed to include an additional lane. The Moorpark Road undercrossing will be widened.

• The southbound Westlake Blvd onramp will be reconstructed to add an additional lane. The 101 will be restriped in the vicinity of Westlake Blvd to provide five mixed flow lanes.

The project is expected to be completed in early 2016 and is anticipated to relieve traffic issues at the interchange, improve traffic safety and operations at the interchange, improve local traffic flow and commutes and enhance air quality.

Projected closures of US 101/SR-23 connectors, surface streets and on/offramps will take place intermittently throughout the two-year project. Closures will take place during off-peak hours whenever possible.

To learn more about specific closures and project updates, visit the project website on the City of Thousand Oaks website at www.toaks.org/10123. You can also sign up for email updates at that link.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT!?

Residents are invited to attend a community meeting to learn about the upcoming improvements, general construction schedule and closures. Caltrans and City of Thousand Oaks staff as well as the project designer will be on hand to answer questions on Wednesday, February 5th from 6-8PM at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Founders Room, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks.

Highlights of 101/23 Interchange Project Improvements (Courtesy of Caltrans).

Greater Conejo Valley Chamber Announces Director of Government and Economic Affairs

Assembly Legislative Aide Adam Haverstock Joins The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce as Director of Government and Economic Affairs

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce announces the hiring of Adam Haverstock, former aide to California State Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, as Director of Government and Economic Affairs.  Haverstock will oversee relations with local, state and federal government officials and assist in managing the Conejo Valley Tourism Improvement District.

Adam Haverstock is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Recreation and Tourism Management.  He graduated with Leadership Honors and served as Associated Students President, traveling to Sacramento many times to advocate for higher education policies on behalf of CSUN.

Haverstock worked on the campaign for State Senator Tony Strickland and served as Campaign Manager to for Assemblyman Jeff Gorell during both of his campaigns for State Assembly.  He served on Assemblyman Gorell’s staff as a Field Representative from 2010 to 2013.  A resident of Moorpark, he also serves as a Commissioner on the Moorpark Parks and Recreation Commission.

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest chambers in the state of California with approximately 1100 business members, serving the cities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills.  It is one of only five 5-Star Chambers in  California, as rated by the accreditation arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, placing the Chamber in the top 1% of chambers of commerce nationwide.

For more information, please visit www.ConejoChamber.org or call 805-370-0035.

Wendy Drive/101 Overpass Widening Project in Newbury Park Will Take 18 Months

Update 12/11/13: the NP 101 onramp at Wendy Drive now is expected to open tomorrow, December 12th, after Caltrans programs the traffic controller sometime tomorrow morning!

Update 11/26/13: According to the City of Thousand Oaks, the northbound 101 onramp at Wendy Drive now is anticipated to open on Monday, December 16th due to other requirements from Caltrans and the completion date for the entire project is by the end of December.

Update 9/19/13: In May 2013, the City entered into a reimbursement agreement with the Seventh Day Adventist Church to construct intersection improvements at Academy Drive and the 101 Freeway. These improvements are being added to the existing project and will elongate the project period. Doing the improvements now as part of the existing project will take advantage of the equipment and contractor that is already mobilized and will reduce further inconvenience to motorists in the future.

The project is now 70% complete and is anticipated to be done by November to mid-December. 90% of the bridge's pavement is complete. Remaining items to be completed include traffic signal installations/modifications (estimated completion date 10/20/13), drainage improvements on the NB 101 onramp, asphalt overlays for the offramps, as well as street lights, fencing and landscaping to be finished at the end of the project.

Total cost with the additional improvements is $15.8M, including $10.8M in Federal Highway Grants, $2.1M in gas taxes and $2.9M in developer fees (including $1.4M from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, as approved by City Council on May 28, 2013). the $1.4M will be paid once the site, once considered by Costco as a site, is developed.

We are in the home stretch!

Update 2/5/12 from the City of T.O. Website: Construction period Feb 2012 to Aug 2013. Total cost $14.3 million ($10.9 million Federal funds, $2.1 million gas tax, $1.3 million developer fees. Construction crews begin mobilization February 13th.

"The City plans to improve the Wendy Drive/101 Freeway overcrossing by adding a travel lane in each direction, widening the northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp, and adding bike lanes and signal modifications for enhanced public safety. Periodic night-time full freeway closures will occur. During these closures, motorists will be directed towards the on/off ramps to exit and re-enter the freeway. In addition, the freeway on/off ramps will be intermittently shut-down between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, and re-opened between 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily."

Update 1/31/12: Initial work is slated to start now in the mid-February range but will not have a significant impact on traffic according to the City. The City is awaiting detailed plan updates. Click here to see updates on the City of T.O. website and to sign up for email updates directly from the City.

Originally posted 12/30/11:

Beginning in January the City of Thousand Oaks is widening the Wendy Drive/101 Freeway overcrossing by adding a travel lane in each direction, northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp, and adding bike lanes and signal modifications. The goal of the project is to mitigate traffic congestion in the area (I can vouch for that problem...).

The project starts sometime next month. The project plan on the city website indicates January 30th but I thought I saw a sign showing mid-month closure. Whatever the actual start date is, expect delays and detours over the next 18 (ugghh!!) months! Final striping of the new lanes are currently anticipated for the week of July 15, 2013. But of course actual dates may vary.

This area already gets mighty congested during the morning/evening rush hours, so be prepared. Try getting on/off the 101 at Borchard/Rancho Conejo. There are detour maps on the city website at www.toaks.org/wendy101 but frankly I'm having a hard time deciphering them. Regardless, I certainly will be avoiding that area as much as possible during construction.

Additional Information About Proposed Westlake Village In-N-Out Restaurant

Proposed In-N-Out at The Shoppes at Westlake Village (Image courtesy of City of Westlake Villlage)

The City of Westlake Village has published a video highlighting information about the proposed In-N-Out Burger that will be covered at a December 21 Public Hearing. Featured in a Q&A session are City Manager Ray Taylor and City Planning Director Scott Wolfe. The video is embedded below but here is a summary of points covered:

• Construction of The Shoppes at Westlake Village is moving along, with infrastructure (water/sewer) and paving in place and building foundations and initial framing underway. The target date for opening of the Target store is July 27, 2014 (updated July 2014).

• The proposed In-N-Out Burger is planned for the west end of The Shoppes development up against the existing Bank of America building.

• The proposed In-N-Out lies on about a one acre plot, with the restaurant itself occupying about 3,700 sq ft., which is a typical size for an In-N-Out.

• The architecture of the In-N-Out will match that of the rest of The Shoppes, including stonework, natural tile and other "Older European" treatments. It will thus have a different look than a typical In-N-Out.

• In-N-Out originally proposed one bronze colored In-N-Out sign facing the 101 Freeway, with two others in the standard In-N-Out corporate color scheme. Working with the City, the plan has been changed such that all three signs are proposed to be bronze to match the coloring of other stores at The Shoppes.

• The City wanted to make sure there was adequate queuing space for drive-thru traffic. Wolfe indicates typical fast food restaurants have space for 7 to 9 cars and typical In-N-Outs accommodate 15 cars. The City worked with In-N-Out to accommodate in excess of 20 cars for this particular In-N-Out Burger!

• The City is satisfied that In-N-Out and The Shoppes have adequate walls and landscaping planned to ensure car headlights in the parking and queuing areas do not impact drivers on the 101 Freeway.

• In-N-Out has proposed store hours of 10:30 am 7 days a week, closing at 1am Sunday through Thursday and 1:30 am Friday/Saturday. Wolfe indicates this is subject to City Council review.

For more information about the proposed In-N-Out restaurant in Westlake Village, visit www.wlv.org/index.aspx?NID=351.