Freeway Neighbors Get Sympathy, but No Relief

Simi Valley residents who want to build sound walls to shield them from roaring freeway traffic have found sympathetic ears about their noise complaints but little money for construction.

Residents who live near the Simi Valley Freeway have held a series of meetings with city officials, aides of state Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) and California Department of Transportation employees to push for construction of sound walls along the freeway.

Although the meetings have shown broad support for acoustic barriers, they have so far not found a way to pay for construction. About 10 residents listened Friday as officials spelled out several funding options.

The city could apply for state dollars to build the walls. However, under the state program, only those neighborhoods built before the freeway was completed would qualify. And the city would likely have to wait between seven and nine years for construction.

The city could set up a special assessment district encompassing the homes near the freeway to raise taxes for the sound walls. But Councilwoman Barbara Williamson, who attended Friday’s meeting, warned that such an idea would face stiff opposition.

Some of those involved in the meetings had hoped that neighborhoods built after the freeway might still qualify for state money because the funding program allows sound wall construction in areas where road improvements have increased noise levels beyond acceptable limits. The connection of the freeway with California 23, some residents argued, is responsible for much of the increased traffic and noise passing by their homes.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., Sept. 13 at City Hall.