Empire Avenue

After reading the Feb. 2 Leader, it looks like we can expect more speed humps on Burbank streets, this time around Empire Avenue side streets. This is almost getting to be a regular joke around our fair city: Whenever people find alternate routes that are faster, they get slapped down by the transportation planning gurus who want to slow them down. Here is the way Burbank handles traffic problems: First we build a huge new shopping center, then city officials are "surprised" that there is more traffic in that area, then they put up speed humps and stretch chokers which constrict street openings, thereby diverting traffic to main arteries that are already congested, and then they sit around and ponder where to build the next new shopping center in order to avoid the congestion that the last one created.

Laura Sturza BURBANK -- Concerns that a city and Caltrans plan would divert traffic to residential streets surfaced at a public meeting about the proposed traffic-relief project. The city will be ready to curb runoff traffic with measures including installing speed humps to discourage diverting drivers, officials said. The Jan. 23 meeting addressed proposals to extend Empire Avenue beneath the railroad tracks to connect with San Fernando Boulevard and to relocate the southbound Golden State (5)

Laura Sturza MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- After 10 years of discussion between the city and Caltrans, Burbank drivers are closer to getting a major reprieve in congestion from Empire Avenue to other parts of the city. It started with a simple idea. "Wouldn't it be great if we could join San Fernando Boulevard with Empire Avenue?," said Greg Herrmann, the city's assistant community development director for transportation. The plan has three parts, which will be discussed at a public meeting next week.

It's a long way from defense to doughnuts. The tiniest glimmer of a tear moistened our eyes when Burbank city officials, smiling toothily, stood side by side with gilded shovels in hand at the Burbank Empire Center's groundbreaking ceremony last month at the old Lockheed Corporation's Plant B-1. Goodbye, hawks. Hello, doves. For some, the shovels of dirt scooped up and tossed aside symbolized the disappearance of the long-ago glory days of Burbank's former claim to fame -- Lockheed, a maker of world-class aircraft that helped shape the nation and save the world.

Karen S. Kim MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Zelman Development Co. and five city officials will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for the Burbank Empire Center. Mayor Bill Wiggins, council members Bob Kramer, David Laurell and Stacey Murphy, and City Manager Bud Ovrom, as well as Zelman representatives, will meet at 3 p.m. at the corner of Empire Avenue and Lincoln Street for the event. Construction crews already have begun preparing the land for development.

Paul Clinton CIVIC CENTER -- The Planning Board will hold a public hearing May 1 on the Burbank Empire Center. Following the hearing, the five-member board will evaluate the project and its environmental impact report. The board must decide whether to recommend approval of the $200-million retail project -- possibly the largest development in the city's history -- to the City Council. Los Angeles-based Zelman Development Co. plans to build a mix of retail stores, office space and two hotels on the 103-acre former Lockheed Martin Corp.