Rose Bowl upgrades take form
Sidewalks, lighting, trash bins proposed
By Emanuel Parker
Staff Writer

PASADENA -- A committee recommends installing sidewalks and trash bins on streets around the Rose Bowl for event ticket-holders who park their cars nearby.

The Rose Bowl Operating Company Mitigation Committee also calls for better lighting on Westgate and Palisades streets, which experience heavy shuttle bus and auto traffic during Rose Bowl events.

Lighting for Westgate would cost $161,500, with the cost at $122,000 for Palisades, according to a study the committee released last week.

Two proposals also call for installing sidewalks and trash receptacles along Seco Street between Lincoln and Rosemont avenues, as well as sidewalks on Seco on the west side of the Arroyo Seco between Linda Vista Avenue and West Drive.

A third sidewalk is proposed for the south side of Salvia Canyon Road between Linda Vista and West Drive.

Committee member Porfirio Frausto said these routes are used by people who park their cars nearby and walk to the stadium.

Residents of these areas have complained about what Frausto called TNT: "traffic, noise and trash."

"I think they're doing the right thing," said Leland Zanteson, a committee member who lives on the west side of the arroyo.

His only request, Zanteson said, is to pave the sidewalks with something other than plain concrete.

"You're going down into the natural beauty of the arroyo and we should made the sidewalks of some natural-looking material," Zanteson said.

Putting in sidewalks would cost $873,500 to $1.1 million. The proposed Seco sidewalk between Lincoln and Rosemont raises the price.

If the sidewalk is constructed on the south side of Seco, it would cost $120,000, according to RBOC documents. Building the sidewalk on the north side of Seco increases the cost to $350,000 because more property owners would be involved.

The Mitigation Fund has enough money to cover the first option, but RBOC documents indicate the second option would require $204,500 from other sources.

Frausto said the committee is scheduled to present its proposals to the RBOC on Jan. 24 and to a joint meeting of the RBOC and the City Council in February.

-- Emanuel Parker can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4475, or by e-mail at emanuel.parker@sgvn.com.