April 2006

In the late 1980s, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began to explore unused areas within the San Fernando Valley to develop a new bus line for improved public transportation. In 1990, MTA purchased a vacant 14-mile stretch of land formerly used as a railroad right-of-way, which extended from Woodland Hills to North Hollywood. The goal was to transform this abandoned, contaminated parcel, referred to as a brownfield property, into usable property that would support a bus system (busway) that would provide alternative transportation to passengers otherwise trapped in Los Angeles highway gridlock.

Read Original Article at CA DTSC web site.

Under a Voluntary Cleanup Agreement, the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) staff provided oversight in identifying and ensuring the removal of soil contaminated with lead and arsenic. The contamination likely originated from multiple sources, including the arsenic-based wood preservative used on the railroad ties, spraying of heavy metal containing herbicides and pesticides to control weeds, and lead from motor vehicle emissions. DTSC staff developed a background concentration for arsenic and lead specific to the right-of-way and applied these as removal action levels. During soil excavation activities, DTSC utilized an x-ray fluorescence instrument to determine the contours of contaminated hotspot areas thereby saving expensive laboratory costs. Dust control measures, in combination with periodic air monitoring, were implemented to ensure that the public was protected from any dust emissions.

The site was certified as clean in May 2004. To date, MTA has excavated and transported approximately 55,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil for proper disposal. As part of the reuse plan, MTA constructed a sound wall to protect the residential area and beautified the community with vegetative cover that consists of native plants and flower beds throughout the busway system. The Orange Line Project, which includes a hybrid powered busway system, a bike path, and a walkway, was completed in October 2005. This busway system meets both the demands of a faster, environmentally friendly means of transportation and remove a significant number of cars from the daily commute.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 11:05 am and is filed under ●Brownfields Success Stories.

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