Big congratulations to the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council and their community partners for being recognized by Caltrans and Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian for their beautification work on the 134 Freeway!

On September 9th, the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council and partner organization Toluca Lake Beautification Partners were honored by Caltrans and Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian for their community beautification project which transformed all three of the 134 Freeway ramps connecting the freeway to Cahuenga Boulevard. Over 75 Caltrans District Managers attended the awards ceremony, which took place at the Caltrans headquarters in Downtown LA.

Caltrans Senior Landscape Architect Ed Siribohdi says the beautification project was “unique as a public-private partnership for Caltrans,” and that it was “implemented in record time.” Caltrans Acting Chief Deputy District Director Mark Archuleta added that the project served as a model for renewed partnerships with local communities, and encouraged Caltrans to seek additional partnership opportunities of this kind.

The beautification project was funded by Toluca Lake Beautification Partners (TLBP), thanks to a generous grant from NBCUniversal. TLBP is a non-profit organization comprised of representatives from the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce, Toluca Lake Homeowners Association, Toluca Lake Garden Club, and Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council.

Project lead Ryan Altoon – who formerly served on GTLNC in the roles of President and Land Use Committee Chair – coordinated the cooperative effort between TLBP and GTLNC, in addition to administering a competitive bid process; engaging the general contractor; providing construction admin and coordination services; and engaging a contractor to maintain the ramps over the next two years, while the new plantings placed by the project are established.

After a project overview presentation by Siribohdi and Caltrans District 7 Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator Sheila Hopkins, the awards and certificates of recognition were presented by Archuleta and a representative from Assemblymember Nazarian’s office.

Awards received were as follows:

  • California Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway Award
    • Ryan Altoon, Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council
  • California Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway Award
    • Toluca Lake Beautification Partners
  • State of California Assembly Certificate of Recognition
    • Toluca Lake Beautification Partners

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Pictured above, left to right:

  • Dana Boyd – Vice Chair, TLBP / President, Toluca Lake Garden Club
  • Richard McFalls – Vice President, GTLNC
  • Jon Molin – Chair, TLBP / President, Chamber of Commerce
  • Mark Archuleta – Acting Chief Deputy District Director, Caltrans District 7
  • Reyn Blight – TLBP Advisory Board Member / GTLNC Board Member
  • Robyn Allyn – TLBP Advisory Board Member / GTLNC Board Member
  • Deborah Prochnow – Acting Deputy District Director for Maintenance, Caltrans District 7
  • Ryan Altoon – Secretary, TLBP / Former President and Planning Chair, GTLNC
  • Steve Hampar – Assistant Secretary, TLBP / President, Toluca Lake HOA
  • Sergio Escobedo – Supervisor for North Hollywood Landscape Crew, Caltrans