Opponents Of Westside's Bundy Village Development Say Emergency Response Times In Area Would Go Up As A Result Of Increased Traffic

Opponents of the Westside mixed-use development called Bundy Village on Friday cited a study they say shows a possible 4.5-minute increase in emergency response times for police, paramedics and firefighters in the area if the traffic-creating project goes forward as planned.

The developer, Stonebridge Holdings president Michael Lombardi, told the Weekly last month that he was going to downsize the 385-unit, 12-acre project at Bundy Drive and West Olympic Boulevard as a result of neighbors' concerns. It won't head back to city committees and the City Council for approval until fall, he said.

The study is reported to have looked at traffic generation of 22,073 extra car trips a day around the area of the proposed project -- West Olympic Boulevard and South Bundy Drive.

According to a statement from opponents, "emergency response times during peak traffic hours could result in delays of up to 4 1/2 minutes. A 2008 Princeton University study found that just a one-minute delay in emergency response time can significantly increase the average death rate associated with emergency medical responses. Furthermore, the up to 4 ½ minute expected delay only represents the time for emergency vehicles to reach the location of the emergency, not the time to then transport patients to area hospitals."

On Friday a spokeswoman for Bundy Village had no comment on the statement's claims, saying the developer had yet to see the actual traffic study cited. Lombardi said previously that the project would have created only 18,000 extra car trips -- a number that will likely decrease now that he's downsizing.

Still, some neighbors aren't satisfied.

"This study confirms what Westside residents know about traffic gridlock - it poses real threats to the lives of people throughout this area," stated West L.A. Neighborhood Council board member Xochitl Gonzalez.