Freeway improvement work considered disappointing
By IRENE MANAHAN Special to the Daily Press
LOS ANGELES While some commuters on congested Los Angeles freeways should get some relief, those on the Westside may feel stuck in a rut.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has made its choices from 149 projects proposed by the state Department of Transportation and regional agencies to improve state highways. Close to $2.8 billion will be spent on 43 projects statewide — but just three are in LA County and none have much bearing on Westside traffic.
“Only 12 percent has been allocated to L.A. — that’s pretty startling,” said Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom.
Despite the fact that 28 percent of all Californians live in LA County and suffer from the most congested highways in the state, the county was recommended to receive less than 12 percent of the $2.8 billion in funding. The moneys are the first being spent to execute the beginning stages of Proposition 1B, the $19.9 billion fund approved by voters last November.
The winning projects are expected to produce “more than 270,000 hours of traveler time savings during the peak commute periods and provide important connectivity benefits,” according to the CTC.
The LA County projects are: That a portion of the 5 freeway be widened; that the 10 freeway add carpool lanes from Puente Avenue in Baldwin Park to Citrus Street in West Covina; and that carpool lanes be added along the 10-mile stretch of the 5 between the 134 and 170 freeways.
The CTC staff declined to fund a $950 million project to add 10-plus miles of car-pool lanes to the northbound 405 Freeway between the 10 and 101 freeways.
“I think a carpool lane on the Santa Monica freeway is really important,” a disappointed Bloom said on Monday. “The freeways are gridlocked every day and we need to figure out how to move people along more efficiently and do so in a safe and secure manner.
“We are a significant portion of the economic engine... funding for this second phase is an extremely high priority in the funding matrix.”
The notoriously overcrowded 405 Freeway moves more than 300,000 cars each day.
“I’m glad to know that the traffic will lighten in the county. L.A. is just so busy,” said Santa Monica resident Kenny Lieber. “Naturally, I’m also looking forward to seeing more localized improvements.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 20, 2007. Read the original PDF.