L.A. freeway projects in jeopardy because of state fiscal mess

Some prized Southern California freeway projects -- including the long-awaited widening of the 405 Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass -- are in jeopardy along with other state projects funded by bonds. The Times' Evan Halper and Jordan Rau have details:

Road, levee, school and housing construction projects throughout California are on the verge of being halted or delayed, as state officials prepare to shut off their financing in the most drastic fallout yet from California's cash crisis. Officials plan to meet today to freeze financing on these projects and about 2,000 others, including park improvements, environmental restoration and repairs to state prisons. Among the efforts that could be idled or postponed are a carpool lane on the 405 between the I-10 and 101 and $373 million in repairs and overcrowding relief for Southern California schools, including emergency repairs at nine Los Angeles Unified School District high schools and five Compton schools, according to lists compiled Tuesday by state agencies. The financing moratorium also could imperil the construction or relocation of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection stations throughout forested areas; a new veteran's home serving western and northern Los Angeles and Ventura counties; a career center and technical education complex for a school for the deaf in Riverside; an appeals courthouse in Santa Ana, and a Cal State University library in Monterey Bay.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[David Galvan]

Well, better that the cuts come at the expense of freeway widening than public transit. Obviously, the 405 needs to be unclogged, but I'm not convinced that continually adding more lanes will solve the problem. I'd predict that traffic jams through the pass would be just as bad within a year or two of a new lane completion. There are simply too many people with cars available to fill any new space we create.

If this project does get postponed, I predict more people will get fed up and either start taking (or at least become more vocal in demanding) better alternative transit options. Now's the time to press for not just growing our existing transportation system, but making some changes to it that will pay off long term.

[TAT]

Can you tell us precisely which projects in LA County are actually being halted as a result of the vote yesterday at the Pooled Money Investment Board meeting? Thanks.