Caltrans Seeks $4 Million Tiger Grant for Corridor Study and Wildlife Crossing

Caltrans is seeking a total of $4 million from the 2014 Federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program to finance a corridor study in the underserved and economically disadvantaged communities of southeastern Los Angeles County, as well as a wildlife crossing over U.S. Highway 101.

Southeast Los Angeles Corridor Study
Caltrans requested $2 million in federal funds, plus $500,000 in state and local funding, for the Southeast Los Angeles Interconnected Corridors Study, a multi-modal corridor study which will examine two critical goods movement highway corridors and the communities surrounding them: (incorporated) Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Maywood, South Gate and, Vernon; (unincorporated) Broadway-Manchester, Central-Alameda, Florence, Florence-Firestone, Green Meadows, Historic South Central, South Park, Watts and Walnut Park.

The Interstate 710 and Alameda Corridor are critical transportation corridors in this study that distribute goods nationally from the nation’s two busiest seaports, the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. They also suffer from some of the worst congestion in the state and nation. Due to the vital role the routes play in freight movement, it is important that these transportation services be as effective and efficient as possible for their role in national and international economies.



Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing  
This TIGER grant also seeks $2 million in funding for the environmental document and engineering design phases of a future wildlife crossing over U.S. Highway 101 at Liberty Canyon Road in Agoura Hills. Roads and other infrastructure can fragment animal habitats, creating barriers to their movement and increasing the risk of collisions between vehicles and animals. US Highway 101 is an impassible barrier for wildlife migrating into or out of the Santa Monica Mountains. Animals with large home ranges, such as mountain lions, are essentially trapped within the mountain range, which can result in inbreeding and high mortality rates. This wildlife crossing promises to provide for an improved habitat connection across a fragmented landscape, which will help sustain and improve the genetic diversity of mountain lions, deer, coyotes and other native species.

Support for this project has come from a broad coalition of local, state and federal agencies, as well as several elected officials and non-profit organizations. Caltrans is working with these local and regional partners to integrate critical and sustainable environmental considerations into the region’s transportation network. Partner agencies also pledged matching funds and in-kind services to assist in this effort. The TIGER program, which began as part of the federal Recovery Act, offers federal funding possibilities for large, multi-modal projects.

These federal funds leverage money from private sector partners, state, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations and transit agencies. Since 2009, California has received a total of $71.4 million for transportation projects across the state. 2014 TIGER grant awards are expected to be announced later this year.

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Director's Corner: Malcolm Dougherty on Transportation Funding

If you’ve been following the news, you’re probably aware the House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would raise nearly $11 billion and extend current highway and mass transit funding levels through May 2015. The House’s measure is financed by higher customs fees, changes to pension plans, and money from a fund to repair leaking underground fuel storage tanks. The Senate is considering a similar bill. 

I recently wrote a letter to the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, as well as California’s Congressional delegation, calling on them to approve at least a short-term fix before Congress’ August break begins. If the House and Senate cannot reach an agreement on at least a short-term fix to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund solvent by August 1, the U.S. Department of Transportation will begin limiting reimbursements for states. Should the reduced federal reimbursements continue into the new federal fiscal year, which begins October 1, Caltrans will recommend to the California Transportation Commission that no new projects be allocated until challenges at the federal level are overcome. While we maintain a sufficient cash balance to weather a short-term disruption of federal reimbursements, we can only do so with the assurance that the federal government will continue to honor commitments made to projects already underway. 

The long-term issue is that our funding isn’t guaranteed. The state receives more than $3 billion in federal funding annually for transportation projects. Most of it comes from fuel taxes, and for the last 21 years, motorists have paid the same tax on each gallon of gas, while they are purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles that go further with less fuel. This means less funding for transportation. The California State Transportation Agency, together with Caltrans, the California Transportation Commission and our regional transportation partners, is leading the effort to develop recommendations for alternate transportation funding sources, such as road usage charges and a statewide tolling and pricing policy. We must continue to explore new ways to fund transportation, so we can sustain our world-class system now and into the future.
 

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Accessing LAX During Century Crunch

Century Crunch is this weekend, July 25-28, and those planning to travel to LAX are being reminded that Century Boulevard at Aviation Boulevard will be closed for 57 hours so that an old railroad bridge can be demolished and replaced by a new state-of-the-art light-rail station for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project.

The closure will begin at 9 p.m. Friday, July 25 and end at 6 a.m. Monday, July 28. The best advice is to avoid the area but for those who must reach the airport, there are options.

Public transit is the best way to avoid what could be a difficult drive. Metro has five bus lines (102, 111, 117, 232 and 120) and the Metro Green Line serving LAX. Take the Green Line to Aviation/LAX Station. Go downstairs and catch the free LAX “G” shuttle. It serves all terminals. Go to metro.net for details. 

The LAX FlyAway runs regular service to the airport, as do other municipal lines. The FlyAway links to the airport from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, the Metro Expo LaBrea Station, Van Nuys, Westwood and Santa Monica. For FlyAway details go to lawa.org/flyaway. Municipal lines that serve LAX include Beach Cities Transit, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and Culver City Bus. Go to their websites for details.

Century Boulevard is a major artery to Los Angeles International Airport with more than 92,000 motorists traveling through the Century and Aviation boulevards intersection daily so it is imperative that drivers plan ahead embarking on a trip to the airport during Century Crunch weekend.

 If you absolutely must drive to LAX, allow extra time, check real-time traffic conditions by calling 511 on your phone or go to go511.com on your computer or mobile device. And consider this detour: 

Coming from the south: Drive north on the I-405 freeway, head west on the 105 freeway, exit at Sepulveda Boulevard and go north to LAX. Coming from the east on the I-105 freeway, exit north on Sepulveda to LAX.

Coming from the north: Drive south on the I-405 freeway and exit at either Howard Hughes Parkway or La Tijera Boulevard. At Sepulveda Boulevard head south to LAX.

            The $2.058 billion Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project is an 8.5-mile light-rail line that will connect the Green Line with the Expo Line. The Crenshaw/LAX Line is expected to open in 2019.

            For more information on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, the Century bridge demolition, related street closures and recommended detours go to metro.net/crenshaw or call the project hotline (213) 922-2736 or Metro Customer Relations at (323) GO.METRO. Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CrenshawRail and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/crenshawrail.

           Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter.com/metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.

           Follow LAX on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/LAInternationalAirport?fref=nf

           Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/flyLAXairport and www.LAXisHappening.com for airport construction and traffic-related impacts.

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POSTPONED: Fork in the Road Paving Project on Pasadena Avenue - Update

As part of the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) Fork in the Road Paving Project, northbound Pasadena Avenue and southbound Saint John Avenue will be closed from Columbia Street to California Street on Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Saint John Avenue exit from the Foothill Freeway (I-210) will be closed while work is in progress.  Bellafontaine Street will remain open with flashing red signal lights.

Signed detours will be in place.  Motorists should expect delays and consider alternate routes.

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Northbound I-110 9th Street Off-ramp Closures

9th Street Off-ramp

Caltrans will be removing debris, sediment and trash from the storm drain at the northbound
I-110 9th Street off-ramp.  

Construction crews will be working from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday leaving one lane open for traffic to exit the freeway.  This project is expected to be completed by mid-August. Intermittent closures and major delays should be expected.

There will be no work between July 26 – July 30, 2014.

United Storm Water, Inc. is the contractor on this $80,000 project.

Detours will be posted for motorist convenience.

Caltrans advises motorists to “Slow For The Cone Zone.”

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I-10 HOV Project Construction Notice - Azusa Avenue

Beginning Monday, July 21 motorists using Azusa Avenue in West Covina may notice construction workers and equipment set up where the street intersects I-10 . The work is part of the $193 million High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV or carpool) lane construction project, where a lane is being constructed in each direction of I-10 between Puente Avenue and Citrus Street.
Although not a full street closure, motorists visiting local businesses may experience delays. Intermittent access to and from I-10 at Azusa Avenue will be affected. Detour signs will be posted. Work along Azusa Avenue is expected to continue through early 2015.
Pedestrian access will remain available throughout construction.
For project information or to sign up to receive weekly closure notices, please visit the I-10 HOV project webpage.
Caltrans reminds you to “Slow For the Cone Zone”

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Deadline Extended for SR-710 Comments — Tell Us What You Think!

The deadline for written comments on the proposed regulations governing SR-710 property sales has been EXTENDED to 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2014. The regulations will outline how surplus properties along the SR-710 corridor in Pasadena, South Pasadena and El Sereno will be sold. Here’s how to send us your comments:

Email: Affordable_Sales_Program@dot.ca.gov

Fax: 916-654-6378

Mail:

Jennifer Lowden

Division of Right of Way and Land Surveys

ATTN:  Affordable Sales Program

California Department of Transportation

1120 N Street, MS 37

Sacramento, CA  95814

You can also share your thoughts in person at two public hearings this week:  

July 15, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

California State University, Los Angeles, Golden Eagle Building, Golden Eagle Ballroom, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles

July 17, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Pasadena Convention Center, Lower Level, Room 107

300 East Green Street, Pasadena

We’ve set up a hotline for English and Spanish speakers (213-897-8184) and a website to help answer questions about the proposed sale process and how it will impact tenants after the regulations are approved and adopted this fall.

For more information on the proposed regulations, visit the California Regulatory Notice Register or Caltrans website.

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