2023 Was the Year of Metro Freeway Widening

2023 was the year of Metro freeway expansion. Metro, in partnership with Caltrans District 7, finished more than $3 billion worth of freeway widening projects, yet there's no end in sight for continued massive L.A. County freeway widening.

This year, Metro's highway builders quietly finished work on two 5 Freeway mega-projects.

Metro and Caltrans wrapped up work on their $1.8 billion South County 5 Freeway widening South, which extends 7 miles from the 605 Freeway to Orange County. Metro and Caltrans acquired 423 full parcels, mostly homes and apartment buildings now demolished. The initial phase of construction broke ground in 2011, with an overall anticipated 2016 completion date. The project was apparently completed in mid-2023.

Also this year, Metro and Caltrans finished construction on their $1.3+ billion 5 Freeway widening - North, which extends twelve miles from the 134 Freeway in Glendale to the 118 Freeway in Mission Hills, including major work through the city of Burbank. Construction, plagued by delays and cost overruns, got underway in 2010, then expected to be done in 2017. Work apparently concluded in mid-2023.

Streetsblog notes that these completions are "apparent," as neither Metro nor Caltrans appear to have formally announced that these projects are done. Usually when infrastructure builders finish $3 billion worth of construction, elected officials and agency leaders celebrate their accomplishments. For the 5 Freeway mega-projects North and South, Metro and Caltrans scrubbed the widenings from their website active project lists, deleted the project website and social media accounts, stopped sending e-blasts, and quietly moved on to other work. Metro's The Source touted various freeway project groundbreakings (example) but has been mum on recent freeway project completions.

Speaking of other Metro/Caltrans freeway expansion work, Metro continues to dramatically expand its annual highway expansion budget. Metro's current annual highway construction budget is more than $600 million; this amount represents a huge increase from just $264 million in Fiscal Year 2020-21.

Under construction Metro/Caltrans freeway expansion projects include:

• $679 million North County 5 Freeway widening through Santa Clarita
• $180+ million initial phase of 71 Freeway widening through Pomona
• $62 million 405 Freeway widening through Torrance

In 2023 Metro and Caltrans approved and/or started construction of new freeway expansion projects:

• In May, Metro, Caltrans and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments broke ground on a supposedly final phase of their $500+ million widening of the 57 and 60 Freeways confluence.
• In June, Metro approved $8 million in matching funds for seeking further grant funding for a $120+ million 405 Freeway widening near LAX, a project approved under false pretenses.
• In November, Metro approved $174 million for its planned ~$220+ million 91 Freeway widening through North Long Beach.
• In November, Metro also approved $33 million for its ~$40+ million South Street 605 Freeway ramp widening in Cerritos, as a precursor for adding another lane to the mainstem of the 605.

Metro keeps on gearing up for plenty more mega-widening, with community meetings in the next couple months for Metro's massive 605 Freeway expansion, including the $6+ billion 605 Freeway Corridor Improvement Project (605CIP, which would include expanding the 605, 5, 10, 60 and 105 Freeways) which is part of Metro's "$10+ Billion" overall 605 Freeway expansion.

Metro is also planning further expansion of the 10, 14, 71, 91 (multiple projects), 105, 110, 138, and 405 (multiple projects) Freeways.

Metro's massive barrage of freeway construction comes at a massive expense to low-income communities and to the climate.

Metro is continuing to push more and more car and truck traffic through already pollution-burdened communities, primarily in Southeast Los Angeles' "diesel death zone." Under intense community pressure, Metro and Caltrans have backed off of some of their most egregious announced evictions/demolitions (example) but they continue to pressure some families to relocate.

2023 is the warmest year on record. Tailpipe emissions account for nearly half of L.A. County greenhouse gas emissions. Metro's own reporting shows its planned freeway widening would increase emissions more than all of its transit projects would reduce.

What will it take for Metro and Caltrans to stop their massive push for freeway expansion, and instead invest more in modes that improve equity, health, and the environment?