Meeting_Body
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
JULY 16, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: CALTRANS QUARTERLY UPDATE
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE ORAL REPORT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE the quarterly oral report on the status of the Caltrans construction projects.
Issue
ISSUE
Partner agencies, such as Caltrans and San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) serve as the lead agencies for several highway projects currently under construction in Los Angeles County. These projects, funded in part by Measure M, include, but are not limited to, safety, mobility, and operational improvements on freeways and state highways.
This quarterly report provides an update on two active Measure M-funded projects currently under construction:
• SR-71 South Segment Project (SR-71 South): Caltrans is the lead agency delivering this project.
SR-57/60 Interchange Improvements Project: While Caltrans is a key partner, the construction phase is being led by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), with Metro serving as the funding agency. The SR-57/60 is also identified as a 28x28 project, which includes a substantial completion date before the start of the 2028 Olympics.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
SR-71 South Segment Project
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)/ Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Commitments
Projects administered by Caltrans have federal aid and DBE commitment goals based on the contract bid amount for federal aid projects. SR-71 South did not have federal participation, so a DBE goal was not required, however, the Contractor achieved 0.45% in DBE participation.
Project-Based Equity Considerations
The SR-71 South Segment (Phase 1) Project is adjacent to Equity Focused Communities (EFCs) in Pomona. Communities in Pomona that raised safety concerns will benefit from the proposed improvements that address existing operational deficiencies and unsafe conditions; and provide mobility options. For example, Caltrans received recommendations to convert the corridor to a freeway to reduce the number of motorists that use nearby residential streets to bypass the congestion caused by the signalized intersections along the SR-71 corridor. In response to this concern, Pomona passed a resolution on January 7, 2013, to adopt Alternative No. 3, the at-grade design with no local street crossings between Mission Boulevard and Rio Rancho Road as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for SR-71 South. Subsequently, Caltrans selected Alternative No. 3 as the LPA which is currently under construction.
According to Caltrans, SR-71 experiences collision rates that are higher than the state’s average traffic collision rates, 1.48 collisions per million vehicle miles, as compared to 1.14 collisions per million vehicle miles countywide reported for a 3-year period. The fatal injury rate also exceeds the expected rate by 19%. Collisions are reported to occur throughout the day, with the majority (70%) of the collisions occurring during daylight hours. Also, the Caltrans collision summary data tables suggest the existing at-grade intersections appear to be the primary cause of the collisions; and 71% of the collisions reported are rear-end and sideswipe incidents that occur during congested conditions. Upgrading the SR-71 expressway to a full access-controlled facility will improve mobility and enhance safety. SR-71 South will be opened to traffic by October 31, 2025.
Other comments received during the public hearing process for the SR-71 corridor improvements included the desire to beautify the project area; and concerns and questions about the number of collisions, funding and the schedule for the proposed improvements, the selection process for the Locally Preferred Alternative, existing traffic on Ninth Street, soundproofing, access to the Philips Ranch area, property acquisitions, frontage road access, construction detours, and keeping Philips Drive open.
SR-71 South does not displace any residents or businesses.
Community Engagement
It is general practice for Caltrans, in coordination with the local jurisdictions, to determine community engagement processes specific to each type of transportation improvement. This coordination is aligned with the Caltrans Race & Equity Action Plan to address systemic racial inequities that exist within the transportation sector.
Throughout the construction phase for SR-71 South (and other Caltrans construction projects) outreach efforts consist of sending press releases to cities, communities, elected officials, and multiple media outlets (talk radio, cable news) and social media platforms (X/Twitter, Instagram) that cover Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Specific notices regarding construction work and/or detours were made available in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, etc.) based on the impacted communities. In addition, Caltrans uses fixed and portable changeable message signs to report lane, ramp and/or local road closures; and QuikMap, a digital application, to provide real-time traffic information (including road closures) for motorists traversing to and through project areas impacted by construction activities. Caltrans also provides updates that are posted on Caltrans and Metro websites about active construction sites. Any unintended equity impacts that may arise are responded to on a case-by-case basis by the appropriate project partners.
SR-57/60 Interchange Improvements Project
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)/ Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Commitments
This Project is administered by SGVCOG and has identified a 24% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal.
Project-Based Equity Considerations
The SR-57/60 Interchange Improvement Project area is not located within or directly adjacent to EFCs. However, EFCs are located within 10 miles to the east, northeast, and west of the Project locations. Implementation of the Project will also not result in the displacement of or other negative impacts on disadvantaged or low-income communities.
The SR-57 and SR-60 freeways are critical transportation and goods movement corridors within the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County. The current lane configuration, combined with high truck and vehicle volumes, creates a chokepoint, causing severe congestion and frequent collisions. This segment of SR-57 and SR-60 has been identified by the American Transportation Research Institute's 2024 ranking as the seventh-worst bottleneck in the United States and among the worst bottlenecks in California, with a truck-related collision rate 50 percent higher than the state average for comparable facilities.
Community Engagement
The SGVCOG, through its Capital Projects and Construction Committee, provides support services for the SR-57/SR-60 Interchange Improvements Project based on its experience in delivering infrastructure projects within the subregion. This experience includes work previously carried out by the Alameda Corridor-East (ACE) Construction Authority, which has implemented multiple grade separation projects in the San Gabriel Valley since 1998. SGVCOG also coordinates with communities in the project area to conduct outreach related to major construction activities, including detours and road closures, to keep residents, businesses, and stakeholders informed. In addition, SGVCOG provides construction updates through its agency website to support public access to current project information. Any unintended equity impacts that may arise during the course of the project are addressed on a case-by-case basis by the appropriate project partners.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled _Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
While the agency remains committed to reducing VMT through transit and multimodal investments, some projects may induce or increase personal vehicle travel. Although some individual projects may not directly contribute to the achievement of the Board-adopted VMT Reduction Targets, the VMT Targets were developed to account for the cumulative effect of a suite of programs and projects within the Metro region.
Further, these individual projects aim to ensure the efficient and safe movement of people and goods.
SR-71 South Segment Project
SR-71 South will likely increase VMT in Los Angeles County as it involves constructing one additional mixed flow lane for approximately 3.1 miles in each direction that encourages driving alone. One additional High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane (that extends north to the I-10 freeway) will also be constructed to close the gap in the HOV system; provide mobility options; and promote increased carpool, vanpool and bus transit usage along the SR-71 corridor.
This safety and mobility improvements project along SR-71 is identified in the voter approved Measure M Expenditure Plan and was cleared environmentally decades ago, prior to the California Environmental Quality Act VMT analyses requirement.
SR-71 South has been under construction for almost four years. Substantial project completion is expected by October 31, 2025.
SR-57/60 Interchange Improvements Project
The SR-57/60 Interchange Improvements Project is likely to increase VMT in Los Angeles County, as it includes the construction of a new travel lane, new eastbound on- and off-ramps, and the reconstruction of the Grand Avenue Bridge to reduce merging conflicts. While these improvements may encourage solo driving, they are designed to enhance safety, improve mobility, and reduce delays for both passenger and freight vehicles at one of the most significant truck bottlenecks in California and the United States.
The SR-57/60 Project is currently under construction. The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (COG) is leading the construction phase, with Metro as the funding agency and Caltrans providing oversight.
SR 57/60 has been under construction for two years. Substantial completion is expected by July 2028.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Prepared_by
Prepared by:
John Yang, Deputy District Director, Caltrans District 7, (213) 761-3255
Kevin Lai, Director of Capital Projects, SGVCOG, (626) 457-1800
Roberto Machuca, Deputy Executive Officer, Complete Streets & Highways
(213) 418-3467
Michelle E. Smith, Executive Officer, Complete Streets & Highways,
(213) 547-4368
Michael Cano, Senior Executive Officer (Interim), Multimodal Integrated Planning,
(213) 418-3010
Nicole Ferrara, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4322
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4274
