At the August California Transportation Commission meeting, Caltrans shared some information about its planned Complete Streets program. Under the "Complete Streets Reservation," Caltrans will add walk/transit/bike features on state highways. Lots of Caltrans' state highways are freeways, but many of them are not; they include many local city streets.
As Streetsblog California reported, Caltrans has committed to "consider" complete streets elements in all its future projects. The current Complete Streets Reservation is a sort of an advance down payment on that commitment, while Caltrans updates its own guidelines and while projects make their way through the department's multi-year planning processes. The complete streets program is part of Caltrans' larger $17+ billion four-year State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP.)
Statewide, Caltrans is currently planning 31 complete streets projects, at an overall cost just under $100 million.
Streetsblog inquired to Caltrans District 7 for more details on their three complete streets projects in L.A. County. District 7 Public Information Officer Michael Comeaux provided the following project details and maps, though he cautioned that these projects are in the design phase, and subject to change.
State Route 1 - Pacific Coast Highway
The project is located on ~18 miles of Pacific Coast Highway from the Orange County line to Paseo De Las Delicias in Torrance - in the cities of Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Torrance. Caltrans plans to add sidewalks (where they are missing), pedestrian beacons, and striping/markings. Estimated cost is $606,000.
State Route 2 - Alvarado Street and Santa Monica Boulevard
The project is divided into three separate segments - entirely in the city of Los Angeles:
- Segment A: ~1.4 miles on Santa Monica Boulevard between Centinela Avenue (L.A./Santa Monica border) and Cotner Avenue (immediately east of the 405 Freeway) - in West Los Angeles
- Segment B: ~2 miles on Santa Monica Boulevard between North Sycamore Avenue (immediately east of La Brea Avenue and the L.A./West Hollywood border) and Oxford Avenue (immediately west of the 101 Freeway) - in East Hollywood and Hollywood
- Segment C: ~1.3 miles on Alvarado Street and Glendale Boulevard between the 101 Freeway and the 2 Freeway - in Echo Park
Caltrans plans to add a Bus Only/Bike Lane (apparently the northern portion of the partially opened Alvarado bus lane), pedestrian beacons, striping, markings, and a new signal. Estimated cost is $2,370,000.
State Route 213 - Western Avenue
The project will be at various locations on the ~8-mile stretch of Western Avenue between 25th Street (San Pedro) and Carson Street (Torrance/L.A. Harbor Gateway) - in the cities of Lomita, Los Angeles, Rancho Palos Verdes, and Torrance. Caltrans plans to add sidewalks (where they are missing), Class 2 bike lane and Class 3 bike routes, and enhanced crosswalks. Estimated cost is $1,529,000.
