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7. How can I be sure I receive the most up to date Why Hov Lanes
project information?
Send your email address to Judy.Gish@dot.ca.gov to be The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
added to the I-405 project update list, check Caltrans is committed to developing HOV lanes because they are a
website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07, or call (213) 897-3487. proven congestion relief strategy, saving users an estimated
one minute per mile during peak hours compared to mixed
Route 90 to Interstate 10 Carpool Lane Project
8. Why does Caltrans use small plants and shrubs? It
flow lanes. 4th Edition www.dot.ca.gov/dist07 Summer 2009
will take forever for them to grow to full size.
The Department’s policy is to landscape with 5-gallon sized Caltrans District 7, covering Los Angeles and Ventura
plants because the survival rate is much higher than for counties, is home to the nation’s most extensive HOV
mature plantings. Cost is also a factor. program, with 470 lane miles, or 36 percent of the total

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HOV lane miles in California. The District will add carpool
9. The streets in my neighborhood are in terrible lanes to virtually every freeway in the Los Angeles area,
condition as a result of this project. When does bringing the total number of HOV lanes to 700.
Caltrans intend to repair them? The central concept of the HOV program is to move more
City streets are under the jurisdiction of the city in which
Route 90 to Interstate 10 Carpool Lane Project
people instead of cars. Caltrans cannot build our way out of
4th Edition www.dot.ca.gov/dist07 Summer 2009
they are located. At the beginning of this project, the future growth and congestion, by simply adding more and
Department looked into complaints that construction more lanes. The HOV were system was designed to:
vehicles were damaging local streets and discovered a. Increase the person-movement capacity of the freeway
that the streets in question were in serious disrepair of b. Be cost-effective, by reducing commute costs
long standing, having nothing to do with this project. c. Provide rideshare incentives, such as saving time and trip
Nevertheless, after project completion, Caltrans will assess reliability.
the project’s potential contribution to wear and tear on the The results of these goals improve air quality, conserve
streets and will come to an agreement with the cities at energy, increase mobility and efficiency of all trips,
that time. and reduce congestion. Even if motorists are not able
to rideshare, adding HOV lanes will also help the solo
commute, by reducing congestion on all freeway lanes.
I-405 median looking south from the Venice Boulevard Bridge

The purpose of this newsletter is to inform motorists


and the communities in the San Diego Freeway (I- Blvd Pico Blvd

405) HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle, or carpool) lane Sunset

e
Av
project area of construction status and what can be

na
nta
expected between now and its estimated completion 10

Mo
1
d National
in Fall 2009. When this project completes, only one Blv Blvd
ms

Sa
Pal

wte
segment (northbound I-405 from I-10 to U.S. 101) will Culver City

lle
Sep
ulve

Blv
remain to be constructed before there is a continuous d da B
Blv lvd

d
r
lve

8Th Av
HOV lane on I-405 in both directions from the San Cu 90
Fernando Valley to the Orange County Line. This final Marina del Rey
Inglewood
segment begins construction in 2009. 405
This project has been especially complex because
it involves not only widening the freeway but also 105
providing improvements to three city streets: Culver
Boulevard; Palms Boulevard; and National Boulevard. This map shows the project area.

Measuring Our Progress


• All soundwalls have been completed.
• Work on the Palms Boulevard Bridge has completed • Culver Boulevard work is complete except for
Los Angeles, CA 90012 with the exception of minor sidewalk paving which lighting on the south side of the boulevard.
PERMIT NO. 100 S. Main Street, Suite 100 will be implemented Fall 2009. • Freeway work, including median and landscaping, is
LOS ANGELES, CA District 7 Media Relations / Public Affairs • Widening work on all freeway bridges has been on schedule to complete in Fall 2009.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
California Department of Transportation completed.
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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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A Neighborhood Glance At Construction
In order not to lose further time, the contractor may elect
to move the crew to another location within the project
Mar Vista area. The contractor’s work schedule and deployment of
crews are at his discretion.
Street work in the Mar Vista area consists of replacing the
Palms Boulevard Bridge between Sawtelle Boulevard and 4. I drive by certain construction areas in my
Sepulveda Boulevard. neighborhood and at times it seems that no one is
working. Why is that?
Where Are We? Some construction, utility work for example, takes place

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• The Palms Boulevard Bridge has been completed. underground and is not visible from the road. Often, work
• Concrete pavement work on the freeway has completed is performed at night. And, it might be that workers have
and work has begun in the median, with completion temporarily been deployed to another area.
R o u t e 9 0 t o I n t e r s t a t e 1 estimated
0 C a r p o Fall
o l L2009.
ane Project Route 90 to Interstate 10 Carpool Lane Project
5. Why can’t Caltrans exercise more control over its
4th Edition www.dot.ca.gov/dist07 Summer 2009 4th Edition www.dot.ca.gov/dist07 S u m mwith
e r 2 0 deadlines
09
• Landscape work is ongoing and will complete Fall 2009. contractor and force him to comply so
Paving on the north side of National Boulevard is underway. that work in my neighborhood will complete on time?
The contractor is required to complete the total contract
• Lane closures on National Boulevard and Sepulveda within a set number of days. Until that date has past, (in the
The Culver Boulevard on-ramp to northbound I-405 is complete and open to traffic. Boulevard can be expected during this work. Motorists case of this contract, summer 2009) Caltrans cannot impose
New I-405 shield signs will be installed soon.
should anticipate some delays. any sanctions. Once the contractor exceeds that date, steep
• On the freeway: fines apply per day.
Culver City Work in the median between Palms Boulevard and
6. I believe this project has caused damage to my
National Boulevard will complete in Fall 2009. property and my neighborhood. Why can’t Caltrans
Work on Culver Boulevard involves realignment between simply fix these problems?
Sawtelle Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard; construction When Caltrans plans a project, it requests a certain amount
of a northbound freeway off-ramp leading directly onto of funding from the California Transportation Commission
Culver Boulevard; relocation of the bike path and pedestrian Frequently Asked Questions
(CTC). These funds are dedicated to constructing the project,
walkway to the northern section of Culver Boulevard and with no discretionary monies available for compensating
landscaping. 1. How can I file a claim for damage to my property?
residents or performing any work outside of the project
For claims under $5,000, please contact the Caltrans Claims
scope (fixing city streets, for example). Residents are
Where Are We? Office at (213) 897-0816. For claims over $5,000, please
encouraged to file claims with Caltrans if under $5,000
• Culver Boulevard paving has been completed. The Palms Boulevard Bridge is fully operational. contact the California Government Claims and Victims’
Only a small patch of sidewalk remains to be paved. and the California Government Claims and Victims’
• Culver Boulevard on-ramp to northbound I-405 is now Compensation Board at 1-800-955-0045 0045 or download
Compensation Board if over $5,000.
open to traffic. a claim form directly from their website: http://www.boc.
• Underground sensors (loop detectors) along Culver West Los Angeles ca.gov/publications/AppsandClaimForms.aspx
Boulevard have been installed. Electrical pole installation 2. I have heard many different dates for completion of
and erection of a freeway sign structure on the west side Work in this area involves widening and realigning National the project and the street work. What is causing the
of Sawtelle Boulevard, south of Culver Boulevard, will be Boulevard between Sawtelle Boulevard and Sepulveda delays?
completed Fall 2009. Boulevard, upgrading traffic signals and restructuring the On the freeway portion, discovery of an undisclosed water
National Boulevard freeway ramps at the terminus. line set the project back a year while the line was relocated.
Del Rey/Sunkist Park That delay had a domino effect on the other project areas,
Where Are We? causing them to begin later than anticipated. Regarding
• National Boulevard work includes demolition of existing individual streets, delays were a result of errors in the utility
Where Are We? curb and gutter and portions of the street. Completion is map, necessitating unexpected utility relocation; right of
• The Youngworth Street and Purdue Avenue realignment
expected by Fall 2009. way issues; and emergency work by the city that had to
has begun and will complete Fall 2009. • The National Boulevard southbound I-405 on-ramp take precedence over the Caltrans improvements.
• Freeway work: All major work on the south side of the completed spring 2009.
freeway from Ballona Creek to SR-90 has been completed. 3. Work delays in my area are causing major problems.
• Electrical work and traffic signals will complete in Fall
Landscaping is ongoing and expected to complete by Fall Why can’t you finish this work before starting
2009. Slope protection and concrete barrier below the I-405 looking south from the Palms Boulevard Bridge.
2009. Median work has begun and is expected to complete somewhere else? The project is expected to complete this Fall.
northbound off-ramp are still under construction and
Fall 2009. Sometimes, there are unanticipated delays at one location.
expected to complete Fall 2009.

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