FHWA Celebrates Opening of I-405 Carpool Lane in Los Angeles |
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Topics: Interstate Highway System
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Federal Highway Administration
23 May 2014
FHWA 11-14
Friday, May 23, 2014
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel: 202-366-0660
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration today celebrated the opening of the newly built I-405 northbound carpool lane between the I-10 and US-101. The $1 billion project, which relies on $317 million in federal funds, is expected to improve capacity and safety and relieve worsening congestion on one of the Los Angeles area's key freeways. Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau joined state and local officials at the event.
"Widening one of the nation’s busiest highways is good news for the entire Los Angeles region, and will help Angelenos get to where they need to go," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "We need Congress to pass a long-term transportation bill so we can continue investing in impactful projects like this one to reduce congestion, improve safety and create ladders of opportunity for thousands."
The Obama Administration recently unveiled the GROW AMERICA Act, a bold $302 billion, four-year national vision for an aging transportation network and a growing population. Of this amount, $199.2 billion goes toward highways and bridges to focus on existing highway needs – including increased capacity to connect people to employment.
The I-405 Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass connects the San Fernando Valley to Los Angeles' Westside. The carpool lane will now extend from Orange County to the US-101 Freeway, making it the nation's longest continuous carpool lane.
The new 10-mile-long carpool lane now completes the last remaining gap in the entire I-405 carpool lane network between Orange County and north Los Angeles County.
"The I-405 project will cut commuter time and promote ridesharing," said Deputy Administrator Nadeau. "GROW AMERICA provides increased transportation funding to promote projects around the country that expand capacity and improve access to jobs."
The carpool lane is a central part of the I-405 project, which also includes the reconstruction of three bridges across the freeway and new sound walls nearby.