Highway expansions do not solve the issue of traffic and only place more cars on roads due to induced demand. They also destroy communities and increase pollution. Metro’s budget should reflect California’s and Los Angeles’ goals of fighting climate change, not making the problem worse.
Transportation currently accounts for more than 50% of California's greenhouse gas emissions. We estimate that Metro's freeway widening projects will induce 2.7 Million additional barrels of oil burned per year in the county.
In LA County, 1.2 Million people live within 1000ft of a freeway and breathe toxic air every day. Many studies have linked freeway pollution to higher risks for asthma, decreased lung function, cardiovascular disease, adverse birth outcomes, childhood cancer, and premature death.
Induced demand is an irrefutable law of nature — building and widening highways = more cars and more driving. The $1.3 Billion 405 freeway widening increased congestion. Metro continues to ignore science and promise road widening will reduce traffic.
Freeway planning in LA County has intentionally targeted Black and Brown neighborhoods, dividing and displacing vibrant communities. During a housing and climate crisis, displacing people is the last thing we should be doing.
To address the urgent crisis of climate change, Metro should be spending funds on public transportation, active transportation, and reinvesting in communities impacted by the consequences of our rampant freeway construction. The benefits include:
Building and widening highways is highly destructive to society and solves nothing. It’s Destruction For Nada. If you believe in climate change, believe we have a housing crisis and believe in freedom of choice when it comes to transportation, it’s time to take action.
Metro’s ongoing and planned freeway widening projects will cost more than $21 Billion. Combined, these projects will increase countywide VMT by more than 3% compared to 2018 levels. That means worse traffic, increased pollution, and accelerated climate change.
| Projects | Cost (M) | New Lane Miles | Estimated Induced VMT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | $21,000 | 440 | 2,583,400,000 |
| I-710 Corridor Project | $8,000 | 34 | 292,800,000 |
| I-605 Corridor Hot Spots | $2,900 | 68 | 451,600,000 |
| I-605 Corridor Improvement Project | $5,000 | 29 | 214,000,000 |
| I-5 Improvement Project – South | $1,900 | 27 | 230,700,000 |
| I-5 Improvement Project – Burbank | $1,300 | 64 | 551,000,000 |
| I-5 Improvement Project - North County | $700 | 32 | 275,000,000 |
| Northwest 138 Corridor | $800 | 148 | 240,700,000 |
| I-105 ExpressLanes Project | $800 | 36 | 311,600,000 |
| 57/60 | $420 | 6 | 16,000,000 |
$21 Billion could fund:
60+ Years of fare-free transit 💵
100+ Miles of at-grade Light Rail 🚈
500+ Miles of Bus Rapid Transit 🚌
1,000+ Miles of Complete Streets 👩🏻🦽🚶🏾🚲🌳
Add your information to be included in the Streets For All email list and be notified when there’s an opportunity for engagement on this and other projects.