Metro wants to spend half a billion dollars on Freeways in 2022
Metro LA has revealed their new budget for 2021-2022 and unfortunately, it has increased funding for highways to a grand total of $480 million. While climate change is at our doorstep and California is set to break records this wildfire season, it is crucial that Metro LA redirects funds for highway expansions to increasing service and improving our transportation network.
Metro Freeway Spending over the last 5 years
Freeway expansions do not solve the issue of traffic and only place more cars on highways. As California faces another record breaking wildfire season, it is crucial that Metro LA’s budget reflects a climate conscious mission. While on the surface $480 million dollars towards highway infrastructure, sounds like regular maintenance and repair, almost half of that is going towards the study & construction of freeway expansions. We don’t need additional funding to tell us what we already know - freeway expansions do not work.
The Cost of Freeways in LA County:
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More than 1.2 Million people breathe poisonous air from freeways
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Metro's freeway projects will induce 1.4 Billion new barrels of oil burned per year
Transportation currently accounts for more than 50% of California's greenhouse gas emissions. We estimate LA Metro's freeway widening projects will induce 1.4 Billion addtional barrels of oil burned per year in the county.
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Freeway construction has displaced over 150,000 people
Freeway planning in LA County has intentionally targeted Black and Brown neighborhoods, dividing and displacing vibrant communities. Even during LA's housing crisis Metro plans on destroying hundreds of working class homes to widen the i-5 Freeway in Downey.
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Building wider freeways makes traffic worse
Induced demand is an irrefutable law of nature - building and widening highways = more cars and more congestion. the $1.3 Billion 405 freeway widening increased congestion. Metro continues to ignore science and promise road widening will reduced traffic.
Building and widening highways is highly destructive to society. 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 Planned Freeway Widening Projects
Metro’s ongoing and planned Freeway widening projects will cost more than $20 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 | 150 | 2,583,400,000 |
| I-710 Corridor Project | $8,000 | 17 | 292,800,000 |
| I-605 Corridor Hot Spots | $2,900 | 16 | 451,600,000 |
| I-605 Corridor Improvement Project | $5,000 | 25 | 214,000,000 |
| I-5 Improvement Project – South | $1,900 | 7 | 230,700,000 |
| I-5 Improvement Project – Burbank | $1,300 | 16 | 551,000,000 |
| I-5 Improvement Project - North County | $700 | 14 | 275,000,000 |
| Northwest 138 Corridor | $800 | 37 | 240,700,000 |
| I-105 ExpressLanes Project | $800 | 18 | 311,600,000 |
| 57/60 | $420 | 3 | 16,000,000 |
Instead, $20 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 🚲
Highways:
Divide communities and destroy houses, often disproportionately in Brown and Black communities
Bring poisonous air and accelerate climate change
Encourage more people to drive
Take funds away from more sustainable/clean sources of transportation
Mass Transit & Active Transportation:
Move a huge amount of people with very little comparative space
Use clean sources of energy
Encourage people to get out of their car (or not be burdened by one at all!)
Require far less capital per mile to build and maintain compared to highways
Time to think about highways differently.
We should cap them where possible, take them down where feasible, and under no circumstances widen them. It’s time to prioritize climate and equity in our transportation decisions.
< rendering of a potential “Hollywood Central Park” on top of the 101
Join us in taking action.
Building and widening highways is highly destructive to society and doesn't provide any benefit. 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: