MTA Agrees to Partially Fund Freeway Upgrade

LOS ANGELES COUNTY —  The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority agreed Thursday to partially fund an estimated $13.1-million improvement project at the crowded junction of the San Diego and Ventura freeways.

The MTA will fund 20% of the upgrade, which will add one lane to the connector between the northbound San Diego Freeway and the southbound Ventura Freeway and another lane from Mulholland Drive to Ventura Boulevard on the San Diego Freeway.

David Fleming, a San Fernando Valley activist who is a member of the California Transportation Commission, said the local funding commitment virtually ensures that the commission will approve the remaining 80% in state funds for the project.

“It is a forgone conclusion that it will be approved,” Fleming said. “We already told Caltrans, “The money’s there, get started.’ ”

The MTA’s action comes after another powerful shove toward completing work proposed for the clogged interchange, which carries 550,000 vehicles daily. Last week, a request from Gov. Gray Davis to accelerate work on road projects statewide prompted Caltrans officials to speed up planned improvements at the San Diego and Ventura freeway interchange by more than a year. To save time, Caltrans is simultaneously conducting an environmental review and designing the road improvements.

Fleming said state funding should be approved by mid-February. State officials have previously estimated the cost of the project at $13.1 million, but Fleming said the price could be slightly higher, depending on bids.

According to Caltrans, ground could be broken on the project in early 2001.