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Why The Playbook From The Northridge Earthquake Could Be Used Again To Speed 10 Freeway Repairs
An aerial view of cleanup crews working beneath the closed 10 Freeway Monday.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
The shut down of the 10 Freeway has disrupted the commute of hundreds of thousands of daily commuters. How To LA's Brian De Los Santos spoke to an urban planning expert on how the current repairs might compare to what happened back in 1994 when the Northridge earthquake severely damaged another section of the same freeway.
The backstory: The 1994 quake took out two overpasses — which potentially could have closed the 10 Freeway for many, many months. Marlon Boarnet, an urban planning professor at USC, says the playbook that got the road back up way faster then could also come into play today. The speed of repairs then were driven in large part to millions of dollars in incentives for finishing ahead of schedule — with larger bonuses the earlier it was done, and penalties repairs fell behind schedule.
Why that matters now: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said Tuesday during LAist’s Air Talk that Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to “emulate” the 1994 plans, but did not provide specifics. Newsom did say Tuesday that repairs could take three to five weeks — as opposed to months — and that work will be done 24/7 to ensure it's completed soon.
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The 10 Freeway Closure Shows That We Can Rethink Our Commutes
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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