LA Metro to hold community meetings for the 605 Freeway expansion project

LA Metro is holding a series of community meetings to gather input on the agency’s plans to add an additional lane on the 605 freeway within the freeway property boundaries. The plan includes adding lanes starting from Baldwin Park to Norwalk and improving connections with the 5, 10 and 60 freeways.

Caltrans — which is working on the 605 Freeway Corridor Improvement Project (605 CIP) with LA Metro — says upgrading the freeway is necessary because no major improvements have been made since it opened in 1971. Since then, the number of vehicles using the freeway has gone up significantly and traffic congestion has gotten worse.

The first meeting takes place Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Arc: The Reagan Banquet Room in Downey.

About the project

Metro is looking to improve mobility along the 605 corridor. The project would also improve the crosswalks at on and off ramps and nearby bike lanes along the 605, 5 and 60 freeways.

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Widening the freeway would entail adding another express lane or HOV lane in both directions. Below are the project’s alternatives being considered.

Project alternatives being considered.

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Courtesy Metro

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Affected communities push back

In 2020, Metro’s board of directors voted to look into other alternatives for the 605 corridor Improvement project. At the time, surrounding communities expressed concern that the project would have demolished hundreds of homes, schools and other properties.

The 605 Freeway runs through Downey, Whittier, El Monte and South El Monte, Pico Rivera, Baldwin Park, Industry, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, where over 50% of the population in each city identifies as Latino, according to Census reports.

Freeway widening and construction has historically displaced communities of color, as was the case in Pasadena when the 210 Freeway was built through the city's Black neighborhoods.

And, in the time of a climate crisis, emissions from transportation contribute to 28% of greenhouse gases.

How you can participate

Community meetings will take place on the following dates:

• July 10, 6 - 8 p.m., Pico Rivera Golf Course
• July 11, 6 - 8 p.m., Lambert Park Auditorium
• July 16, 12 - 1:30 p.m., virtual webinar link: https://bit.ly/I605-CIP
  Call in number for English: (669) 900-6833 and Spanish: (571) 317-3122
• July 18, 6 - 8 p.m., Cerritos College

To learn more about the project go here.