Interstate 5 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT chronicling the improvement project of the interstate-5 corridor Each day, approximately 200,000 vehicles travel Interstate 5 (I-5) between Interstate 710 (I-710) at the north end and State Route 91 (SR-91) at its south end. This stretch of the I-5, built in the 1950s, is outdated and insufficient to handle existing and future traffic demands. More people, cars and trucks are a recipe for perpetual gridlock. Plans under con- sideration will include adding general-purpose lanes, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes (for vehicles with two or more passengers), increasing the efficiency of arterial traffic, and improving existing modes of public transportation and their connections to the freeway. The I-5 Corridor Improvement Project consists of four smaller segments which will be implemented consecutively. They are the Carmenita Road Interchange Improvement Project, Segment A (SR-91 to I-605), Segment B (I-605 to I-710), and Segment C (I-710 Interchange Improvement).The I-5 Corridor Improvement Project was expedited largely due to a $200 million con- tribution from the Governor’s Traffic Congestion Relief Plan. The Carmenita Road Interchange Improvement Project, the first action to improve the corridor, was approved on March 29, 2002 and is now in litigation. The eight- mile section of I-5 that is now under review is Segment A, which will widen the freeway between SR-91 in Orange County and I-605 in Los Angeles County. Currently, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Caltrans have identi- fied five alternatives for consideration between SR-91 and I-605. They are: >  No Build Alternative >  Transportation Systems Management and Transportation Demand Management Improve existing modes of public transportation (bus, rail, carpools and major I-5 corridor arterials) potentially decreasing per- sonal use of vehicles and moving commuters to other forms of transportation and increasing the efficiency of arterial traffic. >  Transit Enhancement Alternative Improve existing connections between the freeway and public transportation (bus, rail). The Long and Widening Road The Environmental Process Before any community impact studies begin, scoping meetings must be conducted as part of any overall environmental review process, which adheres to federal and state guidelines. Input gathered throughout the scoping process has been documented in a Scoping Summary Report, and is available at the Caltrans District 7 Office, local libraries, and at each of the participating cities within the I-5 Joint Powers Authority. An overview of the topics discussed at the meetings are available at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist 07/route5/is5_mip.htm. I-5 Corridor Improvement Project (continued inside) I-5 Major Improvement Project Tentative Schedule More Info segment name Carmenita Interchange A B C location on I-5 Carmentita Road SR-91 to I-605 I-605 to I-710 I- 710 Interchange project approval anticipated (under review) Summer 2004 Winter 2005/2006 Fall 2006 initiate right of way process (under review) Summer 2005 Spring 2006 Fall 2006 begin construction (under review) Summer 2007 Spring 2009 Winter 2009/2010 State of California Department of Transportation Division of Environmental Planning 120 S. Spring Street, Mail Stop 16A Los Angeles, CA 90012 For More Information Project information may be accessed on the Caltrans website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/route5/is5_mip.htm. Information is updated periodically to keep the public apprised of the project’s status. Public comments can be made via phone, mail or e-mail to the following project coordinators: Robert Cady, FHWA Senior Transportation Engineer, California Division, 980 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA  95814-2724, (916) 498-5038, robert.cady@fhwa.dot.gov Jinous Saleh, Caltrans District 7, Division of Environmental Planning, 120 South Spring St., Mail Stop 16A, Los Angeles, CA  90012, (213) 897-0683, jinous.saleh@dot.ca.gov Ralph H. Webb, Executive Director, I-5 Joint Powers Authority, 12700 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90605, (562) 929-5700, rwebb@socal.rr.com Lee Saage, Authority Engineer, I-5 Joint Powers Authority, 12700 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90605, (562) 929-5700, lee@saage.net City of Buena Park Public Works Department Buena Park Library City of Commerce Public Works Department Atlantic Branch Library Greenwood Branch Library Downey Public Works Department Downey City Library La Mirada Public Works Department La Mirada County Library Norwalk Community Development Department Norwalk Regional Library Alondra Library County of Los Angeles Public Library Santa Fe Springs Public Works Department Santa Fe Springs City Library You can view a copy of the Scoping Summary Report at the following locations: Si usted quisiera recibir una copia de este boletín en español, favor de llamar la línea telefónica de Información Pública de Caltrans al número (213) 897-3656 para pedírsela.