The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is seeking public input on how to beautify both sides of the I-405 Freeway between Atlantic Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard—a 2.5-mile stretch that passes through Long Beach and Signal Hill.
“The general scope of work is going to be for landscape, hardscape, planting, irrigation and beautification on the sides,” Caltrans Senior Transportation Engineer and area liaison Hammer Sui told the Signal Hill City Council during its Tuesday, Sept. 28 meeting. “We welcome any input from the community members and/or community-based organizations.”
To solicit that input, Caltrans is hosting two virtual community meetings—one in English and one in Spanish—on Monday, Oct. 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. via WebEx.
Caltrans will also open a community survey after the meetings, due back on Oct. 7, for attendees and non-attendees alike to provide input, Sui said. People can also provide input and ideas by emailing project coordinators at D7CleanCA@dot.ca.gov, he added.
Though the community meeting and survey are for residents of both Long Beach and Signal Hill, Caltrans will not differentiate between the two groups in deciding on the final proposal, Sui said.
During the Oct. 4 meetings, Caltrans will present the community with four general design options for beautifying the freeway section: rock-cobbled groundcover; landscaping with native, drought-tolerant and/or pollinator plants; or a sloping rock structure that prevents litter accumulation, decorated with an aesthetic design appropriate to the location.
“We’ve seen a lot of these in Arizona,” Sui said of the third option.
The fourth option would be a new idea proposed by the community.
The survey will ask community members to choose one or more of the three “visual preference” options or propose a fourth new one. Community members can also describe or even draw additional ideas during the community meetings or via email.
Existing landscaping along the 405 between Atlantic and Lakewood has deteriorated due to drought conditions and presents a fire risk, Sui said. Caltrans would cut back shrubs and other low-growth vegetation and keep the taller trees regardless of which design option the community chooses, he said.
Caltrans will submit a design proposal to the State’s Clean California Initiative (CCI) local grant program by Oct. 15, which CCI will approve or reject by Nov. 30. If given the green light, Caltrans would complete the beautification work by June 2023.
The proposed project would be funded by CCI from its $296-million grant budget for local beautification projects completed over the next two years. Gov. Gavin Newsom approved the CCI in July—a three-year effort with a $1.5-billion total budget from the State’s General Fund coffers.
“Clean California proposes significant investments in litter collection, community engagement and education to ultimately transform unsightly roadsides into spaces of pride for all Californians,” the initiative states.
Sui said Caltrans chose this particular stretch of the 405 Freeway because it fits with the CCI’s goal of focusing on underserved communities. Caltrans also used litter data and the number of service requests from the area, Sui added.
Councilmember Lori Woods expressed concern that a little more than a week’s notice about the community meetings might limit attendance and participation. Signal Hill has posted a notice of the meeting and join link on its website, CityofSignalHill.org.
Sui said once CCI approves the project, Caltrans will engage the community again about design details and yet again before construction to explain its impact on the area.
Because the CCI’s local grant program requires projects to be completed within two years, Sui said Caltrans is already “super rushed” to submit a proposal and begin construction.
“We’re already trying to catch up,” he said.
