Diamond Bar, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will award $30 million in grant funding to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) for the State Route 57/60 Confluence Chokepoint Relief Program (57/60 Project). The LA Metro is a recipient of the FY21 Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Award.
In March, Rep. Kim led a bipartisan letter with Grace Napolitano (CA-32) to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of this $30 million grant to improve the 57/60 Freeway Confluence.
“The 57/60 Freeway Confluence in California’s 39th District would reduce traffic, improve safety and ensure the flow of goods and services in this vital trade corridor that impacts our local, regional and national economy. That’s why I’ve made securing funding for this project a top priority since coming to Congress. I thank the Department of Transportation for recognizing the importance of improving this roadway and look forward to continuing to deliver results for the people of the 39th District,” said Kim.
“I’m thrilled to learn that the U.S. Department of Transportation will award a $30 million INFRA grant to the 57/60 Confluence Project, which has long been a significant public works priority for the City of Diamond Bar and the entire region. On behalf of our City, I want thank Congresswoman Young Kim for her strong support and leadership in working with Congresswoman Grace Napolitano and other Members of our San Gabriel Valley Congressional delegation in support of the Project. This important grant award will hasten the completion of urgent infrastructure improvements that will greatly improve safety, mobility and air quality in our region,” said Nancy Lyons, Mayor, City of Diamond Bar.
“We are excited that Department of Transportation Secretary Buttigieg has decided to award a $30 million INFRA grant to the 57/60 Confluence Project. The City of Industry has been a leading proponent of this Project for many years and has worked closely with our regional partners to secure necessary funding. This $30 million grant award reflects the Project’s national and regional significance and will play a critical role in fully funding its construction. In this regard, we deeply appreciate the leadership of LA Metro and support of our San Gabriel Valley area Congressional delegation, led by Congresswoman Grace Napolitano and Congresswoman Young Kim,” said Cory Moss, Mayor, City of Industry.
“Fixing the SR 57/60 chokepoint is our region’s top highway priority project. The San Gabriel Valley truly appreciates the federal support recommended by Secretary Pete Buttegieg and championed by U.S. Reps. Young Kim and Grace Napolitano, with the bipartisan support of their Congressional colleagues. Construction of the improvements to be overseen by SGVCOG will result in the prevention over the next 20 years of the equivalent of 10 traffic deaths, 949 injuries, and 1,881 property-damage crashes in the confluence zone,” said Monrovia Councilwoman Becky Shevlin, Incoming President of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG).
The 57/60 Project is the second highest truck accident rate in Southern California, with an accident rate 50% higher than the statewide average, and is ranked as the eleventh worst truck bottleneck in the nation, with congestion lasting over four hours a day, particularly during the afternoon peak period.
The 57/60 Project will result in average peak travel speeds increasing from 31.5 to 68.5 mph and significantly reduce fatalities and accidents along the 2.5-mile chokepoint, equivalent to 10 traffic deaths, 949 injuries, and 1,881 property-damage-only crashes prevented over 20 years in Southern California.
In addition to the bipartisan letter to Secretary Buttigieg, Rep. Kim has fought hard for federal funding for the 57/60 Project by:
- Requesting funding for the 57/60 Project for FY22 Appropriations; and,
- Advocating on the need to support the project in a bipartisan infrastructure package to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
