Sherman Urges Support for Road Safety Improvements in the San Fernando Valley

WASHINGTON, DC –Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) is urging state transportation officials to support important road safety improvement projects in the San Fernando Valley as part of Los Angeles’ bid to seek funding through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Los Angeles has submitted several projects to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to improve safety for motorists and bicyclists at major intersections and heavily traveled corridors.

“This is a valuable federal program that has helped save lives in the San Fernando Valley,” said Congressman Sherman. “These projects will greatly improve safety for motorists making dangerous turns at busy intersections and make it safer for bicyclists that commute on major roadways.”

The City of Los Angeles has submitted eleven project applications totaling $10 million, including several projects in the San Fernando Valley. Congressman Sherman has supported previous HSIP applications submitted by the City of Los Angeles to Caltrans, specifically for road and bike safety improvement projects in the San Fernando Valley.

The Highway Safety Improvement Program provides funding to cities and counties in California on a competitive basis for infrastructure-related safety improvements to significantly reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on public roads and public-owned bicycle or pedestrian paths. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which was signed into law on August 10, 2005, established the Highway Safety Improvement Program.

The full letter to the California Department of Transportation is below.


July 25, 2012

Mr. Malcolm Dougherty
Director
California Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 942873
Sacramento, CA 94273-0001

Dear Mr. Dougherty:

I am writing to express my strong support of the City of Los Angeles’ applications to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for funding through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). HSIP will help local cities such as Los Angeles eliminate or reduce the number and severity of traffic accidents at critical and high concentration locations.

For the current cycle of funding (Cycle 5), the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is submitting a total of 11 project applications, three of which are located in the San Fernando Valley. These projects will help improve safety for motorists at major intersections and for bicyclists along heavily traveled corridors. In particular, I would like to highlight a couple of projects included in LADOT’s package of applications:

• East Valley Intersection Improvements (left-turn phasing)
• West Valley Intersection Improvements (left-turn phasing

I urge you to carefully consider each of the project applications submitted by LADOT, particularly the projects located in the San Fernando Valley. I am confident Caltrans will support many of these applications and allocate resources to the City of Los Angeles from this important federal program authorized by Congress under the transportation reauthorization bill, SAFETEA-LU. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

BRAD SHERMAN
Member of Congress

cc: Michael Miles, District 7 Director

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