Since the Study’s inception, the study team has received comments and questions from over 1,500 people along the corridor.  This document is meant to assist you, by providing answers to the questions asked most frequently.  

Study Background and History 
The Study Process  
The Strategies Under Consideration 
Property Acquisition 
Public Input 
 

Q.  How and why was the Study initiated? 

A.  The US 101 Freeway is one of the most congested freeways in the nation. No major freeway or street improvements are planned or funded for this corridor, even though projections indicate a 25-percent increase in population in the surrounding areas over the next 20-25 years and increasing congestion. In light of those projections, LVMCOG convened a US 101 Freeway Summit in February 2000 with the goal of finding money to fund a study of the corridor.  Key participants included:  the MTA, SCAG, Caltrans, and the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT).  

The Summit led to Assembly Bill 2816, which directed the MTA, in consultation with Caltrans, SCAG and other local entities, to conduct a major improvement study on the US 101 Freeway.  Local governments and agencies lobbied the governor to support such a study. In April 2000, the Governor’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program (TCRP) included $3 million for a study.  The MTA contributed $500,000, and the LVMCOG and SCAG contributed $1 million to provide a combined $4.5 million for the study. 
The goals of the Study: 

- Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the overall transportation system, the results of which will determine a Preferred Strategy of Improvements, comprised of short-, mid-, and long-range multi-modal projects. 
- To prepare initial engineering documents, referred to as project initiation documents (PIDs), for key transportation improvement projects identified in the Preferred Strategy. View a complete list of the study goals and objectives. 

A.  Considerable media emphasis on the freeway specific elements of the Study has created a false impression that the Study’s focus is only on the freeway, and that the Study is only being conducted by Caltrans.  In fact, the MTA is a large contributor and participant, functioning as the Study’s contract manager and participating in all aspects of the Study.  Furthermore, the Study includes proposals for improvements to the public transportation system, local streets and roads, as well as the freeway itself. 
  
Q.  Who will benefit from this Study?  I have heard that it will only benefit commuters from western cities, such as Agoura Hills, Calabasas, and Thousand Oaks traveling to Downtown Los Angeles. 

A.  The Study is evaluating the transportation system along the 40-mile corridor from Thousand Oaks to Downtown Los Angeles, including the public transportation system, the local streets and roads, and the US 101 Freeway.  This system serves many stakeholders, including people who live and work along the entire Corridor, those who use the Corridor to accomplish business and pleasure trips, and commercial users who utilize the Corridor to deliver and ship goods and services throughout Southern California.  Estimates show that in fact, only 20% of the trips in a 24-hour period on the US 101 Freeway alone are for commute purposes from all communities along the Corridor.  Travel time savings created by improvement on the freeway, local streets, or public transportation system, will benefit all who utilize this system. 

Q.  Why do the Study boundaries stop short of Downtown Los Angeles?  Won’t this result in a bottleneck in Downtown? 

A.  The consultant team is reviewing the entire 40-mile corridor from SR 23 to SR110.  However, due to the complexity of the downtown area transportation system, and the potential impacts to adjacent communities if major freeway improvements (such as widening the freeway to build additional lanes) are implemented, the Study Team has recommended that this area be studied in depth separately from the remainder of the Corridor.  To that end, the Study Team has recommended that additional funding be sought to study this area in sufficient detail. 

As part of this Study, however, the Study Team is evaluating possible freeway improvements such as ramp widenings and new auxiliary lanes in the area of the Corridor south of Vermont; as well as "off-freeway" mobility improvements to the local street system, and transit infrastructure and operations (e.g., improve bus and rail services), support facilities such as park-and-ride lots, etc.  These projects, if implemented, could result in short-term mobility improvements, until a larger solution is developed. 

QUESTIONS REGARDING THE STUDY PROCESS  
 
Q.  Why is the Study only evaluating five strategies? 

A.  The goal of the Study is to identify one preferred strategy.  At this point, five potential strategies have been identified through an extensive public outreach and technical evaluation process that began with over 50 concepts in November 2001. The Study Team conducted community outreach meetings within the first few months of the Study to gain input from the public on specific issues, problem areas, and opinions on possible solutions. Those 50 concepts were narrowed to 12 Feasible Strategies, which were released for public review in April 2002.  Following a second round of community outreach activities, the 12 Feasible Strategies were again narrowed to the current five Screened Strategies in July 2002. 

Q. What criteria are being used to evaluate the strategies? 

A.  The evaluation criteria that is being used by the Study Team to narrow the strategies include:  transportation system performance (i.e., added capacity, travel time savings), timing of improvements, accessibility (to residents, to jobs, to points of interest), impacts to the socioeconomic environment (i.e., land acquisitions, construction impacts, visual impacts), impacts to the natural environment (noise, air quality, etc), costs/cost effectiveness, equity/environmental justice (i.e., distribution of benefits and costs, distribution of the population served), potential for funding, and public acceptability (i.e., compatibility with local plans/policies, responsiveness to public comments, inconvenience during construction).   

Q.  Who has made the decisions to date on this Study, and who will ultimately decide which strategy becomes the preferred strategy? 

A.  Decisions are being made through a consensus building process involving the public, as well as key local, regional, state, and federal agencies and political representatives along the 40-mile corridor.  The Preferred Strategy will include recommendations to be implemented by a variety of agencies, depending upon jurisdictional responsibilities.  Each key agency affected will adopt and implement appropriate recommendations of the preferred strategy. 

Decisions are based upon information being provided by the Study Team.  The Study Team consists of a team of consulting transportation engineers, environmental planners, transportation planners, and public outreach experts, led by Parsons Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas, Inc. (PB).  The Study Team is overseen by Caltrans and MTA.  Other key agencies involved in overseeing this study include the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments (LVMCOG), and the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT).  The Study Team is responsible for preparing all of the technical documentation and providing recommendations to working groups, referred to as the "Technical Advisory Committee" and "Steering Committee."  These committees review and approve the recommendations and provide update information for release to the public and the elected officials.  The feedback received from the public and elected officials are incorporated into the Study as appropriate. 

Q.  When will the preferred strategy be selected? 

A.  The Study Team is currently completing a round of community outreach activities, where they are receiving significant community feedback on the five Screened Strategies.  At the same time, the Study Team is also conducting more extensive technical analysis of these strategies, to see how they compare on the Study’s evaluation criteria (for more information on the Study’s evaluation criteria, please see the answer to the previous question about the criteria). 

Once this round of community outreach and technical evaluation is completed, the Study Team will propose a Preferred Strategy (which will include short-, mid- and long-range projects for the public transportation system, the local streets, and the freeway) and present that strategy to the Technical Advisory Committee and the Steering Committee for their input.  At this time, the Study Team anticipates this phase will be completed by the end of 2002. 
 
Q.  Once the preferred strategy is selected, when will I see construction begin? 

A.  The results of this Study will provide a “blueprint” for improving the US 101 Freeway Corridor, or a long-term vision that can be reached incrementally with a combination of short-, mid-, and long-range projects that will be defined as part of the study process.  During the last phase of this Study, key projects will be selected for development of project initiation documents (PID).  These documents are needed in order to compete for funding to implement the proposed improvements.  The earliest that a PID for a key project could be submitted for funding consideration would be two years.  Once approved for funding, the earliest in which funds are available for new projects, due to funding cycles, is five years.  Therefore, at the earliest, it is probable that a selected key project (likely a near-term, small project) would only begin construction within 10 years. 

Major projects, such as adding a new freeway lane in each direction which involve the acquisition of new right-of-way, will need to be implemented in phases.  The initial phase, when funded, is likely to take approximately 10 years or more to complete the engineering, environmental, and design processes, before construction could commence. 

Q.  Is funding available to make the improvements identified through this Study? 

A.  Funding is not currently available for the improvements that will be recommended from this Study.  Some funding could be made available for highly competitive short-range projects within the next 5-10 years, but for the most part, the higher cost recommendations will have to be phased in over the next 25 or more years, based on availability of funding. 
 
Q.  What are the next steps in the Study? 

A.  The major remaining steps are:  (1) to select the Preferred Strategy which will include identification of short-, mid-, and long-range projects for the public transportation, local streets and roads, and US 101 Freeway; and (2) to prepare the necessary project initiation documents (PIDs) that can “jumpstart” initiation of one or more of the projects identified in the Preferred Strategy.  

To arrive at the Preferred Strategy, the Study Team is currently completing technical evaluation of the 5 Screened Strategies (including completing the current round of community outreach activities).  The Preferred Strategy will provide an overall vision for the corridor, but also identify multi-modal short-, mid-, and long-range projects which will begin to build out that vision.  The Preferred Strategy is scheduled to be selected by the end of 2002.   

Once the Preferred Strategy is selected, the Study Team will begin work on preparation of the PIDs.  The preparation of these documents will be completed for one or more key projects identified in the Preferred Strategy.  PIDs are necessary for a project to apply for funding.  This last phase of work is scheduled to begin in early 2003, and to be completed in July 2004, at the Study’s conclusion. 
 

QUESTIONS REGARDING THE STRATEGIES UNDER CONSIDERATION  

Q.  Why is the Study focusing on widening or elevating the freeway, and not public transit options? 

A.   The five strategies provide for a multi-modal approach to addressing the problems along the US 101 Corridor, looking at the public transportation system, the local streets and roads, as well as the US 101 Freeway itself.  As identified in the current 5 Screened Strategies, all strategies (with the exception of the “do nothing” strategy) includes proposals for improvements on all three systems (public transportation, local streets, freeway), and specifically include a significant increase in public transit services by the year 2025. 

Q.  Why hasn’t the Study evaluated creating new freeways or finishing the 1950s Master Plan for freeways which would have included the Whitnall-Malibu, Reseda to the Sea, Beverly Hills and Pacific Coast Freeways? 

A.  This is a very complicated question, one filled with many reasons.  In general, the existing conditions have significantly changed since the 1950s.  For instance, significant urbanization and growth have occurred in much of the areas identified in the 1950’s freeway plans since their development, which would make building a new freeway extremely costly and significantly impacting.  Consideration of these facilities would create much greater impacts on sensitive areas, displacement of residences and businesses, and other environmental factors than the strategies currently under consideration.   

Re-evaluation of the previously recommended freeways would require extensive studies and agreements from all relevant local and regional jurisdictions, which is beyond the scope of the current Study.  

Q. If an elevated structure is selected as the preferred strategy, will it mean no need to acquire properties? 

A.  Even a strategy with an elevated structure will require property acquisitions in order to bring the freeway up to standard, provide room for the columns in the existing freeway, build new park and ride facilities, and to allow access to-and from the freeway, interchanges and cross-streets.  However, building an elevated structure versus an “at-grade” structure would require less freeway widening and therefore less property acquisition.  As part of the current evaluation being conducted on the five remaining Screened Strategies, the Study Team is conducting a more extensive analysis of the property acquisition requirements for each strategy.  The number of property acquisitions and the level of impacts on the communities are being carefully evaluated for each strategy, and will be among the key criteria used in selecting the Preferred Strategy.  
 

QUESTIONS REGARDING ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES 

Q.  I own property near the US 101 Freeway.  Now that I am aware that this Study is underway and that the freeway may be widened in the future, don’t I need to disclose that information when I sell my home? 

A.   Because the US 101 Freeway Corridor Improvement Study is just a study at this time and no preferred strategy has been selected which identifies what is actually being proposed for the Corridor, there is nothing to disclose (with the exception that you may choose to disclose that a study is being conducted).   We suggest you talk to your real estate agent, or attorney, about what needs to be disclosed at this time.  At the end of the Study, when a Preferred Strategy is adopted, it is possible that a different disclosure would be appropriate.  However, again, your real estate agent is the person who will advise you on this matter. 

Q.  If Caltrans moves forward with widening the freeway, and my property is acquired, what is the process and will I get fair market value for my property? 

A.  The US 101 Freeway Corridor Improvement Study is an early planning document, and does not in of itself require property acquisitions.  However, Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration both have significant information on the general process followed when acquiring property for projects.  Federal requirements mandate that fair market value be offered when property acquisition is necessary.  Please utilize the information available through these organizations to assist you.   

The following location provides answers to a series of frequently asked questions on property acquisition: 

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/row/pubs/yourprop_eng.pdf 

For further property acquisition information, additional resources available are: 

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA):  
o http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/realestate/

• California Department of Transportation (Caltrans): 
o http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/row/index.htm 
o http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/row/rowman/manual/

If after reviewing this information, you still have questions, please feel free to e-mail them to the Study Team at:  101info@consensusp.com  someone from the Study Team will respond.  

Q.  How many properties will the Study need to acquire?  

A.  To start, the Study itself will not require any property acquisitions, but will set a “blueprint” for proposed improvements within the Corridor (resulting in a list of proposed multi-modal short-, mid-, and long-range projects).  If implemented, these projects will require environmental analysis, including identification of potential property acquisitions and proposed mitigation measures.  

However, as part of the analysis being done for this Study, the Study Team has been and is continuing to conduct preliminary environmental analysis of the strategies under consideration.  In July 2002, when the five Screened Strategies were announced, the Study had identified very preliminary numbers for the worst case scenario of residential property “takes,” which was just over 600 properties (this corresponded with the widest proposal, requiring the most land on either side of the freeway).  These were just preliminary numbers, based on a general assessment of aerial photography, and were likely very conservative.  The Study Team is currently conducting a more thorough investigation of the potential property acquisitions that could be required with each of the five strategies if they were to be constructed, the results of which will be available at the end of this current phase of analysis (likely, by the end of 2002).  As the Study moves forward and we have up to date information, these numbers and others will be provided to the public and elected officials.  

The Study Team understands that any property acquisition is a serious matter, and is a prominent concern for people living and working adjacent to the freeway.  This is among the key criteria being used in evaluating each strategy.  The Study Team will try to identify a Preferred Strategy that minimizes property acquisitions and other environmental impacts to the extent possible, while still providing effective transportation system improvements.  
 
QUESTIONS REGARDING PUBLIC INPUT  

Q.  Why has Caltrans not held public hearings on this Study?  

A.  To date, the Study Team has held over 30 community workshops and meetings, rather than “public hearings.”  Public hearings are not typically conducted for early planning studies of this nature.  Formal meetings are more likely to occur at the environmental stage as specific projects are launched within the Corridor.  

Because of the level of complexity of the options under consideration and the diverse and wide range of interest and knowledge in the community, open-house workshops have been held in order to most effectively inform the public about the current strategies under analysis, by providing one-on-one assistance to address specific questions and/or issues, and most importantly to get the public’s feedback.  The Study Team also has been holding small “roundtable” meetings to interact with the public informally and receive feedback with representatives from business, major property owners, institutions, community groups, homeowners associations, and various community leaders living and/or working within the Corridor.  

This process has been very successful for this Study, as over 1,500 public comments have been received since the Study’s inception.  Public comments have been used by the Study Team in narrowing the strategies at different milestones (from the original list of 50 options to 12 Feasible Strategies, from those 12 to the current 5 Screened Strategies, and the current round of outreach which will be used by the Study Team in narrowing the five Screened Strategies to the Preferred Strategy).  

Q.  Why has Caltrans not accepted public comments on this Study?  

A.  Caltrans, as well as all other agencies involved in this Study, has been accepting public comments throughout the Study.  Comments received by these agencies are forwarded to the consultant team for follow-up and documentation.  

The Study Team has actively engaged in seeking, creating, and advancing dialogue with all stakeholders.  In addition to providing a number of avenues for the public to comment on the Study (the study website, hotline, e-mail, and comment sheets at community meetings and activity center locations), the Study Team has held over 30 public meetings to date on this Study (which started in July 2001).  Combined, the public has utilized all of these avenues to provide over 1,500 comments.  

Opportunity still exists for you to comment on the Study, and we hope you will take advantage of one of the following avenues to get your voice heard:  
• Call the Study Hotline at (866) MOVE–101 and provide input   
• E-mail your comments to: 101info@consensusp.com  
• Ask to be added to the study mailing list to get information on future meetings in your neighborhood  

Q.  Has community input made a difference?  

A. Yes.  Since the Study’s inception, over 1,500 comments have been received by the Study Team.  These comments have been integrated into their decision-making as one of the evaluation criteria.  For example:  

• Increased emphasis was place on certain components of the public transportation proposals (including the creation of Strategy E - the proposal to extend the existing Red Line from the Universal City Station out west to Thousand Oaks, increased emphasis on transit feeder services and park and ride lots in all of the strategies, etc)  
• Emphasis was placed on finding solutions for those areas along the freeway considered “hot spots” for congestion  
• Emphasis on keeping all of the freeway improvements at-grade versus elevated to reduce the potential visual impacts  
• The Study Team is investigating ways to make the local streets and roads work better, as well as opportunities to create new or build-out non-continuous streets that could help relieve congestion from the freeway (especially for local trips that would not require utilizing the freeway if these streets were completed) 

A. Please take advantage of one of the following avenues to tell the Study Team how you feel about the current strategies under consideration, the Study itself, any specific problems/issues you would like seen addressed by the Team, your suggestions for possible improvements, or any other issue regarding this corridor or the study:  

• Call the Study Hotline at (866) MOVE–101 and provide input  
• Make comments using the Study Website: www.communityspeakup.com/101  
• E-mail your comments to: 101info@consensusp.com  
• Ask to be added to the study mailing list to get information on future meetings in your neighborhood