LA COUNTY METRO BOARD APPROVES $4.9 MILLION FOR SAMPSON WAY REALIGNMENT PROJECT ALONG LA WATERFRONT
Collaboration of Mayor Garcetti’s LA Waterfront Task Force Leads to Identification of Key Funding for $13.6 Million Project
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — September 24, 2015 — The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority today authorized $4.9 million in funding for the Sampson Way Realignment Project at the Port of Los Angeles. The awarded funds are to be available in FY17 and FY18. The expansion of Sampson Way in San Pedro into a scenic boulevard will facilitate public access throughout the LA Waterfront and better connect the waterfront with downtown San Pedro.
"This new funding source for much needed infrastructure along the LA Waterfront will literally pave the way towards a re-developed Ports O’ Call Village that will attract visitors from far and wide to the LA Waterfront in San Pedro," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "My Task Force on the LA Waterfront will continue its work to coordinate the City's efforts towards building a world-class waterfront."
"This funding brings us another step closer to the reenvisioned LA Waterfront that will attract visitors from the entire region,” said 15th District Los Angeles Councilman Joe Buscaino. “METRO is supporting a significant financial investment for an important transportation infrastructure project that marks the beginning of the redevelopment of Ports O’ Call. The Port is on board, the Mayor is on board and now METRO is on board."
In February, Mayor Garcetti announced the formation of an LA Waterfront panel to coordinate City efforts at and around the LA Waterfront in Wilmington and San Pedro. The Task Force, consisting of 13 city departments, is intended to promote collaboration between City departments to identify funding, tools and resources to enhance the LA Waterfront. The Department of Transportation, a key member agency, identified METRO's “Call for Projects” as a potential funding source for necessary infrastructure improvements along the LA Waterfront. Meetings and discussions of the Task Force are on-going and will continue to aid in the redevelopment of the LA Waterfront.
“The work of Mayor Garcetti’s LA Waterfront panel came to fruition today,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “We’re grateful for the leadership of the mayor and Councilman Buscaino, and look forward to moving forward with construction on Sampson Way and other major projects along the LA Waterfront.”
Design of the $13.6 million Sampson Way realignment will be completed in spring of 2016, with construction tentatively slated to start in the fall of 2016. Sampson Way will be realigned and accessed by successive intersections near 7th Street that are designed to improve traffic flow and provide additional pedestrian access.
METRO is responsible for allocating discretionary federal, state and local transportation funds to improve all modes of surface transportation. METRO also prepares the Los Angeles County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). A key component of TIP is the Call for Projects program, a competitive process that distributes discretionary capital transportation funds to regionally significant projects.
Every other year, METRO accepts Call for Projects applications in eight modal categories. Local jurisdictions, transit operators, and other public agencies are encouraged to submit applications proposing projects for funding.
The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit Southern California’s economy and quality of life. As North America’s leading seaport in terms by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $290 billion in trade during 2014. Port operations and commerce facilitate more than 148,000 jobs (about one in 12) in the City of Los Angeles and 531,000 jobs (or one in 16) in the five-county Southern California region. The San Pedro Bay Ports support more than 1 million California jobs and 3.1 million nationwide.