It's a no-brainer. The 405 freeway in the Sepulveda Pass desperately needs a carpool lane. And there was a great plan to make that a commuter reality! But now it's dying.
The project is now $730 million dollars short and that could lead to its delay or even cancellation, according to the Daily News. The total cost of construction is pegged at $1 billion, so as you can see there's a wide gap to be filled.
The money did exist, in the form of bond revenue approved by voters two years ago. But then last December, the Legislature took it away to deal with their own cash crisis.
There's still hope...the brain trust of the state Transportation department is looking everywhere for other sources of money to keep the project going. They at least have enough money to start construction and keep building for the next 15 months.
The carpool project would be built on the northbound lanes only of the 405 between the Santa Monica 10 and Ventura 101 freeways. That's a 10-miles stretch. If they can figure out the money mess, construction will begin on time...in the middle of May.
