RELINQUISHMENT OF STATE ROUTE 170 / HIGHLAND AVENUE

Resolution - WHEREAS, any official position of the City of Los Angeles with respect to legislation, rules, regulations or policies proposed to or pending before a local, state or federal governmental body or agency must have first been adopted in the form of a Resolution by the City Council with the concurrence of the Mayor; and WHEREAS, Highland Avenue is part of the State Highway System and is listed in the Streets and Highways Code as State Route 170, and is therefore under the jurisdiction of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans); and WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has approved a street improvement project entitled Highland and Franklin Intersection Improvement under its 1997 Call for Projects County Transportation Improvement Program; and WHEREAS, the street improvements will occur on the section of Highland Avenue between Yucca Street and a point just north of Franklin Avenue and will involve turn pockets on Highland and Franklin, as well as options for other anticipated city improvements to address traffic impacts and pedestrian safety; and WHEREAS, the total project cost is estimated at $2.35 million with $1.2 million coming from the MTA, which must be expended for construction of said project by 2005, and $543,000 coming from private funds; and WHEREAS, in order to implement these improvements, it is necessary that Highland Avenue be under the jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles as these improvements are not consistent with the State's standards; and WHEREAS, the City is negotiating with Caltrans to request that the State relinquish Highland avenue State Route 170 to the City of Los Angeles and pay the funds to the City that are necessary for repairs that are legally required of the State; and WHEREAS, existing law requires that the Legislature delete a State roadway from the state highway system prior to the State's relinquishment to a local jurisdiction. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, with the concurrence of the Mayor, that the City SPONSOR legislation seeking State relinquishment of Route 170 (Highland Avenue) and removal of said highway from the Streets and Highway Code.