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Impact Mar 04, 2022
| Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor of California
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Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement this week of $296 million in Clean California grants to underserved communities throughout the state, Caltrans will locally provide $88 million for 25 projects in District 7 to remove trash, create jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces. The grants are part of Governor Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping $1.1 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces.
“Communities deserve clean spaces to gather and show their pride,” said Caltrans District 7 Director Tony Tavares. “By working with local and state partners to beautify these spaces, Caltrans is advancing projects that will provide years of economic, health and safety benefits for California residents.”
The projects include a wide range of community enhancements for cities, counties, transit agencies and tribal governments to beautify public spaces, such as litter removal, landscaping and art installations, walking and bike paths, and other complete streets features that enhance safety and access to transportation. The grants will generate 3,600 jobs statewide, and recipients must complete their projects by June 30, 2024. The Governor’s California Blueprint proposes an additional $100 million to fund another round of Clean California local projects.
Projects located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area include:
- Jordan Downs Beautification and Litter Abatement: This Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles project will replace 700 outdated residences within the Jordan Downs Urban Village with 1,400 housing units accommodating a mix of incomes, as well as a retail center and a community center. The project also includes the construction and installation of four parks, decorative public art and several “smart” compacting trash cans. An educational outreach program that addresses litter inequities in the community will also be created.
- Ramona Gardens/City Terrace Rail Line Beautification Project: This Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority project will address litter, pollution, vandalism, and illegal trespassing by constructing a sound wall between Chelsea Street and the railroad right-of-way in Los Angeles near the Ramona Gardens public housing development. The project includes funding for a local artist or artists to create a mural on the wall as well as funding for crews to increase litter and graffiti removal within the right-of-way.
- Hollenbeck Park Adjacent and I-5 Freeway Adjacent Beautification Project: A proposed project in partnership with the City of Los Angeles will install new sidewalks, plant more than 200 trees, and add new pedestrian and street lighting, fencing, and a new park entryway within Hollenbeck Park and adjacent public properties. The project seeks to make dramatic improvements by making Hollenbeck Park and its immediate vicinity more accessible to the public, improving public safety, and beautifying the area with landscaping, trees, and public art.
The local projects announced this week are in addition to the $312 million for 126 beautification projects along the state highway system that were announced last month.
Since launching Clean California in July, Caltrans has removed nearly 7,400 tons of litter from the state highway system – enough to fill 134 Olympic-size swimming pools – and hired 623 new team members as part of Clean California, including 498 maintenance workers who collect litter and remove graffiti.
For a complete list of projects and more information about Clean California, visit CleanCA.com.
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