FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: David Murphy President, Angelenos Against Gridlock dmurphy@endinggridlock.org

Angelenos Against Gridlock Urges Utility Companies & Outside Agencies to Expedite 405-Related Work

Group Calls for “All Hands on Deck” Effort to Speed Construction Completion Los Angeles, California (October 26, 2012) – With the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project delayed as much as six months due to a variety of issues, Angelenos Against Gridlock urges utility companies to expedite remaining utility relocation work, and urges public agencies at all levels of government to coordinate efforts expeditiously. Angelenos Against Gridlock urges all parties to allocate whatever personnel and resources are needed to complete work quickly. According to October’s Metro Board Construction Committee documents, “utility relocations are critical elements in completing work on time”, and “Area 4 near Sunset appears to be drawing [a] critical path in schedule, which is caused by utility relocations.” The main issues relating to delays thus far include "contractor performance, MSE [mechanically stabilized earth] Wall failures, VA, [and] Getty” vicinity issues. “While Metro and its contractor, Kiewit, deserve credit for completing the much-publicized Carmageddon II work quickly, Angelenos certainly aren’t out of the woods yet: the overall project is delayed officially as much as six months,” said David Murphy, President of Angelenos Against Gridlock. “We urge utility companies and federal, state, and local government agencies to staff up and ramp up efforts to complete their share of the work and coordination as fast as safely possible. We can’t afford any further delays, and we have to make up for lost time.” Angelenos Against Gridlock calls on utilities and companies such as LADWP, Southern California Edison, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil to dedicate whatever manpower is necessary so any remaining utility relocation work – particularly in Area 4 of the project near Sunset Blvd -- can be completed as fast as possible. Further, Angelenos Against Gridlock urges government agencies such as the US General Services Administration (GSA), LADOT and City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering to ensure sufficient staff resources are dedicated to avoid bottlenecks relating to agency approvals and coordination. With the passage of Measure R and the accompanying dramatic increase in the amount of construction, utility companies and cooperating/permitting agencies must also plan ahead to staff up as needed to avoid future bottlenecks on future projects. The 405 is America’s busiest freeway, and also its most congested. A staggering 331,000 vehicles travel every day on the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass, on average. “More people drive on the 405 here each day than the total population count of people in cities like Pittsburgh or Cincinnati,” noted David Murphy. “With the incredible number of people impacted, we must do everything possible to safely hasten progress, so construction impacts on traffic are finished, and so drivers can benefit from the new HOV lane and improved freeway ramps.” “Every day of delay means more suffering for Angelenos stuck in gridlock,” said David Murphy, President of Angelenos Against Gridlock. “The cost from lost productivity – not to mention stress, and lost time with friends and family, is extremely significant. Delays must be avoided,” he said. “Angelenos need relief from gridlock –quickly. We urge all parties to work together to get this project done absolutely as soon as possible.”

### Angelenos Against Gridlock (www.endinggridlock.org; twitter.com/endinggridlock) is a project supporting road, transit, and bike infrastructure in Los Angeles County. AAG is independent from and unaffiliated with Metro or others overseeing the 405 construction.