Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
The Finding Aid of the Century Freeway records
0228
0228
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Century Freeway records
Collection number: 0228
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
23.0 Linear feet
23 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1966-1993
Abstract: Century Freeway, officially named the I-105 Glenn M. Anderson (Century) Freeway Transitway, extends for 17.3 miles in a west-east
direction, from Sepulveda Blvd near the Los Angeles International Airport to the I-605 Freeway. The freeway traverses nine
cities in the County of Los Angles and interchanges with four freeways: Interstate Routes 405, 110, 710, and 605. Planning
for the Century Freeway began in 1958 and it took 35 years to build. The freeway opened to the public in 1993. The collection
includes reports, studies, meeting minutes, photographs, and court documents related to the planning and building of the freeway.
[Box/folder# or item name], Century Freeway records, Collection no. 0228, Regional History Collections, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Century Freeway, officially named the I-105 Glenn M. Anderson (Century) Freeway Transitway, extends for 17.3 miles in an west-east
direction, from Sepulveda Boulevard near the Los Angeles International Airport to the I-605 Freeway. The freeway traverses
nine cities in the County of Los Angeles and interchanges with four freeways: Interstate Routes 405, 110, 710, and 605. The
Metro Green Line coincides with the majority of the freeway.
The history of the planning and development of the Century Freeway is long and unique. Beginning in December 1958 with the
initial planning activities, notices were sent to various governmental agencies informing them that studies were being undertaken
and requesting any input they might have which would affect the development of the project.
Following extensive studies, a route location was adopted by the California Transportation Commission. On November 17, 1965,
the portion west of Central Avenue was adopted and on July 24, 1968 the portion east of Central Avenue was adopted.
After the route was adopted, the freeway was added to the interstate system in 1968. As part of the process for its inclusion,
the federal government, in consideration of the impact the freeway would have on the community and environment, required the
formation of a multi-disciplined design team. These teams included the following: consultant organizations (Gruen Associates,
Development Research Associates, Bolt Beranek and Newman, Systems Associates and Eugene Jacobs); local agencies members; Federal
Highway Administration; and Caltrans.
The design team developed 19 separate studies related to economic and fiscal structure, housing displacement, community facilities,
traffic circulation, neighborhood environmental values, and joint use development. Between 1969 and 1970, seven hearings were
held regarding these matters. Finally, 9 out of 10 local agencies approved the plan. However, the City of Hawthorne opposed
the adopted route and refused to sign the agreement. Thus, a modified route, commonly referred to as the
Bell Curve was agreed upon on September 15, 1977 as an alternative to the original design.
In the meantime, a class action lawsuit was filed by the following plaintiffs in February 1972: four couples living within
the state right-of-way, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Sierra Club, the Environmental
Defense Fund, and the Freeway Fighters (the City of Hawthorne withdrew in 1977 after the route was modified). The environmental
movement of the 1960s brought opposition to the freeway's construction as did the fiscal difficulties brought about by the
1971 Sylmar Earthquake and the California tax revolt of the late 1970s.
Probably the largest amount of opposition came from the communities that would be affected by the building of the freeway.
Because of these complaints, significant modifications were made to the original route. Despite the setbacks, Councilman John
D. Byork and Congressman Glenn M. Anderson fought endlessly for the completion of the freeway. In honor of Anderson's dedication
to the project, Caltrans renamed the freeway the Glenn M. Anderson (Century) Freeway in his honor.
In 1978, the Federal Government rendered its decision to proceed with the project under certain conditions. In 1979, the
Office of the Advocate for Corridor Residents was established and funded by Caltrans and FHWA but selected by the Plaintiffs. Its purpose was to relocate and rehabilitate
the remaining 4,200 housing units in the corridor and adopt an employment action plan including the establishment of an affirmative
action committee designed to increase minority businesses and improve women employment goals on the project.
In September 1981, Consent Decree was amended by all parties and the main features of the project were now 6 lanes for general
traffic and 2 for high occupancy vehicles (HOV), 10 transit stations and park and ride lots, 10 local interchanges, 2 interchanges
at the east-west ends of the project, ramp metering and HOV bypass lanes, landscaping and noise attenuation, relocation and
rehabilitation for 3,700 housing units, continuation of the Employment Action Plan, and continuation of the Office of the
Advocate.
The project broke ground on May 1, 1982 in the City of Lynwood. The project was the largest single public works contract in
California history costing more than $100 million per mile to build. At the time of construction, no other project had provided
more replacement dwelling units, more jobs for individuals living nearby, been subjected to such a rigorous environmental
analysis, or more careful about the disposal of hazardous materials found in its path. All-in-all, the freeway opened on October
14, 1993 and cost $2,250,000,000 to complete.
The collection was given to the University of Southern California by the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los
Angeles on November 8, 1999.
The collection is organized by subject file.
The collections consists of memorandums, court documents, correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings, articles, notes, financial
documents, newsletters, brochures, contracts, and proposals in regards to the building and completion of the Centruy Freeway,
Interstate 105. Included in the collection are documents created, distributed, and proposed to/by the Century Freeway Affirmative
Action Committee (CFAAC), the Caltrans District 7 Civil Rights Branch, CFAAC's Employment Center, Century Freeway Housing
Program (CFHP), Century Freeway Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, Century Freeway Technical Management System, Century
Freeway Women's Outreach Program, and Pacific Coast Regional Program.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Anderson, Glenn M. -- Archives
Brown, Murray -- Archives
California. Dept. of Transportation. District 7. -- Archives
California. Dept. of Transportation. -- Archives
Century Freeway Affirmative Action Committee, Inc. (Calif.). -- Archives
Century Freeway Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program. -- Archives
Century Freeway Replenishment Housing Program (Calif.). -- Archives
Century Freeway Technical Management Services. -- Archives
Century Freeway Women's Outreach Program. -- Archives
Delgado, Andrew G.
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. -- Archives
Municipal Data Systems. -- Archives
Pregerson, Harry, 1923- -- Archives
Schenk, Lynn A., 1945- -- Archives
Southern California Association of Governments. -- Archives
Trombatore, Leo J. -- Archives
Brochures
California Century Freeway (Calif.)--Archival resources
California, Southern--History, Local--Archival resources
Clippings
Contracts
Correspondence
Dissertations
Financial records
Memorandums
Newsletters
Notes
Regional planning--California, Southern--Archival resources
Regional planning--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Reports
Transportation--California--Hawthorne--Planning--Archival resources
Transportation--California--Los Angeles--Planning--Archival resources
Transportation--California--Lynwood--Planning--Archival resources