Legislation to Address the I-10 Closure Passes the Assembly Transportation Committee

(Sacramento, CA) – Today, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago’s (D-Los Angeles) AB 2333 passed out of the Assembly Committee on Transportation. In the aftermath of the I-10 Freeway Fire, AB 2333 aims to enhance our collective safety by increasing the Legislature’s oversight over Caltrans’ airspace leasing program. The bill would require Caltrans to submit an annual report detailing specified information on every airspace site. The specified information models the categories reported by Caltrans in their initial assessment of all active airspace sites last November.

On Veteran’s Day 2023, a fire erupted under the I-10 Freeway in Los Angeles between Alameda Street and Santa Fe Avenue. The fire spread across eight acres, the equivalent of six football fields and burned for more than three hours. The freeway closure affected about 300,000 commuters who pass through the freeway corridor daily.

“Following the I-10 Freeway Fire last fall, we must work together with Caltrans to increase safety near our highways, that includes improving the airspace leasing program,” said Assembly Member Santiago. “AB 2333 helps ensure that Caltrans has an up-to-date inventory on all active airspace sites and, ensures the Legislature has reliable data on the program. These measures will help prevent the unfortunate incident on Veteran’s Day 2023 from ever happening again.”

The bill will be heard in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations later in May.

Assembly Member Miguel Santiago is the Assistant Assembly Majority Leader. He serves on the Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee, the Health Committee, and the Utilities & Energy Committee. He represents the 54th District composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Montebello, and Vernon.

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