The Santa Monica City Council has approved a $2 million federal grant to explore options for addressing the impact of a segment of the Interstate 10 freeway that cuts through the city’s Pico neighborhood. On June 9, council members voted unanimously to accept funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, which supports efforts to repair urban areas divided by transportation infrastructure.
The study will focus on the stretch of the I-10 freeway between 11th and 20th streets, covering approximately 25 to 30 acres in a historically Black and Latino community. The freeway’s construction in the 1960s displaced more than 1,500 residents and has long been considered a dividing barrier in the neighborhood. The grant will fund a feasibility assessment to examine current conditions, potential locations for “cap parks” — parks built over freeway lids — and an analysis of costs associated with various interventions. However, the funds are not designated for design development or construction.
Senior Park Planner Antonio Lopez described the cap park concept to the council as “basically a park on top of a highway.” In addition to this option, the council directed staff to investigate broader possibilities, including the partial or full removal of the freeway segment to create new community spaces such as parks or boulevards that would better serve local residents.
Councilmember Ellis Raskin, who proposed accepting the grant, characterized the I-10 corridor as Santa Monica’s most significant environmental hazard and expressed that capping the freeway would address only part of the issue. Raskin emphasized the need for continued study of transformative solutions that could more comprehensively reconnect the neighborhood and improve quality of life.
The proposal to reconsider the freeway’s configuration has drawn both support and criticism. Proponents argue that reimagining or removing the freeway segment could heal long-standing divisions and mitigate environmental harms in the Pico neighborhood. Opponents warn that eliminating or reducing freeway capacity could lead to severe traffic congestion by diverting a significant volume of cars onto local streets, potentially disrupting mobility for residents and commuters alike. They also question the prioritization of park development over the city’s other infrastructure needs.
The upcoming feasibility study aims to provide a detailed assessment of these options, weighing community benefits against possible transportation challenges. Santa Monica officials have not yet committed to any final course of action, signaling that the study’s findings will guide future decisions on how to balance connectivity, environmental considerations, and neighborhood revitalization.