Gateway Cities COG executive briefs council on $104 million regional broadband and transit efforts

Hector De La Torre, executive director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG), addressed the Santa Fe Springs City Council during public comment and described several regional projects aimed at broadband expansion, transit and transportation improvements. De La Torre said the COG’s regional program for the area will invest roughly $104,000,000 in broadband and related infrastructure for the COG’s member cities.

De La Torre told the council the project will extend a state backbone and then the COG will hire a provider to deliver local service. He described the local capacity being planned: “The line we're bringing is 10,000 megabytes per second,” compared with private services he said some residents see at under 1,000 megabytes per second. He said the project will create an opportunity to expand Wi‑Fi access across the city and provide service to a pocket of the city he said currently lacks a provider.

De La Torre also described regional transit projects the COG is working on, including the Southeast Gateway Line light rail and the East Side Line Extension, and said the COG is engaged on improvements tied to the 605 Freeway. He and council members discussed coordination on Telegraph corridor improvements and outreach to Caltrans on near‑term safety measures for problematic intersections.

Mayor Pro Tem Zamora and City Manager Renee Bobadilla praised the COG’s coordination, and Mayor Rounds noted the COG’s lobbying experience helps the region pursue grants and state funding. De La Torre said the COG is also pursuing workforce investment and other grants to better connect regional services.

No formal council action followed; the comments were made during the public comment period.