Torrance to assume ownership of Hawthorne Boulevard after Caltrans payment, council concurs

The Torrance City Council unanimously concurred with public works staff and authorized the city to accept the relinquishment of the remaining Caltrans-owned segment of Hawthorne Boulevard, a roughly 4.8-mile arterial that runs through the city.

Shin Furukawa, deputy public works director and city engineer, told the council the transfer gives the city three primary benefits: the ability to coordinate traffic signals along Hawthorne Boulevard and cross streets, to process development review and permit applications locally (shortening timelines), and to respond more quickly to maintenance requests such as graffiti, potholes and emergency signal repairs.

Furukawa said Caltrans is unable to make needed pre-transfer improvements and that the cities negotiated a one-time payment of $11,550,000 from Caltrans to fund capital repairs after transfer. He noted the city will incur ongoing operating costs to staff and maintain the roadway and that the city will assume liability upon recordation of the relinquishment agreement, anticipated in October.

"There are three primary benefits to the city assuming local control of Hawthorne Boulevard," Furukawa said. "Number 1, it allows the city to coordinate traffic signals... Number 2, development review and permit applications will now go through the city of Torrance rather than Caltrans... Number 3, the city will be much more responsive to maintenance requests."

Public commenters asked for clarifications on the physical extent of the transfer and suggested the city consider renaming the roadway to honor a local veteran; staff confirmed the segment runs from Pacific Coast Highway up to Redondo Beach Boulevard within Torrance’s jurisdiction, with small snippets under neighboring jurisdictions north of Redondo Beach Boulevard. Furukawa said at least one active claim prior to recordation will remain with Caltrans and not transfer to the city.

Council members thanked staff for negotiations and the motion to concur with the public works director carried unanimously. Staff said the next procedural steps include submission to the California Transportation Commission in August, recordation with the county recorder (anticipated in October) and advertising for construction bids for near-term sidewalk repairs with construction planned to begin in the fall; the $11,550,000 payment is expected to arrive at recordation.