SR 134 (California)

SR 134 (California) is a state highway in Southern California connecting the coastal city of Ventura with the San Gabriel Valley city of Pasadena via a mix of freeway and arterial segments. It serves as a major east–west corridor through Ventura County and Los Angeles County, linking communities such as Thousand Oaks, Burbank, and Glendale. The route interfaces with several interstate and state routes and carries significant commuter, freight, and regional traffic between the Pacific Ocean coast and inland urban centers.

Route description

SR 134 begins at U.S. Route 101 in Ventura and proceeds eastward as a freeway, traversing the Ventura River valley and skirting the southern flank of the Santa Monica Mountains. The highway passes near Ventura County Fairgrounds, Botanical Gardens, and the community of Ojai to the north before entering Thousand Oaks where it intersects with State Route 23 near the Conejo Valley and Newbury Park. Continuing, the roadway crosses into Los Angeles County and becomes part of the Ventura Freeway designation while intersecting Interstate 405 and providing access to Woodland Hills and Canoga Park. East of the San Fernando Valley, SR 134 joins a network near Burbank with connections to Hollywood Burbank Airport, Warner Bros. Studios, and The Walt Disney Company corporate facilities. The route then traverses the Cahuenga Pass corridor, merges with Interstate 5 briefly, and continues through Glendale adjacent to landmarks like the Montrose district and Glendale Community College. Near Pasadena the freeway terminates at State Route 210 and local arterials serving destinations such as Old Pasadena and the Rose Bowl neighborhood.

History

Early corridors that became SR 134 followed wagon and stagecoach paths used during the California Gold Rush era and subsequent regional development tied to the Southern Pacific Railroad. The modern alignment was constructed in stages during the mid-20th century as part of post-Interstate Highway System freeway expansion influenced by planners associated with Caltrans and urban developers from Los Angeles. Significant segments opened in the 1950s and 1960s, coinciding with the growth of Burbank studio campuses like Warner Bros. and Paramount that increased demand for improved roadways. The designation was codified in the 1964 state highway renumbering, replacing older legislative route numbers used since the 1930s. Over the decades, SR 134 has been the site of major projects, including seismic retrofits following the 1971 San Fernando earthquake and interchange reconstructions tied to expansions of Interstate 5 and State Route 210. Traffic incidents and air quality concerns prompted local and regional agencies such as the South Coast Air Quality Management District to coordinate mitigation measures.

Major intersections

The highway intersects with multiple principal routes serving Southern California. West to east, notable junctions include: - U.S. Route 101 in Ventura near Channel Islands access. - State Route 23 in Thousand Oaks providing access to Moorpark and Simi Valley. - Interstate 405 linking to Long Beach and Santa Monica. - Interstate 5 in the San Fernando Valley near Burbank and Universal Studios Hollywood. - State Route 2 and connections toward Hollywood and Echo Park. - State Route 210 in Pasadena providing eastward routes toward the Inland Empire and San Bernardino County.

Future and planned improvements

Planned improvements have been coordinated by regional agencies including Caltrans District 7, the Metro, and local city governments. Projects emphasize seismic strengthening, interchange modernization near Burbank Airport, ramp reconfigurations to improve connections with Interstates 405 and 5, and managed lanes concepts similar to those implemented on corridors like I-10 and I-110. Environmental review processes have involved agencies such as the CalEPA and the California Public Utilities Commission where rail grade separations or transit integration with entities like the Metrolink commuter rail system are studied. Funding sources include state transportation budgets, federal programs tied to the Federal Highway Administration, and local ballot measures previously used for projects on routes like SR 57.

Related routes and designations

SR 134 interacts with several federal, state, and local corridors including U.S. Route 101, Interstate 5, Interstate 405, State Route 210, State Route 2, and State Route 23. The Ventura Freeway name also applies to portions of State Route 118 and to the broader network serving the San Fernando Valley, comparable to designations used on highways like Golden State Freeway and Ventura Boulevard. Historic planning documents reference entities including the Regional Transportation Plan and major stakeholders such as City of Pasadena and City of Glendale transportation departments.

Category:State highways in California