State Route 60

State Route 60

State Route 60 is a major east–west highway in Southern California connecting Downtown Los Angeles with the Inland Empire, running through or near Monterey Park, Alhambra, Pomona, Ontario, and Riverside. Serving as part of the regional freeway network alongside Interstate 10, Interstate 5, Interstate 15, and Interstate 210, the route links urban centers, ports, and freight corridors including access to the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.

Route description

State Route 60 begins near Downtown Los Angeles where it intersects major facilities such as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum corridor and provides connections to US 101 and Interstate 5. Traveling east, the route passes adjacent to communities like Montebello, El Monte, and South El Monte, running parallel to historic routes including portions of US 60 and abutting transit nodes such as stations on the Metrolink commuter rail and stops on the Los Angeles Metro network. Further east, the highway moves through the Pomona Freeway segment, serving Cal Poly Pomona and interchanges with Interstate 605 and SR 57 near the Fairplex and Montclair. Continuing into Ontario and Upland, the route skirts industrial parks, logistics centers and freight rail yards associated with BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The eastern section climbs the San Bernardino foothills, descends into the Riverside County basin, and ends near central Riverside, linking to SR 91 and local arterials that provide access to institutions like the UC Riverside.

History

The corridor follows alignments of early 20th-century auto trails and the historic U.S. Route 60 alignment established in the 1920s, paralleling corridors used by stagecoaches and freight wagons to the Los Angeles Basin and the Glen Helen Regional Park area. During the 1930s and 1940s, expansion of the roadway reflected growth tied to the Gold Rush aftermath urbanization and later wartime industrialization linked to World War II. The postwar suburban boom of the 1950s and 1960s, influenced by developments like the Interstate Highway System and planning documents from agencies including the Caltrans, prompted freeway upgrades and the construction of interchanges with Interstate 10, Interstate 5, and Interstate 15. In subsequent decades, major reconstruction projects addressed congestion and seismic safety following events such as the Northridge earthquake and policy shifts influenced by legislation including state transportation funding measures championed by officials like Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Freight growth linked to the expansion of the Los Angeles/Long Beach complex and distribution centers in the Inland Empire catalyzed lane additions, high-occupancy vehicle improvements, and local mitigation programs developed with municipalities including Pomona, Ontario, and Riverside.

Major intersections

Key interchanges along the route include connections with Interstate 10 in Los Angeles, Interstate 605 in Monterey Park, State Route 57 in Pomona, Interstate 15 near Corona/Ontario, and junctions with State Route 91 and U.S. Route 60 spurs in the Riverside area. The route also serves important junctions providing access to facilities such as the Los Angeles International Airport corridor via linking freeways, freight links to the ICTF, and local arterials serving commercial centers like the Victoria Gardens shopping district. Interchanges with regional transit hubs include proximity to Metrolink San Bernardino Line stations and park-and-ride complexes coordinated with agencies such as the LA Metro and the Riverside County Transportation Commission.

Traffic and usage

Traffic volumes reflect a mix of commuter and freight patterns, with peak congestion during weekday morning and evening commute periods driven by travel between Los Angeles suburbs and employment centers in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles Central Business District. Freight movement to and from the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports and regional distribution centers increases heavy vehicle percentages, influencing pavement wear and collision risk analyzed by agencies like Caltrans and regional planning bodies including the Southern California Association of Governments. Incident management often involves coordination with California Highway Patrol and local fire and law enforcement agencies such as the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Air quality and emissions concerns tied to diesel traffic interact with programs by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and statewide initiatives led by the California Air Resources Board to reduce pollutants through logistics optimization and truck fleet modernization.

Future plans and improvements

Planned improvements focus on congestion relief, freight efficiency, seismic retrofitting, and multimodal integration. Projects under study or development involve lane reconfigurations, ramp metering, auxiliary lane additions, and interchange modernization with partners including Caltrans, the Riverside County Transportation Commission, and the LA Metro. Initiatives tied to federal funding streams such as programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration and state bonds may support grade separations near rail crossings used by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad to improve safety. Environmental mitigation and community engagement processes reference standards from the California Environmental Quality Act and consultations with local jurisdictions including Pomona, Ontario, and Riverside. Long-term strategies emphasize coordination with regional freight plans from the Southern California Association of Governments and transit expansions like potential enhancements to Metrolink service to shift some commuter demand off the freeway.

Category:Roads in California