Roughly 90 days into an agreement that Mayor Todd Gloria reached with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) that allows City workers to address unsafe and unsanitary encampments along a portion of state freeways, progress is visible. 

Since the agreement was signed in July, crews have removed 151 tons of trash and debris from 184 encampments, while connecting 43 people to sheltering programs and an additional 37 individuals to other services meant to address their homelessness. 

“Our goals have been to dispose of the trash and debris, to protect those living in encampments and the surrounding communities and to connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter, services and ultimately – a pathway off the streets for good,” said Mayor Gloria. “These encampments are dangerous. They’re dangerous for the individuals who live there and the surrounding community – and that’s why we have to make this a priority. I want to thank Caltrans and Governor Gavin Newsom for their partnership on this important agreement.” 

The maintenance agreement with Caltrans covers a 5-mile stretch of state freeways that run through Little Italy, Downtown, Sherman Heights, East Village, and Barrio Logan. In addition to connecting people experiencing homelessness to care and more quickly resolving unsafe encampments along freeways and access ramps, the agreement also will free up Caltrans crews to conduct much-needed maintenance elsewhere in the region.   

Under the agreement for this one-year pilot program, the State of California will reimburse the City for up to $400,000 of its costs to clean up and address encampments along State right of way and to connect individuals to appropriate housing or shelter. The City is also committing financial resources through this agreement, using existing abatement teams to conduct additional operations along targeted areas of state property.      

The pilot covers the following spans of state right-of-way in and around downtown:   

• Interstate 5 from the Coronado Bridge to Laurel Street (3.5 miles)   

• State Route 163 from Ash Street to Interstate 5 (0.4 miles)   

• State Route 94 from 17th Street to 30th Street (1.1 miles)   

This year, Mayor Gloria sponsored Senate Bill 569, authored by Sen. Blakespear, which would require Caltrans to coordinate closely with cities and counties to develop district-specific plans, advisory committees, and contracting mechanisms to more swiftly address and clear homeless encampments on state highway-owned property. The bill will be considered by the Legislature in 2026.