I-15 Corridor Project
Building A Safer, Better Connected, More Sustainable I-15
Interstate 15 (I-15) is one of California’s gateways to the nation. The I-15 is a critical corridor for commerce and tourism that connects people and California’s major ports to destinations throughout the country. However, it is currently inadequate to handle the growing volume of cargo and travelers that depend on it. We must work together to improve the safety, air quality, and mobility along this essential corridor.
Major Investments In I-15 Are Long Overdue
I-15 is the nation’s most important and relied-upon interstate cargo route. By 2040, it is projected to carry more than $180 billion of goods annually from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports.
As one of California’s gateway to the nation, I-15 is vital to the state’s economy and the nation’s supply chain, with more than $20 billion in goods flowing between Los Angeles and Las Vegas in 2022. Congestion harms retail, tourism and goods movement at a cost of more than $3 billion annually.
Slowdowns cost $6 billion yearly, harming retail, transportation, tourism, and other sectors.
I-15, between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, is one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the nation, with more than 1,000 fatalities between Los Angeles and the California-Nevada border in a 15-year period.
Stop-and-go mobility and traffic standstills on the I-15 significantly increase carbon emissions, impeding state and federal climate goals and threatening the health of nearby communities and surrounding environs.
I-15 Traffic & Safety Analysis Map
I-15 Traffic & Safety Data Analysis
Engineering firm Wood Rodgers conducted a study in March 2024 to review the pilot shoulder project, identify areas of congestion, and outline possible solutions.
KEY FINDINGS
- State line experiences the most intense congestion with speeds dropping by up to 90%.
- Sustained grades of 2% or more slow trucks, causing congestion and bottlenecks at key hotspots along the corridor.
- With Fire Station 53 in Baker, California the sole emergency medical service provider for a 93-mile stretch of I-15, emergency response times can exceed an hour, especially during periods of peak congestion.
- The shoulder pilot project championed by California Governor Newsom and then-Nevada Governor Sisolak in 2021 helps alleviate congestion during low peak periods and improve conditions by about 26% during key peak traffic demand but doesn’t fully address congestion and safety.
- I-15 facilitates the movement of over 7.1 million tons of freight annually, including high-value goods like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and manufacturing products.
Between 2018 and 2022, there were 1,090 crashes with a reported fatality or injury.
One in 10 injury crashes leads to a death, and on average, someone is hurt or killed in the corridor every four days.
The I-15 corridor urgently needs investment to address crippling congestion, high crash rates, and escalating environmental impacts—it's time to act.
Economic Impact
An economic impact study conducted by Applied Analysis, found that Interstate 15 is a crucial trade corridor driving $34.3 billion in annual economic output, with disruptions causing significant regional financial losses.
KEY FINDINGS
- Interstate 15 is a vital trade corridor between Clark County, Nevada, and Southern California, supporting $34.3 billion in annual economic output and thousands of jobs across key industries like manufacturing, leisure, and hospitality. Disruptions to this route can cause significant financial losses, with even short-term closures impacting trade, tourism, and regional economic stability.
- Interstate 15 supports over 166,000 jobs across Southern California and Nevada, with key sectors including manufacturing, leisure, and hospitality.
- Even a one-hour disruption on I-15 can result in up to $3.9 million in lost economic output, highlighting its critical role in regional stability.
- I-15 facilitates the movement of over 7.1 million tons of freight annually, including high-value goods like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and manufacturing products.