Torrance council approves $286.4 million Capital Improvement Plan over the next five years

The Torrance City Council recently adopted a capital improvement plan, or CIP, that will invest $286.4 million over the next five years to improve the quality and functionality of vital infrastructure.

The CIP budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which will begin on July 1, will be $61.5 million.

The main priorities outlined in the CIP include improvements to parks, facilities, information technology infrastructure, streets, sewer and water utilities, storm drains and basins, and community projects.

Over the next five years, for example, the city is planning to invest $27.7 million to refurbish and improve playgrounds, bathrooms, recreation areas and other amenities at city parks. This year, the city will allocate $227,031 to Columbia Park, El Nido Park, Guenser Park and Wilson Park.

The city will spend $75,000 to renovate Columbia Park, $500,000 to renovate El Nido Park, $220,000 to replace the walking path at Guenser Park and $790,000 to make street frontage improvements at Wilson Park.

Torrance is also planning to invest $29.9 million over the next five years to maintain and modernize city facilities. This year, more than $9.1 million will go to Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 2, City Hall, the City Yard, the Torrance Municipal Airport, the Police Department and the Torrance Regional Transit Center.

The largest investments will go to the airport, City Yard and transit center. The city will spend more than $4.9 million at the airport to install electric-vehicle EV chargers and fencing at the Madison Street parking lot and renovate hangars and the general aviation center.

More than $1.5 million will be used to modernize the elevator and install EV chargers at the City Yard, and $1.5 million will be used for tenant space enhancements at the Torrance Regional Transit Center.

Another $250,000 will be used to renovate Fire Station No. 1, $40,000 will go to replacing the generator at Fire Station No. 2, $750,000 will be used to make system upgrades and install a back-up generator at City Hall and $150,000 will go to the Torrance Police Department for alcove battery relocation and a core key lock.

More than $2 million will be invested over the next five years to maintain and modernize citywide IT infrastructure. This year, the Police Department will spend more than $1.2 million to improve and install citywide cameras.

The city will also invest $134.5 million over the next five years to maintain and improve the safety of city streets. This year, close to $20.4 million will be spent on myriad projects, including an arterial street pavement sealing program, citywide sidewalk repairs, traffic engineering, traffic signal improvements, fiber network improvements for traffic signal optimization, right-turn lanes on Hawthorne Boulevard at Lomita Boulevard and 182nd Street, a residential slurry seal program, Americans with Disabilities sidewalk improvements, and the Torrance School Safety and Accessibility Program.

The majority of the funding for these projects come from Measure M funds, the gas tax and grants.

Over the next five years, meanwhile, $38.9 million will be invested to support the infrastructure of city sewer and water utilities, with more than $6.2 million from the Water Capital Fund being spent this year on various improvements.

More than $1.8 million will go toward citywide sewer system improvements, $1 million will be used for high-pressure zone modifications, $1.4 million will be used for miscellaneous water main replacements for developer and street rehab projects, and $1 million will go toward placing utility lines underground in the Paseo de la Playa residential neighborhood.

Funding will also be dedicated to the North Torrance Well Field Project, said Torrance Engineering Manager Joshua Soliz. The city will conduct a $50,000 forensic study on the well field and $500,000 will go toward rehabilitating Well 9.

Additional unspecified undergrounding efforts will receive $450,000.

When it comes to storm drains and basins, the city plans to invest $20.5 million over the next five years. This year, more than $2.5 million will be used to replace and install citywide storm drains and $7.1 million will be used for the Torrance Airport Stormwater Basin Project.

Besides routine infrastructure improvements, the city has identified two specific areas that require revitalization – Downtown Torrance and the Torrance Municipal Airport. The city has dedicated $3.2 million to these two projects over the next five years.

This year, $1.5 million will go to the Airport Pavement Maintenance Program and $123,819 will be spent on replacing the string lights in Downtown Torrance.

The City Council unanimously approved the 2026-27 capital improvement plan, as well as the overall operating budget, on June 9.

"This balanced and forward-looking financial plan reflects the City's unwavering commitment to fiscal stewardship, transparency and continued investment, while sustaining the high-quality services that define Torrance," said City Manager Aram Chaparyan. "Torrance continues to demonstrate exceptional financial resilience in an evolving economic environment.

"Rising property values, sustained development activity and continued investment in revitalization and beautification efforts underscore the City's strong economic foundation and positive trajectory," he added. "Our financial position is the result of deliberate, disciplined decision-making by the mayor and City Council over the last six years – prioritizing sustainability, building prudent reserves and aligning resources with community priorities."

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 8:17 PM.