LADOT Honors Armenian Heritage Month

Every April, the City of Los Angeles celebrates Armenian Heritage Month, an opportunity to recognize the deep roots and enduring contributions of the Armenian community. Our City is home to the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia itself—a vibrant community that has shaped cultural, economic, and civic life for over a century.

Armenians began arriving in Los Angeles in significant numbers in the early 20th century, bringing with them a strong sense of family, faith, and resilience. Over the decades, neighborhoods like Little Armenia, Glendale, and Montebello became cultural hubs for Armenian life. Little Armenia, officially designated by the Los Angeles City Council in 2000, stands in East Hollywood as a testament to the rich history and identity of Armenian Angelenos. Nearby, the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Montebello serves as a powerful reminder of the community’s strength and the importance of remembrance.

To our Armenian colleagues, neighbors, and friends—we look forward to celebrating April by highlighting members of our staff, locations of significance, and ways we support and keep people moving in all Los Angeles communities.

LADOT Supports Recovery Efforts in the Palisades

The City of LA is in the process of rebuilding after the wildfire emergency as quickly and safely as possible. LADOT staff have been critical in supporting the City's recovery efforts. Traffic Officers have been deployed since the fires first broke out and continue to be stationed at key intersections, ensuring a safe flow of traffic through the Palisades.

LADOT paint and sign crews have replaced 98 damaged street signs at 31 intersections to date while electrician and signal crews repaired 33 fire-damaged traffic signals and 18 damaged by wind. LADOT Special Traffic Operations teams are a continuous presence establishing closures in case of debris flows during rain events and identifying haul routes as contractors and residents prepare the neighborhood for recovery.

LADOT Transit operations have also stepped up to assist recovery and response operations. Between January 7 and February 19, LADOT transported 311 people. These transport operations included emergency evacuations, transportation to and from emergency shelters, and transportation from shelters to the Disaster Recover Center.

As the needs of recovery change in the coming weeks and months, all LADOT teams and crews remain ready to assist.

For impacted LA county residents, the deadline to opt-in or opt-out of the government-run debris removal program is now April 15, 2025. Learn more and opt in or opt out here.

For more information on wildfire recovery resources, accessing the Palisades, and debris removal, visit recovery.lacity.gov.

Alek Bartrosouf, Transportation Planning Associate II

Alek Bartrosouf is a Transportation Planning Associate in the Active Transportation Division. After moving to the United States from Iran when Alek was a couple months old, his family settled in south Glendale, where Alek grew up in a diverse community that included many Armenians. “This certainly helped make growing up easier for me and other recent immigrants as we tried to grow new roots,” he says.

In his role with the Active Transportation Division, Alek is currently working on the Connect Del Rey and Santa Monica to Westwood projects. He says that he is proud of his work at LADOT because of the department’s investment in projects that bring communities together: “While impossible to address every need and allay all concerns, I take personal pride in trying our best to achieve excellence with the resources and teams that we have.”

For anyone looking for a true Armenian experience, Alek recommends exploring Glendale’s numerous Armenian restaurants and the limitless number of pastry shops. “Coming from an Armenian background, I know culture is important and for many people we have grown to call Los Angeles home,” he reflects. “We now carry that tradition and culture among friends and family, bringing in our own twist and contributing to what we call community. As an Armenian, I am proud to do my part!”

LADOT Support Dodgers Home Opener

LADOT Traffic Officers Support Dodgers Home Opener

Dodger baseball is back! Last week, the defending World Series Champion Dodgers defeated the Tigers in their home opener in Elysian Park. As with every home game, LADOT Traffic Officers were on hand to manage traffic and ensure everyone arrived at the stadium safely.

If you are heading to a Dodgers game this season, avoid the traffic and high parking costs by taking the Dodger Stadium Express. Operated by Metro, this service is free for all ticket holders and runs from both Union Station and the South Bay. Learn more about the Dodger Stadium Express.

CicLAvia Rolls From Koreatown To Hollywood on Sunday, April 6

Join LADOT for a day of exploring Koreatown, Melrose Hill, East Hollywood, and Hollywood at CicLAvia–Koreatown Meets Hollywood on Sunday, April 6 from 9am until 4pm! Portions of Wilshire Blvd, Western Ave, Santa Monica Blvd, and Vine St will be closed to car traffic and opened up for attendees to enjoy in their favorite people-powered way. All ages and abilities are welcome. Learn more and view the route map at ciclavia.org. See you there!