Celebrating Earth Day 2025

As we approach Earth Day on April 22, I’m reminded of the power cities have to lead the way in protecting our planet. Here at LADOT, we’re proud to be part of that effort—reimagining how people move through Los Angeles in ways that are cleaner, greener, and more equitable.

LADOT Transit is the largest municipal system in LA County and we are committed to ensuring it serves both the people of Los Angeles and our City’s sustainability goals. To better serve LA residents, we are currently conducting a Comprehensize Operations Analysis to assess how to best deploy transit resources in service of riders. One of our biggest commitments is transitioning our entire bus fleet to zero emission vehicles by 2028. We’ve already rolled out 160 zero-emission buses for our DASH service, and every one of them is helping to improve the air we breathe and the neighborhoods we serve. In the near future, LADOT will launch electric Cityride buses, as well as a few of our LANow vehicles, to better serve our senior and disabled riders with cleaner, quieter transportation.

We’re especially excited about our newest milestone: the purchase of a transit facility in Harbor City. Once built, this state-of-the-art, solar-powered charging facility will be able to charge an additional 140 electric buses at a time—more than doubling the number of zero-emission vehicles we can deploy Citywide. It’s a major investment in LA’s future and a big step toward reaching our climate goals.

Our Universal Basic Mobility (UBM) program is also playing a key role in bringing cleaner transportation options to the communities that need them most. In South LA, we’ve introduced our E-bike library program, giving residents access to free electric bike rentals. We’ve installed new EV chargers in the area and launched zero-emission delivery vehicles to support local businesses and reduce emissions from short-distance deliveries.

Lastly, LADOT continues to be committed to delivering on multi-modal streets, ensuring that all Angelenos have safe and viable alternatives to moving about our city.

Earth Day is a reminder that every step, big or small, matters. Whether you’re riding the bus, borrowing an e-bike, or just learning more about sustainable choices, we’re glad to have you along for the journey toward a greener LA.

Free Rides on LADOT Transit this Earth Day

In recognition of Earth Day, rides on all LADOT Transit services–DASH, Commuter Express, Cityride, and LAnow–will be free on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Thank you for doing your part to reduce emissions and build a sustainable future for all!

Many other local transit agencies will also provide free rides on Earth Day, including Metro trains and buses, Metro Bike Share, and Metrolink trains.

To learn more about LADOT Transit services and find a route near you, visit ladottransit.com.

New Speed Tables in South Broadway

This week, LADOT installed three new speed tables along South Broadway in South Los Angeles to help slow down traffic and enhance pedestrian safety.

Speed tables are similar to speed humps in that they both serve to calm traffic. However, speed tables are wider, with a flatter design that makes them a better fit for major corridors like Broadway. Speed tables help reduce vehicle speeds while maintaining a traffic flow.

The new speed tables were installed near 102nd St, 94th St, and 88th St in response to community concerns about speeding and safety. This project reflects LADOT's ongoing commitment to building safer, more walkable neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles.

Sevak Vartanian, Transportation Engineering Associate III

Sevak Vartanian

Sevak is a first-generation immigrant from Iran, moving to the US in 2007 to continue his education. “Like many Armenians coming from Iran, I chose to settle in Glendale, where most of my relatives and friends call home,” he shares. “To me, immigration is a major life event. Learning English as a second language, adapting to a new culture and assimilating into a new society, are all events that not only shaped me into a well-rounded person but also encouraged and inspired me for lifelong learning.”

Sevak credits his father, a surveyor who worked on projects all over Iran’s infrastructure, with sparking his interest in pursuing civil engineering. Since joining LADOT, he has worked on the myFIG, San Fernando Road bike lane, and City-wide traffic signal controller upgrade projects. “The fact that our efforts as traffic engineers have direct impacts on Angelenos’ lives always makes me a proud engineer,” he says. “It motivates me to continue designing, maintaining, and fine-tuning our traffic signal system.”

For insight into the Armenian heritage, Sevak mentioned that most Armenians participate in rallies and marches on April 24 to fight for recognition of Armenian genocide. When asked his favorite part of living in LA, Sevak names “better opportunities for social mobility, a strong Armenian community, cultural diversity, a pleasant climate, and great food.”

Pacific Palisades Traffic Updates

In order to alleviate congestion due to debris removal, a dedicated lane for recovery operation vehicles has been opened on Sunset Blvd. The change went into effect last weekend. The dedicated lane will enable debris removal and rebuilding crews to continue their work in the Palisades while providing relief from traffic for residents and businesses.

Additionally, Governor Newsom has announced a plan to reopen one lane in each direction of the Pacific Coast Highway to public travel by the end of May, ahead of original predictions. When PCH is reopened, security checkpoints at the north and south ends of the closure will be removed, while entrances to the Palisades will remain restricted.