Welcome to 2021!

On behalf of the city we love and call home, LADOT wishes you a Happy New Year! As we proceed into the next year — and as we face whatever new challenges 2021 may bring — LADOT will continue to uphold its commitment to providing excellent, safe, and dependable services for the people of Los Angeles. Below, in this our first edition of the LADOT Weekly Brief for 2021, you will find stories about LADOT's ongoing work and the people whose perseverance and dedication make the department's achievements possible. Here's a happy and healthy 2021!

COVID-19 Testing Support at Dodger Stadium

Earlier this week, Dodger Stadium reopened as one of Los Angeles’ primary COVID-19 testing sites following a temporary closure during the holiday weekend, which allowed LADOT the opportunity to reconfigure vehicle queuing lanes in order to reduce neighborhood traffic around the site.

With more than 13,000 virus tests conducted at Dodger Stadium each day, local residents expressed concerns regarding the number of vehicles and concomitant traffic congestion that occurred on nearby streets. To address this concern, LADOT redesigned the manner in which vehicles proceed to the testing center by using a switchback lane configuration, which localizes a greater portion of the traffic within the parking lot of Dodger Stadium.

In support of Los Angeles’ COVID-19 response, LADOT continues its traffic management efforts at six virus testing sites throughout the city, and maintains its assistance at 40 grab-and-go food locations to benefit local students. Additionally, LADOT Transit continues to provide transportation options for essential travel for Angelenos with safety provisions in place, details of which may be found by clicking here.

With the city facing a resurgence of virus cases, LADOT reminds Angelenos to observe safety protocols — such as frequent hand washing and the wearing of facial coverings — and to refrain from unnecessary travel outside the home. As the COVID-19 public health emergency develops, the department will continue to adapt and expand its work to encourage and ensure the safety of all in Los Angeles. For ongoing coverage of the department’s work regarding COVID-19, please visit ladot.lacity.org/coronavirus.

Building Better Bikeways

Though 2020 was a year that presented many unprecedented challenges for Los Angeles, LADOT was able to continue its commitment toward improving safe transportation options for all. To this end, LADOT installed more than 60 miles of new and upgraded bicycle lanes on city streets. One notable project — conducted this year on a street that received nearly 13 new miles of bicycle lanes — was the Avalon Boulevard Safety Project. Identified as a Vision Zero Priority Corridor in 2017, the segment of Avalon Boulevard that composes the project zone saw 149 people killed or severely injured between 2009 and 2017. Improvements made this past year allowed for the installation of bicycle lanes on both sides Avalon Boulevard, providing a calmer and safer environment for those who bike.

For recent news coverage of both LADOT’s construction of new bicycle lanes and the Avalon Boulevard Safety Project, click here.

You're Invited! LADOT, Council District 9 to Host Webinar on McKinley Avenue Improvements

LADOT is working to improve safety at the intersection of McKinley Avenue and 88th Place in the Green Meadows neighborhood of south Los Angeles. This neighborhood street project is designed to slow traffic and create a safer, more people-friendly intersection with a neighborhood traffic circle, crosswalks, curb ramps, and sidewalk repair. This project envisions a hub for a network of local streets that will connect people to places, including Avalon Boulevard.

To facilitate the progress of this project, LADOT — in collaboration with the office of Los Angeles City Council District 9 Councilmember Curren Price — will host an online information session to discuss the proposed improvements at McKinley Avenue and 88th Place. The webinar, which will be conducted via Zoom, will take place on Tuesday, January 12 at 5:00 p.m. To register for this event, please visit ladot.lacity.org/88th. LADOT also asks that all interested parties please take a moment to complete the McKinley Avenue & 88th Place Safety Improvement Project survey, available here.

This Week in Photos:

LADOT traffic officers assisted with traffic management at a COVID-19 testing site in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood to help insure proper vehicle ingress and egress at the location.