School Is Out For Summer!

Congratulations to all the hard working students and teachers who are completing another school year!

At LADOT, we have also been hard at work implementing one of the largest school safety programs in our department’s history. Over the last year, LADOT implemented almost 1000 school safety treatments like lower speed limits, intersection tightening, and speed humps, benefitting hundreds of schools across our city. The article below includes more detail about how our team has been dedicated to creating a safer school environment for all.

As we transition into summer, the streets of Los Angeles will see an increase in children enjoying their vacation at all times of the day, not just school hours. With more children playing outside, it's crucial to drive safely and reduce your speed, particularly in residential areas and near parks. It is always important to yield and always give the right of way to pedestrians, but as school comes to an end please also remember that children at play can be unpredictable and a ball can roll into the street at any time!

This summer, let's all work together to keep our streets safe and enjoyable for everyone. Whether you're walking, biking, or driving, a little extra caution goes a long way. 

School Safety Pop-Up in Koreatown

Last week, Hobart Boulevard Elementary School hosted a neighborhood pop-up event as part of the Koreatown Neighborhood Enhanced Network (NEN) Project. The event featured several innovative pop-up transformations on Serrano Avenue, between Olympic Boulevard and San Marino Street, and San Marino Street at Oxford Avenue. The NEN Project is a community-involved design process enabling the school to collaborate with LADOT to test treatments to alleviate safety concerns around the school. The elements tested include: 

• Safety Valet Lane: This new feature streamlines school vehicle traffic and calms driving movements around the school.
• One-Way Northbound Conversion on Serrano Avenue: Simplifying traffic flows for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.
• High Visibility Crosswalks: Enhancing safety along priority walking routes.
• Hardened Center Lines: Slowing turns and preventing turning conflicts.
• Intersection Redesigns: Improving vehicle movement predictability and increasing pedestrian safety.
• Temporary No Parking Zones: Creating safe and clear spaces for these changes.

While the school year has now come to an end, LADOT has been making significant strides in ensuring the safety of students across the City. Efforts extend beyond this single pop-up event and include several long-term safety measures such as: 

• 15 mph Speed Limit Signs: By the end of June, LADOT will have reduced speed limits to 15 miles per hour along 500 street segments adjacent to 200 schools, ensuring that traffic slows down where it matters most.
• “Quick-Build” Intersection Tightening: Implemented at 182 intersections for 41 schools, these modifications make crossing streets safer for students by reducing the distance children are exposed to vehicles when using crosswalks.
• Speed Humps: Installed at 200 locations across 56 schools, these help reduce vehicle speeds in critical areas.
• Crossing Guards: Over 500 crossing guards are stationed at various schools, providing an extra layer of safety for children on their way to and from school.

LADOT will continue to implement these and other safety measures to create a safer, more efficient environment for everyone, particularly the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community. For more information on these initiatives and to stay updated on future events, visit the project website at LADOT Livable Streets.

LADOT’s District Offices Address Community Traffic Needs

LADOT District Engineers work regularly with residents and council offices to address complex traffic issues. Whether it is safety, street racing, or infrastructure needs, they work with residents and communities to develop creative solutions to problems and build more supportive infrastructure. Here are two recent projects made by district offices in collaboration with communities..

Westlawn Ave - West Los Angeles

LADOT recently expanded upon a pre-existing Slow Streets project along Westlawn Avenue between Short Ave to Louise Ave with additional safety and pedestrian-improvements. Following the approval and installation of an all-way stop at Westlawn Ave and Short Ave the West LA District Engineering Office initiated a review to address the wide intersection to reduce the time pedestrians are exposed to traffic when using the crosswalk.

Our Geo Design teams developed a design that included bump-out extensions and integrated these elements into the plan:

Installed Treatments:

• Curb extensions with paint and bollards 
• New striping including centerlines and limit lines
• Pavement markings
• Improved bike lane (existing on Short Avenue)

A special thanks to the Western Yard for their hard work on this project, and specifically Drew Way from the West LA district office who drafted the work orders for this project.

Berkshire Avenue & Berkshire Way Traffic Circle  

Our Central District Engineering office completed another project in the El Sereno neighborhood prompted by community requests and input from the LAPD. The intersection of Berkshire Avenue & Berkshire Way was experiencing street takeovers due to the geometry of the intersection creating a large open space. In response, CD14 requested a makeover to improve safety and reduce illegal street racing.

Installed Treatments:

• Limit lines and bollards forming a traffic circle
• Striped intersection tightening with bollards
• Striped splitter islands with bollards at each leg of the intersection

Originally, this location had an all-way stop-controlled intersection with marked crosswalks on all approaches. The new design features an avocado-shaped traffic circle, designed to fit the geometry of the intersection and eliminate room for errant driving behavior. The design also includes striped islands and bollards to guide drivers safely in and out of the traffic circle, reducing conflict points and enhancing safety.

Our Central District team worked with various stakeholders, including the LAPD and LAFD, to gather design considerations. Geo Design developed several concepts, and the team agreed on the traffic circle to address the intersection takeovers. Field inspections involved ensuring the design fit the space and allow for emergency vehicle access.

A big shout-out to the Central Yard (signs/pavement markings) and Avenue 19 Yard (markout and striping) for deploying dozens of staff members and a consultant crew to complete the installation in just one day. Special thanks to Susan Gonzalez and Kaylinn Pell from our Central District. Also, Lila Johnston, the main designer in Geometric Design, guided by Nikolas Osborne and John Varghese.  
These projects showcase our district offices' commitment to working with the community to solve traffic issues and build safer, more supportive infrastructure.  

Silver Lake Celebrates Historic Removal of Anti-LGBTQIA+ Signs

This week, the Silver Lake neighborhood celebrated an important event as LADOT, City officials, community members, and supporters gathered to remove the last "No Cruising" and "No U-Turn" signs. This event, led by Councilmembers Nithya Raman CD4 and Hugo Soto-Martinez CD13, was a significant step in recognizing and correcting past wrongs against the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Silver Lake neighborhood council asked LADOT to remove these signs, which were from a time marked by anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments. These signs were installed in 1997 after complaints about gay men gathering near popular bars. They were used by police to unfairly target gay men and have become outdated symbols that no longer fit with the community's values.

In 2011, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council supported removing similar signs near Sunset Boulevard, saying they were no longer useful for public safety. This recent ceremony continued that effort, removing signs on Griffith Park Boulevard.

The event, which coincided with the start of Pride Month, was both a remembrance and a celebration to honor the LGBTQIA+ community and showcase the City's progress and commitment to inclusion and respect.   

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Transportation Photos of the Week

Top row:  LADOT Receive their Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability at the 2024 Regional Conference and General Assembly;  a pedestrian on Hollywood Blvd       
Bottom row: New bike lane installations on Reseda Blvd.