Peak Hour Lanes

Did you know that the City of Los Angeles first installed peak-hour lanes in the 1980s, in an effort to manage commuter traffic? Peak-hour lanes restrict curbside parking during the busiest hours of the morning and evenings to add an additional lane of travel for drivers in high-traffic corridors. However, traffic conditions and driver behavior often reduce or negate the expected capacity benefits, and can even have unintended negative impacts. That’s why our City Council recently asked LADOT to evaluate the City’s peak-hour lanes to figure out where they work, where they don’t, and where they could be repurposed to provide more mobility options.

LADOT evaluated peak-hour lanes across LA and found that many corridors simply don’t carry enough traffic during peak hours to justify keeping them. In fact, keeping them can sometimes make streets feel less safe by encouraging higher speeds and reducing predictability. Based on these findings, LADOT recently presented recommendations to the City Council Transportation Committee that include repurposing of peak hour travel lanes on streets where data shows they’re no longer needed. In its place we are restoring full-time parking, and—where the street is wide enough and the pavement is in good shape—adding bike lanes.

In areas where traffic volumes are still high, the department plans to keep some peak hour restrictions where they are serving their intended purpose, have not resulted in safety concerns, and have not been identified by the City for bike or bus improvements. That way, we can prioritize high-frequency transit and move more people, more efficiently, while still improving overall safety and access.

Whether it’s restoring parking, improving bike access, or helping buses move faster, by updating our approach, we can make Los Angeles safer, more accessible, and better connected for everyone.  

Jillian Gallard, Transportation Planning Associate II

Jillian Gallard is a Transportation Planning Associate II at LADOT, where she implements Universal Basic Mobility projects in collaboration with City departments, government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector. She oversees innovative initiatives such as the mobility wallet, e-bike lending library, and workforce development programs focused on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Her passion for transportation began while working at a personal injury law firm, handling cases involving car crashes. Witnessing firsthand the impacts of vehicle collisions inspired her to explore solutions that could prevent these tragedies. Driven to advocate for safer, sustainable transportation policies, she transitioned into urban planning, leading to an internship, and ultimately a career, with LADOT.

One of her proudest career moments was launching LA’s first mobility wallet pilot program, which provides transportation subsidies through a prepaid debit card. This approach allows participants to access public transit and shared transportation without relying on a car.

Hearing how the program improved participants’ daily lives had a lasting impact on her. “We had the data and knew that the money had gone to help people pay for thousands of trips, but the personal stories brought those findings to life,” she shares. “I am extremely proud of the work our team did and continues to do on this project.”

Jillian emphasizes that projects like the mobility wallet enhance transportation equity, particularly for women. The flexibility of rideshare services supported by the wallet has made travel safer during hours when transit is less frequent, while also making travel more affordable. “There are still many questions to be explored around the impacts of mobility wallets but the pilot phases have shown a statistically significant increase in feelings of transportation security.”

Inspired by leaders who demonstrate strength and resilience, Jillian points to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel as a personal inspiration. "Despite her exalted status, she seemed to shirk the flashiness of politics in favor of quietly getting the job done," she reflects. "Merkel consistently displayed a quiet strength backed by a fierce intelligence and drive evident in her rise to power. She also surrounded herself with other intelligent, impressive women. I find these qualities inspiring and deeply appreciate their contribution to her accomplishments."  
   

Tina Huang, Engineering Associate III      
Tina Huang is an Engineering Associate III in the Plan Review Division, where she specializes in short-term traffic control design evaluation and review coordination. Her work ensures that construction and infrastructure projects are implemented safely while minimizing disruptions to the public.

Her journey into transportation came from a shift in focus. After working at a renowned defense company developing advanced warships and weaponry, she realized she wanted to work on projects with a direct impact on people’s daily lives. “A well-designed transportation system is essential for building strong, safe communities, and I want to contribute to improving quality of life through more accessible and meaningful solutions,” she shares.

One of her proudest accomplishments was managing the Accessible Parking Zone program, where she collaborated with the Department on Disability (DOD) to improve on-street accessible parking. During the pandemic, she led a cross-division team to establish new protocols, investigate cases, and clear a significant backlog. “This project was especially rewarding because it had a direct positive impact on accessibility and demonstrated the power of collaboration during a challenging time.”

Tina also supports LADOT’s Changing Lanes: A Gender Equity Transportation Study, which addresses the unique challenges women face in transportation. She highlights LADOT's initiative to implement on-demand bus stops at night, making public transit safer and more responsive to women's needs.

For Tina, Los Angeles feels like home because of its vibrant Asian community, which helps first-generation immigrants like her stay connected to their culture while integrating into American society. She finds inspiration from his late mother, a high school biology teacher and community leader, who taught her the importance of balance and generosity. “Through her, we know what it means to live a balanced life, focusing on courage and generosity while filtering out distraction and obsession. She made a lasting difference in the lives of those around her.”             
 

LADOT Honors Outstanding Performers

Every month, LADOT celebrates excellence among members of its staff by identifying Outstanding Performers. These are team members who exemplify LADOT values by performing their duties with diligence, professionalism, and distinction. Here are LADOT’s Outstanding Performers for February and March: 

Susan Rahtz, Senior Traffic Supervisor III  

Captain Susan Rahtz has been an employee with LADOT for 36 years and has consistently demonstrated outstanding work performance and the ability to work well in a challenging environment. In May 2022, she was promoted to serve as the Captain managing the Valley Area Enforcement Office and LADOT’s Communication Center.

In this role, Captain Rahtz has continued to meet the challenge, managing an area that has the largest concentration of reported abandoned vehicles and vehicle dwellings in the City. With approximately 120 Traffic Officers and 35 Communication Center staff under her command, Captain Rahtz maintains a demeanor that is welcoming to all her staff and the public.

Captain Rahtz is a dedicated leader who consistently demonstrates integrity and unwavering support to the department’s mission of public safety. Captain Rahtz has recently announced she will be retiring in May. We are grateful for her service and wish her well in the next chapter of her life.    
 

Rodney Smith, Senior Traffic Supervisor III

Captain Rodney Smith of the Western Parking Enforcement Office has shown outstanding leadership and dedication to public safety throughout his 36-year career with LADOT.  During the Palisades Fire, Captain Smith worked long hours to keep emergency response efforts running smoothly, ensuring his team’s safety and the efficient use of resources. He was also responsible for Citywide scheduling of the Emergency Operations Center and Department Operations Center during the wildfire crisis.

His hard work and dedication during the wildfires is just one example of the many ways he has served his City. Throughout his career, Captain Smith has also trained and mentored new Traffic Officers, Bike Detail Officers, and Communication Center Operators and Supervisors. His guidance has helped shape many of the skilled employees who serve the City today.

Captain Smith’s dedication to public safety has made a lasting impact on LADOT and the City of Los Angeles. We thank him for his service. 

Quan Tran, Transportation Engineer

Quan Tran is currently the District Engineer for LADOT's Southern District Engineering Office, where he serves the public daily by working with the Office of Council Districts 8 and 15 to address community concerns, and find solutions to complex, transportation-related issues. In his approximately 23 years with LADOT, Quan has worked in the ATSAC/Signal Timing, Design Review, and District Operations divisions, excelling in all his positions.

In addition to his technical capabilities, Quan is respected by his peers and staff, many times volunteering to train new employees and act as a technical mentor. He is willing to go above and beyond to assist the Department and his Division when called upon, such as when he filled in for a colleague on a new team during several months of leave. Quan regularly assists LADOT's Special Traffic Operations to provide on-the-ground support in managing large special events and emergencies, leading the effort to establish a detour route during the closure of the I-10 Freeway last year.

We thank Quan for his commitment to public service, responsiveness, and follow-through.

Lupita Huerta, Transportation Planning Associate II

Lupita Huerta is part of LADOT’s External Affairs teams, where she is deeply committed to collaborating with communities for more equitable planning processes and outcomes. Her thoughtful and creative leadership has become invaluable to stronger coordination with LADOT’s many external partners and internal teams.

Lupita has led the development of several major community engagement tools, namely the department-wide Community Engagement Guidelines and resource library and the publication and release of the Bilingual Transportation Glossary. She also led LADOT’s work to engage diverse communities on the Hollywood Blvd Safety and Mobility Project, the Venice Blvd multi-modal bus and bike corridor project, Universal Basic Mobility, and more.

Lupita is an exceptional project manager and an enthusiastic and open collaborator, who always manages to find creative solutions to deepen LADOT’s stakeholder relationships and improve our accountability to Angelenos. We thank her for her service.     
 

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!

FEMA Extends Deadline for LA Wildfire Federal Aid

For those impacted by the LA fires, the deadline for FEMA Individual Assistance and SBA Disaster Loans for Physical Damage have been extended to March 31. FEMA Individual Assistance can help individuals with temporary housing, home repairs, and personal property losses. SBA Disaster Loans provide assistance for homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes affected by the wildfires.

The City remains committed to helping affected communities recover as quickly and safely as possible. Residents should visit emergency.lacity.gov to stay updated on available resources and support. 

Transportation Photos of the Week

This Women's History Month we celebrate the amazing women who keep LA moving. From designing safer streets to keeping transit running, they make a difference every day!