Announcing the 2023 LADOT Annual Report

I am excited to present LADOT's 2023 Annual Report, my first as General Manager! It has been an incredible experience so far, and I am honored to share with you the accomplishments of the hardworking women and men of this department that continue to advance the transportation goals of Los Angeles.

LADOT had a busy year, advancing key safety projects, delivering essential services, and expanding mobility options for all Angelenos. We improved safety for children and their caretakers at more than 200 schools across the city with reduced speed limits, new crosswalks and curb extensions, new speed humps, and more hired crossing guards than ever before. We installed over 550 safety treatments like signal improvements, new stop signs, traffic circles, speed humps, and other treatments proven to calm traffic and reduce fatal collisions. We delivered 26 miles of new and improved bike facilities, and in partnership with Metro we continued to improve service for bus riders with nearly 15 new miles of dedicated bus lanes, including the first 24-hour lanes outside downtown and first ever lanes in the valley. Just last week we launched the City’s first e-bike library in SouthLA, providing long term rentals to low-income residents as part of LADOT’s Universal Basic Mobility pilot, which serves as a model for delivering transportation options, breaking down financial and access barriers.

At LADOT we know that reliable transportation can lift people out of poverty and that a resilient transportation system ensures access to opportunities through floods, pandemics, earthquakes, fires, and even Beyonce or Taylor Swift concerts. Last year LADOT supported the City’s Inside Safe initiative with 2,000 hours of transit and traffic control. We processed 60 affordable housing permits in one to two business days and transitioned nearly 7,000 individual dining locations into the permanent al fresco program. Our traffic officers managed more than 4,500 special events and dedicated nearly 5,000 service hours to emergency response across three activations that spanned 15 days.

As we look ahead, LADOT remains dedicated to partnering with communities and organizations across our City to build on this momentum. Please take the time to visit the LADOT website to read the report in full. 

Each week during this Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we will spotlight staff members at LADOT with AAPI roots. LADOT’s diverse workforce includes individuals who are recent immigrants as well as descendants of families that have called Los Angeles home for generations. Each has a unique story to tell and plays an integral part in the operations of LADOT to keep our City moving.

                        
Vanessa Fernandez

Vanessa Fernandez is Transportation Engineering Associate from the LADOT Parking Meters Division. Born into a family of Filipino immigrants, Vanessa and her family moved from Albuquerque to Los Angeles when she was just one year old, marking the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the city. "I think moving to LA was a great decision for us, and I can't imagine living my life anywhere else,” she shared.

As a Transportation Engineering Associate, she takes a personal approach to each project, ensuring that her work benefits the community. Her passion for making a tangible impact is evident. “At LADOT, I am proud of how personal we get with every requester we come in contact with. It's a great feeling to see the completion of your projects on the streets of LA," she explained. Her initiatives range from installing short-term parking for local businesses to enhancing road safety through red curbs at crucial intersections.

One of her recent projects involves setting up Zero Emission Delivery Zones, aimed at reducing the City’s carbon footprint. This initiative is part of a larger effort to support California’s environmental goals. Vanessa's deep connection to the city fuels her dedication. "I grew up here, went to college here, and now I am working here, doing my best to give back to this city," she said.

Brian Lee

Brian Lee serves as our Chief of Transit Programs. Leading the Transit Bureau, which includes the DASH, Commuter Express, LANow, and CityRide services, he oversees operations, budgeting, and electrification efforts with a commitment rooted in his personal connection to Los Angeles’ transit system.

Brian grew up in Los Angeles, where public transit was essential for his family. Reflecting on his roots, he shared, "My mother was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Los Angeles, growing up in the Silver Lake area. My father was born and raised right here in Chinatown and had to rely on public transit for school and work. I see how the transit system in Los Angeles really enabled him to go to school and work and now I am part of that transit system in Los Angeles."

One of his notable achievements is the installation of solar-powered real-time arrival bus signs across the City, a project that not only embraces sustainability but improves service accessibility. He recalled a touching piece of feedback: "I got a phone call one day on how a blind person didn't even know they were solar powered but he loved them because it tells him when the bus is coming while waiting at the stop!"

When asked about what he loves most about the City, he points to its diversity. "The various cultural neighborhoods like Chinatown, J-town, Little Armenia, and others make Los Angeles the ultimate melting pot," he explained.

He acknowledges the crucial role our transit services play in the daily lives of Los Angeles residents, particularly those who depend on them the most. “Providing bus service to the residents of Los Angeles and knowing that what we do makes a difference every day is something that makes me proud.”

LADOT Presents at Film & Focus Event in Los Feliz

Last week, LADOT partnered with the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council to host a screening of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and a presentation on the past and future of Hollywood Blvd. We discussed the history of transportation in Los Angeles and how improving streets for safety builds on the historical legacy of our City’s commercial thoroughfares. We also shared with the community our plans for the upcoming Hollywood Blvd Safety and Mobility Project, which aims to bring critical investments to this iconic corridor.

Thanks to everyone who came out! Learn more about the upcoming safety improvements to Hollywood Blvd here.   

Northbound US 101 Overnight Closures for Wildlife Crossing Construction

Please be advised, that starting today, Wednesday, May 1, The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin nightly full closures of northbound US 101 in Agoura Hills for the construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. The closures are scheduled from 11:59 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday, with potential delays in reopening on Saturday mornings.

Detour: While southbound lanes will remain open, northbound traffic must exit at Liberty Canyon Road, following a detour via Agoura Road to Chesebro Road to re-enter the freeway.

Alternate Route: To avoid congestion, it is recommended to use westbound State Route 118 to southbound State Route 23, reconnecting to northbound Highway 101 in Thousand Oaks.

Note that some lanes may begin closing as early as 7 or 8 p.m. Also, the northbound Liberty Canyon On-Ramp will be closed until early June to facilitate construction staging.

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, set to be the largest in the world, will reconnect vital habitats crucial for wildlife to survive and thrive. This initiative involves the installation of 82 heavy girders and is part of a broader effort aiming to complete the crossing by early 2026.

Stay informed! Updates will be posted on X @CaltransDist7 and the Caltrans website. Additional details are available at http://101wildlifecrossing.org

Caltrans advises motorists to check current highway closures at Caltrans’ QuickMap service at Quickmap.dot.ca.gov or by using the free app for digital devices. Caltrans reminds drivers to be alert in work zones and remember that traffic fines are doubled in construction areas.   

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Transportation Photos of the Week