LADOT Honors Indigenous Peoples' Day
On Monday October 14th, Los Angeles will observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which celebrates the contributions and resilience of Indigenous communities who called America home long before the founding of the United States. Our own city of Los Angeles, and much of Southern California, is the historic home of the Tongva and Chumash tribes.
The legacy of these communities can be seen today from the names of streets and neighborhoods like Cahuenga and Tujunga to the preservation of sacred sites like Kuruvungna Springs in West LA. Beyond these physical markers, we can honor the values championed by indigenous communities by further dedicating ourselves to environmental stewardship. At LADOT, we’re proud to carry those values forward by investing in and providing services that support healthy neighborhoods, and creating a sustainable transportation system that serves all Angelenos.
We also recognize the displacement and exclusion that the formation of Los Angeles represented to Indigenous peoples. At LADOT, that means ensuring that all communities are represented in our decision making as we plan and build out our transportation infrastructure. Through our community-first engagement and processes that recognize the dignity of all, we can build a future that honors this history while creating a more inclusive Los Angeles for generations to come.
Latino Heritage Month Employee Spotlight
Each week during this Latino Heritage Month, we will spotlight staff members at LADOT with Hispanic roots. Each has a unique story to tell and plays an integral part in the operations of LADOT to keep our City moving.
Rosa Valle
Rosa Valle is the Senior Administrative Clerk for LADOT’s Hollywood-Wilshire District Engineering Office, where she performs administrative and clerical work, provides customer service to the public, and assists her colleagues with her working knowledge of Department Operations. Additionally, Rosa often assists as a proctor for the department’s campus recruiting efforts.
Rosa’s grandmother and mother emigrated from Nicaragua in 1979, arriving in Los Angeles without any assistance and no knowledge of the English language. Rosa’s mother took various jobs to survive, including selling food to the Nicaraguan community, and saved up enough money to bring Rosa to join her in 1980. “With her resilience, hard work, and tenacity, she made it happen,” reflects Rosa.
Rosa’s mother went on to own two restaurants, including one featured in the LA Times as the best Nicaraguan restaurant. Watching her mother’s determination influenced Rosa. “At a young age, I learned the meaning of working hard, customer service, solving customer related matters, and saw how to run a small business in the service industry.” Rosa is proud of using these customer service skills every day to help constituents.
There’s many things Rosa loves about Los Angeles. “Let’s start with the weather, the blue skies and the 80s weather year around,” she said. She also noted she loves the beaches, especially Santa Monica, Malibu, and Venice, as well as the rich arts scene, museums, and the food.
Fernando Navarrete
Fernando serves as the Legislative Coordinator at LADOT, managing the department’s Council Engagement related to legislation and policy. He oversees the Transportation Committee and other relevant committees, while also representing LADOT in Sacramento through the state legislature. Fernando also collaborates with the General Manager of the California Cities Transportation Initiative (CaCTI), where the eight largest cities in California come together to pursue transportation goals and needs through the legislature and Governor.
Born in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, his family migrated to Wilmington, Los Angeles in the early 1990s. His father, formerly in the Mexican Navy, became a street vendor, and his mother, a secretary in San Pedro’s fish canaries, worked hard to support their family. Growing up in predominantly Latino communities helped him to adapt to life in LA. “Although it was not easy migrating from my home in Mexico, I was afforded many opportunities in Los Angeles, like being the first in my family to go to college,” he reflected.
Fernando is grateful for the chance to advocate for policies that improve the lives of Angelenos. “I am proud to contribute to the lives of Angelenos who come from similar backgrounds to my own by advocating for local and state policy that will enhance their lives and provide equitable modes of transportation,” he shared. He played a key role in the Anaheim Street Vision Zero Project, helping reduce speeds and saving lives in Wilmington and securing $32 million in state Active Transportation Program funding for the project.
When asked what he loves most about Los Angeles, Fernando highlights the City’s diversity and culture. “Los Angeles will always be home to me!” he said.
Join Us October 13 for CicLAvia: Heart of LA!
CicLAvia is coming back to DTLA! The iconic Heart of LA open streets route will return to Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Downtown, Echo Park, and Little Tokyo on Sunday, October 13 from 9am until 4pm. Visitors will be able to explore 7.5 miles of open streets at this free and family-friendly event.
CicLAvia transforms public streets into car-free parks which can be enjoyed in any people-powered way, be it biking, walking, jogging, roller-blading, or simply finding a seat and people-watching! Visit ciclavia.org to view the route map and learn more.
You're Invited to Celebrate 54th Street Safety Improvements
Join LADOT on Saturday, October 26 in Chesterfield Square Park for a Halloween-themed celebration of the newly installed safety improvements along 54th Street! From 10am-2pm, there will be family-friendly activities and entertainment in the park, as well as the opportunity to learn more about transportation programs in the community. Bring your costumes and your candy buckets for a day of fun!
Participants can also join a slow-paced bike ride to experience the new street design. Please bring your bike, helmet, and water. A limited supply of bikes will be available to borrow. RSVP here.
LADOT Transit Attends APTA Conference
This week, LADOT Transit attended the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Transform conference in Anaheim, California. The team attended workshops and sessions on cutting-edge technology, community building, and innovative programs and heard from industry leaders. Supervising Transportation Planner Robin Quintanilla spoke on a panel on Multimodal Corridors.
The Transit team looks forward to bringing their newly-acquired knowledge to LADOT.
Attend the Fare Equity Analysis Public Hearing
LADOT is conducting a hybrid public hearing to present the findings from the fare equity analysis for LADOT Transit’s planned reinstitution of DASH fares in January 2025. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 from 12pm - 1pm and the public may attend in person or online via Zoom. Those planning to attend in person should arrive a half-hour early to go through security at the Caltrans building.
In Person Location:
Caltrans Building, Room 1.040C
100 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Zoom Meeting ID: 862 8078 3615
Passcode: 731946
Register in advance for the online public meeting here.
If you cannot attend the meeting in person, you may submit comments until October 24, 2024 by telephone at 213-412-8921, by email to hearingofficer@store.ladottransit.com, or by mail to:
Kay Sasaki, Hearing Officer
LADOT Transit
201 North Los Angeles St., #16
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Participate in our Community Surveys:
You are the ultimate expert for your community. LADOT wants your input as we plan projects to improve the safety, sustainability, and livability of Los Angeles communities.
BlueLA Crowdsourcing Survey
Your input drives BlueLA powered by Blink Mobility forward. Share your dream destinations & station locations in this quick survey. Let's shape the future of car sharing together!
EV Chargers in South LA
Where do you want to see more EV chargers in South LA? As part of LADOT's UBM pilot, we're installing 100+ EV chargers. Help us determine where chargers are most needed by taking our brief survey.
Transportation Photos of the Week
Councilmember Tim McOsker tours LADOT's Electric Bus Yard in DTLA on October 7, 2024
