Honoring the Hispanic Community this Latino Heritage Month

This week marked the beginning of Latino Heritage Month! The history and diversity of Latino heritage are intrinsic to the City of Los Angeles, and the leadership, service, sacrifices, and vision of our Latino communities have helped shape values across the region and also right here at LADOT.

The strength of our department and our City lies in our diversity. Latino families – some who recently settled and others who have called Los Angeles home for generations – represent that diversity and strength. At LADOT, our staff is a reflection of this, drawing dedicated public servants from every background and culture. Our department policies and practices also reflect this value of inclusion. From our Bilingual Glossary of Transportation terms to our Community-First Engagement strategy for projects, we want to ensure that there are no barriers to helping shape a transportation system that provides opportunity for all communities.

In the coming weeks we will highlight some of the LADOT women and men that exemplify these values, and honor the Latino heritage and history of Los Angeles. ¡Que viva Los Angeles!

San Fernando Bike Path Ribbon Cutting of New Lanes

San Fernando Bike Path Ribbon Cutting Celebrates 4.75 Miles of New Lanes

This week, LADOT joined Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilmember Imelda Padilla to cut the ribbon on Phase 3 of the San Fernando Bike Path. Phase 3 of this path, which is situated along the east side of San Fernando Road, consists of 4.75 miles of separated bike path from Branford St to Cohasset St. Previously completed portions of the path extend north to Sylmar for 9.8 miles of continuous bicycle facilities.

The completed San Fernando Bike Path provides a comfortable, smooth, and safe ride for cyclists from Sylmar to Burbank, connecting to job centers, residential neighborhoods, and several Metrolink stations. The path will serve both as a vital transportation link and an ideal site for active recreation.

In addition to the bike path, the completed project also features paved bus stop waiting areas, bikeway lighting, safety fencing, bicycle-activated signals at intersections, crosswalks, and major track and railroad signal modification at 12 intersections.

This bike path is one of several transportation improvements LADOT is currently implementing across the Valley. The recently-completed Reseda bike lanes provide a safe north-south route for Valley cyclists, while the under construction Chandler Bicycle Connection will close the gap between the Orange Line Bike Path and the Chandler Bike Path for a low stress connection from Burbank to Chatsworth. These projects bring us closer to our vision of a green, sustainable, and livable Valley.

Thanks to Councilmembers Krekorian and Padilla for their support of this project, as well as Metrolink, the Bureau of Street Services, and our neighborhood partners.

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.

Manny Viramontes

Manny Viramontes serves as a Traffic Marking Sign Superintendent III in the Field Operations Division, where he oversees the Paint & Sign Division in the installation and maintenance of Long Line Striping, Crosswalks, Pavement Markings, Permanent & Temporary Signs and all Traffic Control Devices throughout the City of Los Angeles.

Manny brings a strong sense of community and dedication to his work at LADOT, inspired by his family's values. His grandparents immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s as farm workers, and his parents followed from Mexico in 1972, settling in East Los Angeles. Growing up in East LA, he learned the importance of family, hard work, and community service. "Like many immigrant families, my grandparents and parents valued family and worked hard to be model citizens within our community by working hard in their respective jobs," he said.

At LADOT, Manny finds pride in being part of a team that values collaboration to get things done. “One of the biggest parts of working with LADOT is observing how Staff works together in order to accomplish the completions of Projects." This sense of teamwork drives his passion for his work, especially when it comes to projects that make a real difference in the community. “One project specifically I am highly proud of is the Roscoe Bl MTA Project which included 20 miles of Striping,” he added.

What Manny loves most about the city he calls home is the weather. “It's said the weather in LA is probably one of the biggest highlights this City has to offer and is also one the things I love most." He also appreciates LA’s location. “LA's location in southern California makes it extra special: not many cities have the privilege of being in the middle of such contrasting yet beautiful geographical scenery."

Lupita Huerta

Lupita Huerta, a Transportation Planning Associate II, is a member of the Strategic Engagement Bureau, where she focuses on creating department-wide community engagement strategies. Her work is driven by a passion for making City services, especially transportation, accessible to all residents.

Her journey began in El Monte, where her parents settled after immigrating from Jalisco, Mexico in the late 1980s. Like many immigrant families, they were drawn to Los Angeles by the growing network of relatives and friends who had already made the area their home. This support system was crucial as they navigated their new lives. "Growing up, and as I learned English, I helped my parents navigate services, many of which did not cater to language access and/or cultural needs. That experience shaped my interest in public service, in particular to help make City services.”

One of Lupita’s proudest achievements at LADOT is her role in developing the Who to Call resource sheets as part of the Strategic Engagement Team. “This handout helps residents and community members navigate not only LADOT services, but City and County services as well,” she explained. The resource has been well received by the community, and it stands as a testament of her dedication to community engagement. “It's something I'm proud to have helped shepherd."

When asked what she loves most about Los Angeles, Lupita mentioned the city’s food scene. “LA's food. LA's food landscape directly reflects the diversity of the people who live here and it's a great privilege to learn and understand communities via their food."

CicLAvia Brings CicLAmini Route to Lincoln Heights

Last weekend, residents of Lincoln Heights and visitors from across the City enjoyed a mile of music, games, art, and more at the fourth ever CicLAmini! Unlike traditional CicLAvias, CicLAmini events are compact neighborhood routes that are more pedestrian oriented and feature activities along the entire open street. Angelenos of all ages walked, jogged, rode, skated, and more down Broadway, enjoying cultural activities and local businesses along the way.

Next month marks the return of CicLAvia’s famous Heart of LA route! Join us on Sunday, October 13, from 9am-4pm for over seven miles of open streets from Echo Park to Boyle Heights. View the route map and learn more at ciclavia.org.

Img Stay Cool During Ongoing Heat

Stay Cool During Ongoing Heat

As temperatures stay high, keep these tips in mind to remain cool, safe, and comfortable:

Stay hydrated and remain alert for signs of heat-related illness like dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and muscle cramps. Check in on your household, family, friends, pets, and neighbors.
Do not leave young children and pets unattended in personal vehicles for any period of time. Cars interiors can reach lethal temperatures quickly.
The City of Los Angeles has hundreds of cooling centers open in the form of Recreation and Parks facilities and local library branches. To find a cool spot near you, visit the Cool Spots LA map online or download the app.

LADOT bus services, including DASH and Commuter Express, are air-conditioned to keep you comfortable as you travel this summer. Additional safety tips may be found on the Los Angeles Fire Department’s website. For safety information in additional languages, please visit the City’s Heat Relief Outreach Materials.

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.

Blue LA

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!

Blue LA

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.