Photo: The intersection of 23rd and Hill via Google Maps.
The City of Santa Monica earned its share of $300 million in grants announced Friday to help make local streets safer. The funding for these projects is provided through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), a federal-aid program with the goal of reducing fatal and serious injuries on public roads across the nation.
The grants include:
- $350,000 to add a Pedestrian signal at Lincoln and Hill St
- $802,000 to install Install retroreflective backplates, leading pedestrian interval, and protected left turns Neilson Avenue from Ocean Park to Pico
- Flashing pedestrian beacons, curb extensions at various intersections
- Just under $1.3 million to Install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and curb extensions at various intersections (full list below.)
- Over $1.2 million for the installation rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), curb extensions and pedestrian crossing striping 23rd St & Hill Street and unsignalized intersections along Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue
The intersection of Lincoln and Hill Street is located just south of the “Gelson’s development” which is currently a series of stores but is slated to become a twelve story mixed-use housing project that includes 521 units of housing.
Improving safety on Neilson Avenue has been a priority for Santa Monica in recent years. Following an ordinance passed last year, the city has lowered speed limits along Neilson but has balked at infrastructure changes because of concerns it could slow emergency response times. The $800,000 in improvements is a needed boost.
The intersections that will be improved by the $1.3 million include RRFBs at 23rd Street & Hill Street, Ocean Avenue & Washington Street, Ocean Avenue & Idaho Avenue, Ocean Avenue & Palisades Avenue, Ocean Avenue & Alta Avenue, Ocean Avenue & Marguerita Avenue, and Ocean Avenue & Palisades Avenue.
Of those intersections two of them, 23rd Street & Hill Street, and Ocean Avenue & Idaho Avenue, will also receive curb extensions.
23rd Street through Hill Street features a single-, north-running, green bicycle lane and north-south running crosswalks. The curb extensions and new striping will make the intersection far more user friendly for those on foot or bicycle.
As recently as yesterday, it seemed as though the HSIP program was safe from the cuts that the Trump Administration has been inflicting on progressive programs throughout the country.
However, yesterday Streetsblog USA reported that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a review of every federal transportation program that funds “green” transportation including bicycle safety projects. The review should not impact any funding already promised through HSIP. The HSIP program was created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act signed into law by President Joe Biden.
For a list of all the projects funded by the HSIP program this year, click here.
