Image: A rendering of the Washington Ave. Neighborhood Greenway that could be by Juan Matute.
Santa Monica has had such success with Quick Build projects that the city’s Assemblymember is trying to pass legislation to allow the state transportation agency to bring this design process to state highways. Last week, the city announced it had received a grant of $875,552 from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to expand the ongoing Santa Monica Neighborhood Greenway project in two ways.
A “quick build project” is a temporary, easily adjustable infrastructure improvement that can be installed rapidly using readily available materials to either solicit feedback from a community or put a smaller improvement in place while a larger one is planned. Quick build projects often rely on paint, signage, and plastic barriers, when concrete or other stronger materials will be needed for a permanent improvement.
First, the grant will be used to “augment” the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway project, known locally at MANGo. Construction of life saving pedestrian improvements along Michigan Avenue began in 2017 with the installation of traffic circles and branded signs. But the city didn’t rest on its laurels and has continued improving the three mile stretch of road. In 2024, the city completed a project connecting ManGo to the Bergamot Arts center by providing a safe crossing of 20th street, a bike lane over the I-10 and a small bike path to the center.
Augmentations could include new and upgraded traffic calming and replacements for devices that have been damaged or worn-down over the years.
The grant also includes funding for a new Washington Avenue Neighborhood Greenway. Project funding is expected this summer and outreach and design consultants are expected to be quickly brought on. Outreach should begin well before the end of the year.
Of the 21 quick-build applications evaluated by SCAG, 11 quick-build projects were recommended for funding, and five quick-build projects were recommended for a contingency list.
We’re happy to announce that the City has been awarded a SCAG Sustainable Communities Program grant for the Santa Monica Neighborhood Greenways project! This project will collaborate with community members to test, design, and implement quick-build materials that will augment the Michigan Avenue neighborhood greenway, and to establish a new greenway along Washington Avenue. Quick-build projects use durable, low-cost materials such as striping, bollards, rubberized curbs, and signage, to test and evaluate safety improvements that support walking, bicycling, and taking transit. Of the 21 quick-build applications evaluated, 11 quick-build projects were recommended for funding, and five quick-build projects were recommended for a contingency list. The Santa Monica Neighborhood Greenways Project will receive $875,552 in project funding and is anticipated to begin this summer with contracting, procurement of a design consultant, and community engagement.
The project is anticipated to span 36 months including implementation and evaluation of the safety enhancements. For more information about the grant, please visit https://scag.ca.gov/sustainable-communities-program.
