| The following is an e-newsletter produced monthly by the City of Santa Monica. Since the adoption of the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE), Bike Action Plan Amendment and the Pedestrian Action Plan, the City has worked to deliver near and long-term priority projects, sought the best ways to improve safety for all roadway users, and focused improvements to reduce fatal and severe injury collisions. While we have made a lot of progress, we are excited to say there is much more to come. Here are a few projects of note that are nearing completion or just kicking-off: |
| Wilshire Boulevard Safety Study Implementation Project Status: Starting Construction, Anticipated completion in Summer 2023 Wilshire Boulevard is among the 10% of roadways that account for 50% of the fatal and severe injury collisions in Santa Monica. In partnership with community members, the upcoming changes were developed through the year-long Wilshire Safety Study. The study found that pedestrians represent the majority of fatal and severe traffic injuries on the boulevard. Each element of the project was designed to create a boulevard that encourages pedestrian and bicycle trips, creates safe routes to school, and enhances access to health care, local retail, and public transit. Clear here to learn more about transportation improvements on Wilshire. |
| Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue Project Status: In Construction, Anticipated completion in Spring 2023 Since the opening of the Metro Expo Line, 17th Street has seen an 82% increase in pedestrian and bicycle activity. Along with the new activity there has been an increase in the number of crashes involving people on scooters and bikes along 17th Street. To address this and other safety concerns, the City is constructing a new protected bikeway on 17th Street between Wilshire and Pico boulevards. The project also includes pedestrian scale lighting, curb extensions to shorten crossing distance and manage speeds, upgraded ADA curb ramps, refreshed crosswalks, new bike crossings, and two protected intersections. On Michigan Avenue between 14th and 19th streets, the project will extend the Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Greenway (MANGo) with enhancements to make the street more conducive for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The project will add curb extensions at 14th and 15th streets, mini traffic circles at 16th and 18th streets to create a more calm and predictable flow, and upgraded curb ramps. For more information, visit Safe Streets for 17th St and Michigan Ave. |
| Colorado Avenue Protected Bikeway Project Status: Starting Design The Colorado Avenue Protected Bikeway project will construct a one-way dedicated bicycle facility along Colorado Avenue westbound from 17th Street to 5th Street. The new bikeway closes a gap in Santa Monica’s bike network resulting in a continuous protected bicycle facility from Culver City all the way to Santa Monica Pier. From there, making use of the protected lanes on Ocean Avenue and the California Incline, one can reach the Marvin Braude Beach Bike Path for an enjoyable ride north to Will Rogers State Beach or south to the South Bay cities. Join us for a Community Pop Up to discuss the project on March 15 from 5pm – 7pm in Memorial Park near the playground.. |
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| Broadway Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project Status: Starting Design The Broadway Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Project, located on Broadway between 5th and 26th streets, will upgrade the existing bike lanes to a protected facility, strengthen network connectivity across the City, enhance safety at crosswalks with pedestrian beacons, and resurface the street to improve overall conditions. More information will be shared as we move into design and refine details. Construction is anticipated to begin around by early 2025. |
| Improvements on Main Street If you haven’t walked on Main Street recently, now is a great time to check out some great new roadway improvements. In coordination with the City’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP), Main Street between Pico Boulevard & Olympic Drive was partially repaved and received a fresh coat of traffic paint. New green bike lanes include conflict zone markings, to call attention to cyclists in the roadway. Additional changes improve Big Blue Bus operations and include the City’s first red bus layover zone in front of the courthouse. |
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| Photo of the Day Protected Intersection at Ocean Avenue and California Avenue |
