Construction is complete on the City of Santa Monica’s East Pico Safety Project, and officials are inviting residents to celebrate and experience the new safety improvements firsthand.
The City will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon at 3010 Pico Blvd. The event will feature a family-friendly scavenger hunt highlighting the newly installed quick-build safety elements along the corridor. The first 30 attendees to complete an on-site survey will receive free coffee and pastries, and participants can enter a raffle for two tickets to a show at McCabe’s Guitar Shop.
Quick-Build Safety Improvements
The East Pico Safety Project used a “quick-build” approach — deploying lower-cost, easily adjusted street treatments to pilot safety designs ahead of permanent upgrades. These treatments were informed by a comprehensive “Existing Conditions” study and extensive community engagement and aimed to improve safety for people walking, biking, rolling, riding transit and driving along Pico Boulevard between 27th Street and Centinela Avenue.
According to the City’s project page, East Pico was identified as a priority corridor after a review of crash data, traffic operations and community destinations, with quick-build elements intended to reduce conflicts between people on foot and in vehicles.
The project included features such as painted and post curb extensions, hardened centerlines and refreshed pavement markings, along with updated bus pads and striping to support all users of the street.
These temporary improvements are designed to be tested in real conditions and help shape the design of future permanent upgrades. The quick-build phase also gave community members a chance to share feedback, both online and at past pop-up events where residents walked and evaluated proposed changes.
Celebration Details
East Pico Safety Project Grand Opening Celebration
📅 Saturday, March 7, 2026
🕙 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 3010 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
At the celebration, City staff will be on site to answer questions and gather input about the improvements. The scavenger hunt is designed to help attendees discover and understand the newly installed elements, and the on-site survey gives residents a chance to weigh in on next steps.
The event underscores Santa Monica’s ongoing efforts to make streets safer and more comfortable for all users as part of its broader Vision Zero and mobility enhancement goals.
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