Street Improvements

Making improvements to the City’s roadways is a high priority for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. The Department designs improvements that optimize the flow of traffic or make streets safer for motorists and pedestrians.

The Department is proud to inform the public of the status of projects that enhance motorist and pedestrian activities in the City.

Bottleneck Elimination

• Carpool Lanes on 405 Freeway between 10 and 90 Freeways: This $167 million project will construct northbound and southbound high occupancy vehicle lanes on a 4.1-mile segment of the 405 freeway. This project will widen freeways and 12 bridges, relocate ramps, rebuild local streets and the Palms Boulevard over-crossing, and construct auxiliary lanes and sound walls. Completion date: Winter 2009.

• Carpool Lanes on 405 Freeway between 10 and 101 Freeways: This $950 million project will complete the 405 freeway high occupancy vehicle lane system by constructing a northbound HOV lane between the 10 and 101 freeways. The project will provide five mixed-flow freeway lanes in each direction, reconfigured interchanges, widened and/or replaced bridges, 12 sound walls and about 45 retaining walls. Start date: Summer 2009. Completion date: Fall 2013.

• Gap Closure and Widening of Sepulveda: The $46.7 million Gap Closure and Sepulveda Boulevard Widening Project has brought congestion relief to the 101 and 405 freeway interchange. The project constructed a tunnel under the freeway connector, separate on-ramps for the 405 and 101 freeways and a bypass to access the freeway via Dickens Street. The project extended the 405 freeway’s northbound carpool lane by widening the freeway and 101 freeway connector. A special southbound lane was also built on Sepulveda Boulevard to provide access to the freeway.

• Reversible Lane on Sepulveda: LADOT engineers plan to implement a reversible lane on Sepulveda Boulevard during rush hours. The lane – running through the Mulholland Tunnel –- will alleviate traffic congestion. The project will also widen intersections of Sepulveda at cross streets.

Optimized Transportation Flow

• Transit Priority System: LADOT and Metro have implemented a system that uses advanced technology to give Metro Rapid buses traffic signal priority along Metro Rapid corridors and the Metro Orange Line route. The project, which cost $30 million and debuted in July 2000, has gained nationwide attention for the significant improvement it made to these Metro services. By the end of 2008, the system will have improved 1,150 intersections in 26 transit corridors.

• Fire Preemption System: LADOT and the Los Angeles Fire Department have developed a system to reduce fire emergency response times and improve public safety. Using LADOT’s Transit Priority System infrastructure, the system gives green traffic lights to emergency vehicles on a number of streets within the City. The first FPS route of this $450,000 project will be activated in February 2008 on Broadway and all 26 Metro Rapid routes will be configured by July 2009.

Streetscape Beautification

Main and Spring Streets Median Island: A raised median island with trees and dome lighting will be installed at the intersection of Main, Spring and Ninth streets to enhance bus operations, improve safety and beautify the Downtown Fashion District. Construction of the $800,000 project, which is part of the Main and Spring Streets Bus Lanes Project and funded by Metro, will be completed by June 2008.

Pedestrian Safety

• “Pedestrian” Signal Crosswalks: LADOT is actively installing special pedestrian crosswalks at pedestrian thoroughfares throughout the City. The crosswalk's flashing overhead lights are activated with the push of a button. The lights continue to flash as pedestrians cross the street.

Street Widening and Realignments

• Commercial Street Widening: This project widened Commercial Street between Alameda and Center streets in downtown Los Angeles.

• National Boulevard Widening: National Boulevard will be widened between Sawtelle Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard. This City project is being done in conjunction with Caltrans work on the 405 freeway that will add a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane between Interstate 10 and the 90 freeway. Completion date: 2008

• Valley Boulevard Grade Separation: LADOT engineers are in the design phase of a project that will elevate Valley Boulevard between Marianna and Eastern avenues.

Additional Street Improvement Projects by our Transportation Partners

• City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering and select Street Improvement program.

• State of California, Department of Transportation, District 7