Plans to add 13 miles to the L.A. River bike path are taking a step forward, following a vote taken on August 2 by the Los Angeles City Council.

In a unanimous decision, the Council has voted to authorize city staff to Board of Public Works to execute a $60-million memorandum of understanding with Metro for the construction of the trail, which is split into nine different segments between Vanalden Avenue in Reseda to the west and Forest Lawn Drive in Griffith Park to the east.

Vanalden Avenue to Kester AvenueGruen Associates

The agreement with Metro will cover a substantial portion of the overall cost of the project, previously estimated at $170 million, although now likely in excess of $200 million due to cost escalations and changes requested by various agencies which oversee the river channel. To date, the City of Los Angeles has secured approximately $125.8 million of the total price tag - inclusive of the Metro funds - leaving a gap of just over $74 million which could be addressed through other city funds, as well as State and Federal grants.

The scope of work will require the construction of a minimum 12-foot-wide asphalt bike path along the full 13-mile corridor, as well as other improvements such as pedestrian paths, fencing and gates, pet waste stations, drinking fountains, lighting, wayfinding signage, street furniture, landscapings, and improvements to roadway crossings.

Kester Avenue to Zoo DriveGruen Associates

Several segments of the project are already well into the design phase, including the stretch between Vanalden Avenue and Balboa Boulevard, which is poised to begin construction in early 2024.

The project corridor overlaps with the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, which would see complementary improvements implemented as a result of a new master plan. Other river projects in the San Fernando Valley include a new entry pavilion which broke ground this year in Canoga Park.

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