Pedestrians in the West San Fernando Valley are intimately familiar with the oppressive summer heat.  A small measure of relief may be on the way, thanks to a state law passed earlier this year.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield has introduced a motion which would facilitate a grant application for the "Urban Cooling Strategies for Residential Neighborhoods Serviced by the Orange Line Sherman Way Station Project."  The project is defined as multi-faceted urban heat island reduction campaign, centered around the Orange Line's Sherman Way Station.  Although precise details about the proposed program are unclear, its intent is to make first-mile, last-mile connections easier for transit patrons, as well as those walking or biking towards Canoga Park High School and the Canoga Park Library.

The Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services estimates that the project cost will range between $250,000 and $500,000.  Partial funding could be found at the state level, following the passage of SB 1 - the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 - earlier this year.  The new law provides $20 million in climate change adaptation planning grants for local and regional agencies, with an 11.47 percent local match.

The motion, if approved by the full City Council and Mayor Garcetti, authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Street Services to officially submit a grant application for the project.