A bike-friendly makeover is coming to two of the main thoroughfares through Downtown Los Angeles.

In an effort led by the office of 14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar, the segments of Spring and Main Streets between 9th Street and Cesar E Chavez Avenue are being upgraded with new pedestrian and bicycle safety measures as part of the City's VIsion Zero initiative.  The project will be implemented in two phases, the first of which will create:

  • Crossing improvements
  • Flexibile, reflective bollards
  • Protected bicycle lanes
  • Bicycle signals
  • Dedicated left-turn pockets
  • Less conflicts for buses

 

A second phase of the streetscape project will build upon these improvements by adding:

  • Concrete islands at intersections
  • Concrete curbs for the entire length of the block

While the protected bike lanes may be the highlight of the project, the safety improvements will also serve as a boon to pedestrians between the Olvera Street, the Civic Center, the Historic Core and the Fashion District.  The current shared spaces create conflicts between cyclists, pedestrians and motorists, but the improved organization will separate uses and minimize the potential for injuries and fatalities via collissions.

More information will be provided at community briefings later this month.

Construction of phase one is expected to begin in Fall 2017, with phase two to follow sometime in 2018 or 2019.

More information is available at the project's official website.