City Council Green Lights Safety Improvements for Wilshire Boulevard

February 12, 2020 7:58 AM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – At its meeting last night, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved roadway safety improvements for Wilshire Boulevard as part of the City’s commitment to Vision Zero, the elimination of fatal and severe injury collisions by 2026. To reach this goal, ten intersections are targeted for safety improvements. Four are on Wilshire Boulevard--at 16th, 18th, 21st, and 25th Streets.

“After a full year of grant-funded community conversation about making Wilshire a better street while protecting its importance as a major travel corridor, we’re coming back with significant improvements that will make the Boulevard safer for everyone, whether you’re walking, biking, busing, scooting, or driving,” said Mayor Kevin McKeown.

The one-year study, funded through Caltrans’ Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant Program, used comprehensive collision data and input from 600 residents to come up with the following key findings:

The Study recommends a phased approach so that enhancements can be deployed quickly, with available funding, tested and evaluated, and modified as required before more permanent and capital-intensive measures are designed and constructed. Short-term measures are primarily those that can be accomplished with signal timing, paint, signage, flexposts and other temporary materials that do not require substantial design or reconstruction. These measures will begin implementation this year using existing funding. They include:

The City currently has funding for the design and implementation of the Phase One improvements (and associated evaluations) and a small portion of the Phase Two improvements. The estimated cost for Phase One is $1 - 1.5 million. Staff will be looking for grant and other funding sources and strategies to assist in implementation of future phases. The staff report summarizes key findings, outreach, and study recommendations.

As staff advances the Wilshire Safety Study recommendations, staff will continue to provide project updates through the Take the Friendly Road Campaign and refine treatments based on evaluation and community feedback. Learn moreabout Vision Zero and Take the Friendly Road.

###

 

 

Media Contact

Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov

Departments

Community Development