News for Your Neighborhood: Infrastructure & Policy Updates

3/10/22

General LA

$26M in funding awarded for L.A. County Park projects

“Our local parks are some of the most important places in our neighborhoods and I think that too many of us took them for granted before the pandemic,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn in a statement. “These grants are a way to empower cities and community organizations to expand and improve local parks and help us ensure everyone has access to open space where they can play, exercise, and just enjoy the outdoors.”

Speed Limits to be Reduced on Nearly 200 Miles of L.A. Streets

“The City of Los Angeles was forced to increase speed limits across the city because of an arcane state law that allows speeders to set the speed limit,” Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) said in a statement.

“It’s a flawed policy that’s had devastating consequences,” she continued. “Recklessly fast driving has only increased, resulting in a 21 percent uptick in traffic fatalities in the city in 2021. Los Angeles was instrumental in helping me modernize the law with the passage of AB 43, and I appreciate the city’s quick action to restore safe speed limits across the region.”

Antelope Valley (Lancaster, Palmdale)

Work Starts Soon on Avenue R Fixes

Long-awaited improvements to Avenue R between Sierra Highway and 25th Street East [in Palmdale] will include continuous sidewalks and bike lanes, as seen in this artist rendering of the completed project.

Gateway Cities (Downey, Montebello, Bell, Cudahy, South Gate)

Montebello, Pico Rivera win grants for bike trail connection, new park

In Montebello, its grant will provide for an area at the northwest corner of Rea Drive and Beverly Boulevard as a resting spot for bikers, horse riders, joggers and walkers, David Sosnowski, director of community services for Montebello.

San Fernando Valley

San Gabriel Valley (Pasadena, South Pas, Pomona)

Construction Starts Monday on Pedestrian Safety Enhancement at Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue

The work is part of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement program in Pasadena, a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project which consists of the construction of curb extensions at intersections, along with associated miscellaneous concrete work such as sidewalk widening, signal modifications, asphalt pavement overlay, utility adjustments and striping, and installation of new scramble crosswalks with stamped asphalt concrete.

South Bay Cities (Carson, Long Beach)

Gerald Desmond Bridge demolition to begin in May

The demolition of the Gerald Desmond is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

“The new bridge that replaced it is a fitting, and lasting tribute to the old span,” Cordero said. “We will bid a fond farewell to the Gerald Desmond, and honor the memory of the man for whom it was named.”