California approves $85M in grants for pre-Olympics public safety upgrades

The Metro Planning and Programming Committee in California approved $85.5 million in grant awards earlier this month. The funds will support projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle transportation paths and access statewide.

The Metro Active Transportation, Transit, and First/Last Mile Program (MAT) Grants, awarded by the Metro Planning and Programming Committee, were first issued in 2021. The MAT initiatives are funded through Measure M sales tax revenue. This funding represents the second cycle of MATS awards.

These projects are expected to be completed on an expedited timeline as they are planned to serve mobility needs during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games. Once completed, the projects will deliver at least 30.5 miles of active transportation improvements including 28.5 miles of bike lanes/paths and improve access to 11 transit stops/stations.

The largest portion of grants will support multimodal and public safety projects in Los Angeles. Using the grants, city officials will conduct a variety of improvements across the city, including:

Los Angeles, CA

$6.54 million for the Alvarado/Pico First-Last Mile Improvements, including protected bike lanes, curb ramp upgrades, crosswalks, sidewalk repair, pedestrian refuge island, pedestrian plaza and speed tables.
$10 million for the Grand Ave/Cesar Chavez First/Last Mile Project. The initiative will involve enhanced pedestrian crossings, ADA upgrades, sidewalk repairs, lighting enhancements, bus boarding platforms, dedicated bus lanes and protected bike lanes
$5.4 million for the Koreatown to Pico-Union Neighborhood Active Transportation Corridor Project, which aims to create a safe, low-stress, walk and bike route through traffic calming, protected crossings and a protected two-way bike lane.
$2.63 million for the Pico Metro Station First-Last Mile Improvements ($2,630,000) initiative, which includes protected bike lanes, curb ramp upgrades, crosswalks, sidewalk repair, pedestrian refuge island, pedestrian plaza and speed tables.
$1.94 million for the Union/Pico First-Last Mile Improvements with protected bike lanes, curb ramp upgrades, crosswalks, sidewalk repair, pedestrian refuge island, pedestrian plaza and speed tables.
$4.34 million for the Vermont/Pico First-Last Mile Improvements initiative. The project involves protected bike lanes, curb ramp upgrades, crosswalks, sidewalk repair, pedestrian refuge island, pedestrian plaza and speed tables
$10 million for the West San Fernando Valley L.A. River Gap Closure, featuring bike path, ADA ramps, six undercrossing, pedestrian-scale lighting, wayfinding signage and traffic calming.

Outside of the Los Angeles Metro, several cities will receive additional funding for multimodal and public safety projects. These grants include:

Alhambra – $4.45 million for the Alhambra Backbone Bicycle Network, which includes class I, II, III and IV bikeways and traffic calming elements
Burbank – $6.2 million for the Downtown Burbank Sidewalk Enhancement Project with sidewalk improvements, curb extensions, directional ramps, accessible pedestrian signals, high-visibility crosswalks and wayfinding signage
Culver City – $5.4 million for Better Overland Phase Two – a project involving protected bike lane, curb extensions, protected intersections, upgraded crosswalks, ADA ramps, pedestrian signals and push buttons, wayfinding and pedestrian-level lighting.
Duarte – $3.1 million for the Duarte Town Center Greening and Traffic Calming Project with pedestrian-level lighting, curb bulb outs, curb parklets, crosswalk improvements and landscaping
Inglewood – $5 million for the Market Street Streetscape Project.
Long Beach – Nearly $10 million for the Downtown Walkable Corners, which features pedestrian refuge islands, bulb outs and protected bike lanes.
Pasadena – $7.17 million for the Pasadena Rose Bowl Multimodal Olympic Route with class II and Class IV bike facilities, curb ramps, crosswalks, and enhanced crossing treatments
Pomona – $1.86 million for the Metro A/Gold Line First/Last Mile Improvement Project. The effort includes class II and Class IV bike lanes, widened sidewalks, ADA ramps, upgraded crossings and lighting enhancements
Santa Monica – $1.45 million for the Bergamot Connector, including class II and Class IV bike lanes, curb extension, ADA ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, traffic signal modifications, pedestrian-activated control devices and wayfinding signage