TRANSPORTATION

OVERVIEW

People today are more disconnected and lonelier than they’ve been in decades. Here in Los Angeles, our city’s design has played a role in that isolation. Sprawling neighborhoods with few ways of getting around without a car impact our relationships, our sense of community, and how we engage civically. The smallest civic unit is the neighbor, but the design of our sidewalks, our streets, and our public spaces determine which neighbors we actually encounter, and how we are able to engage with them. If we want stronger communities, we have to build infrastructure that actually brings people together.

Right now, we are far from that reality. Our transportation network is a mess and disconnected. Too many of our major streets act like highways, designed to move cars through neighborhoods fast. There are 50,000 sidewalk repairs requests sitting in 311. Access ramps can take more than a decade to build, often with little to no dedicated funding. Our streets are riddled with potholes and there are not enough crosswalks for our kids to cross the street safely. Cyclists and multi-modal commuters on the westside are struggling to get around safely. And nearly every day on average, in LA City, someone loses their life in a traffic accident on our public right-of-way. These conditions aren’t random, they are the direct result of poor policy choices.

We can choose something different. Our city is built from the street up. How our streets function sets the tone for all of the development that comes after. When our streets are designed well, the rest of our city can be better planned too. 

We can build a Los Angeles where our streets serve everyone, not just those who have a car. Venice Boulevard and Manchester Boulevard can be reimagined as great streets, not corridors to speed through, but places to gather. Spaces like Windward Plaza can be activated as a center of culture, community, and creativity. A transit-first, pedestrian-prioritized approach will help us create a connected district and City. When paired with transit-oriented housing development, it helps us meet our climate goals and encourages civically engaged communities.  

As a Councilmember, fixing our streets and improving our transportation network will be a top priority for me. 

Ensure our Streets are Walkable 

Los Angeles has the potential to be the most walkable city in North America. We have favorable geography and a climate that allows us to enjoy the outdoors almost year round. Those of us who live here want to see that potential realized. We can and should build a Westside where our streets and neighborhoods are safe enough to be enjoyed to the fullest. 

Unfortunately what is missing from the equation is political will and courage. More than a decade into Vision Zero, the City has not made meaningful progress toward our goals. In fact, since the program began in 2015, traffic fatalities have actually increased. This last year, nearly 300 people were killed by cars on our streets, which is almost one person every single day and more than the number of individuals killed in homicide for the third year in a row.  I refuse to accept traffic collisions and pedestrian and cyclist deaths as an inevitability. Every traffic injury or death is preventable, and it is the responsibility of the City to ensure that streets are safe for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. That is the promise of Vision Zero, and right now, we are falling short. 

Last year we paid out tens of millions of dollars in liability claims to people who suffered injuries because of preventable hazards like broken sidewalks, potholes. Instead of prioritizing safe infrastructure in our city budget, taxpayers are paying the price after the fact, not just in public dollars spent, but also tragically in lives lost.

• Fully fund sidewalk and street repair.

  I will introduce a motion directing the City Administrative Officer to report back on the full cost of bringing our sidewalks and streets into a state of good repair, the current funding gap, and a clear plan to close it. This includes ensuring full ADA compliance, repairing broken sidewalks, installing missing curb ramps, and fixing poorly designed ramps that currently force people into intersections instead of safe crosswalks. I will prioritize establishing a dedicated, long-term funding source for sidewalk and street improvements, and push to make sidewalk and street repairs an untouchable, line-item budget priority for our city. 

• Slower streets that save lives.

  To protect pedestrians, cyclists, and all residents, especially along high-injury corridors, near schools, and transit stops, I will implement a comprehensive set of traffic-calming measures. This includes strategically placed speed humps, signal timing adjustments that encourage safer driving speeds and improve pedestrian crossing opportunities, and connecting sidewalks on all sides of intersections by incorporating scramble crossings where appropriate. I will also use AB 43, California state law, to lower speed limits on high-injury network streets and in busy commercial areas like Abbot Kinney, Venice Boulevard, Lincoln Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard, following proven examples from cities like Helsinki, Finland, which achieved zero pedestrian and cyclist deaths by setting speeds to roughly 18.6 mph on residential streets and 25 mph on main arterials. I will couple lowered speed limits with automated speed enforcement cameras consistent with the AB645 Speed Safety Camera Pilot that guarantee compliance. 

• Safe passages to schools.

  Every child deserves a safe, active route to school. I will partner with LAUSD to implement programs that encourage families to walk or bike to school at least one designated day each week. This will include organizing a “bike bus,” a timed, supervised group bike ride to school, supported by LADOT crossing guards or promoted through social media to ensure community participation. I will also advance Safe Routes to School policies, connecting schools to protected sidewalks, bike lanes, and safe crossings so students and families can travel safely, sustainably, and independently.

• Pedestrianization of our plazas.

  I will advance the pedestrianization spaces like Windward Avenue into safe, vibrant public plazas. I will direct the City to move forward with a phased implementation plan based on existing concepts developed by the Venice Neighborhood Council, including reallocating up to two-thirds of roadway space for pedestrians by relocating or removing travel lanes, eliminating most on-street parking, and ultimately transitioning to a fully car-free plaza with limited emergency and delivery access.

• Designed by people, for people.

  We need to take back our streets as places for people, designed by people. I will ask the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to adopt elements of formal tactical urbanism programs, implemented successfully in other major cities, making it easier for neighborhoods to pilot low-cost, temporary improvements like pop-up plazas, parklets, curb extensions, painted intersections, and quick-build bike lanes. By providing guidance and support to our residents, we can test what works and turn succesful temporary improvements into permanent, people-centered streets. At the same time, I will expand open-street activations, including mini CicLAvia style events, across neighborhoods in CD11.

Create a Fully Connected Westside Bike Network 

Despite high demand from residents who rely on bicycles as everyday transportation, recreational riders and the many residents who would like to use their bikes but don’t feel safe, much of the Westside’s bike infrastructure remains disconnected, incomplete, and unsafe. There are cities all over the world that have done the work to make biking a functional transit option, and it’s high time that Los Angeles does the same. With the best weather in the city, the beginnings of safe bike infrastructure already established and a diverse and enthusiastic bike community, there is no better district to lead the way than CD11. 

• Establishing core, protected corridors across the district.

  I will accelerate currently planned east‑west connections that are already shaping more accessible biking on the Westside, including the Ohio Avenue Safety and Mobility Project that will deliver a continuous two‑way protected bikeway along 1.3 miles of Ohio Avenue, linking Westwood and Santa Monica, and the Connect Del Rey, which is nearly complete. Even with these improvements, we need to prioritize north-south pathways to form a true Westside bike network. I will find funding to complete the Santa Monica to Ballona Creek and West LA to Del Rey projects, currently paused, to provide continuous, safe north‑south routes linking our regional bike network with neighboring cities and districts.

• Complete strategic connections with regular input from cyclists.

  Many of the most direct bike routes on the Westside are currently cut off or incomplete, forcing riders into arterials with no protection. I will create a formal channel in my office to convene cyclists and maintain a live inventory of incomplete paths. Some of the gaps we could explore include extending the Frederick Street bike-pedestrian path to Dewey Street, completing the Ballona Creek Bike Path by connecting it to Washington Boulevard, and restoring complete access to Marvin Braude Bike Trail in Marina Del Rey, all of which provide important east-west connectivity. These are easy, common-sense fixes with huge benefits. 

• Work in close partnership with neighboring municipalities.

  I want to ensure a seamless biking experience across the entirety of the Westside, not just within the boundaries of CD11. Santa Monica has already started improvements on Lincoln Boulevard, while Culver City is currently planning all-ages bike improvements on Sepulveda Blvd. These projects highlight both the opportunity and the embarrassment of stark differences in infrastructure when crossing city lines. I will prioritize coordination with neighboring jurisdictions to align standards, funding, and timelines, ensuring that residents have a seamless experience as they enter and exit our district. 

• Increase protection for cyclists.

  Too often, cyclists are forced onto busy, dangerous streets with incomplete lanes or no protected bike infrastructure at all. I will prioritize fully protected bike lanes using physical barriers such as concrete curbs, bollards, raised lanes, landscaped buffers, or parking-protected lanes to ensure riders can travel confidently, especially on on Pershing Drive and other adjacent streets, including Vista Del Mar, Culver, Jefferson, that are particularly vulnerable. 

• Increase wayfinding signage in our district.

  I will implement comprehensive signage throughout the Westside, including directional markers and distance indicators to key destinations in the district to encourage increased cyclist ridership. 

Promote Transit-First Mobility in our District 

For decades, Los Angeles has been inextricable from cars and car culture. The automobile made so much possible here in LA, and so much of our culture here developed around and because of cars. But that wasn’t always the whole story. In the early 20th century, LA was a national leader in mass transit, anchored by an extensive electric streetcar system that connected communities across the basin long before freeways dominated the landscape. As the automobile became more affordable and freeway construction accelerated, those rail networks were dismantled and cars took their place. But that earlier era reminds us that Los Angeles once embraced a different mobility and we have the ability to rediscover and build on that legacy. But we cannot expect residents to choose public transit if it is a choice that requires sacrifice or restructuring of their entire life. The city must be willing to provide the upfront investment to entice riders. After all, “If you build it, they will come.” CD11 (and LA) deserves world-class transit, with buses and rail that are fast, reliable, and convenient enough that people choose them over driving. Right now, three in ten buses run more than five minutes late, and driving is often multiple times faster than riding transit, largely because of long waits and transfers. We can fix that. High-quality transit isn’t just good for riders, it’s better for the planet, since transportation is Los Angeles’ largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing car trips improves air quality and fights climate change. 

• Create faster, reliable bus corridors.

  Focusing on key high-ridership corridors such as Wilshire, Venice, Sepulveda, and Lincoln, I will implement 24/7 dedicated bus lanes to ensure buses are not stuck in traffic. I will also champion bus-only signals and queue jumps, using transit signal priority technology to reduce delays at intersections and improve travel times for buses. To protect these dedicated lanes and privileges, we will actively ticket cars that violate them, ensuring rules are enforced consistently.

• Rider-friendly bus stops.

  I will upgrade bus stops across the district with shelters, seating, lighting, and real-time arrival information, creating a more predictable, more enjoyable experience for riders.

• Tap-free transit access.

  I will support systems that allow riders to pay directly with credit or debit cards, eliminating the need for a TAP card and reducing friction for people who are ready to ride. By simplifying fare payment, we can remove a key barrier to spontaneous transit use.

• Expand the metro ambassadors program.

  I will grow the Metro Ambassadors program in the district. By increasing staff presence on buses, trains, and at stations, we can provide assistance to riders, deter unsafe behavior, and improve the overall experience for everyone using public transit. 

• Expand access to affordable transit.

  Riders consistently tell us that their main concerns are safe, clean, and reliable service. Our focus will be on delivering a high-quality transit experience while eliminating as many barriers to usage for constituents as possible, including cost. Programs like Metro’s LIFE program already provide free rides, and we have more residents enrolled than in other major cities, including New York City. By expanding LIFE even further and bringing more schools into the Student GoPass program, we can help even more residents take advantage of free or reduced transit options. Ultimately, we need to ensure more Angelenos are excited to use transit while maintaining the resources necessary to keep transit safe, clean, and reliable for everyone.

• Bus-rapid transit on freeways.

  While my immediate focus will be on protected bus lanes combined with strict enforcement, I will also explore the possibility of bringing Bus Rapid Transit to the Westside, building on successful models like the Metro Silver Line. This would give riders a fast, reliable alternative to driving to get in and out of the district via freeway, as part of a broader vision for regional mobility.

• Reduce freeway congestion.

  I also champion Express Lane projects that use tolls to keep traffic moving, like maintaining an average 45 mph on the I‑110 Express Lanes, and ensure that the money generated (the net toll revenue) is reinvested in transit and local transportation projects and returned to the communities that bear the greatest impact of traffic. with exemptions for drivers who can’t afford the tolls. 

• Fixing first and last mile connections.

  I will take a comprehensive approach to first- and last-mile access by ensuring safe, protected bike lanes to major transit hubs, particularly along the E Line. Right now, the Expo Bike Path technically connects to stations like Expo/Sepulveda and Expo/Bundy, but in practice, riders face wide, delay-heavy crossings. At Expo/Sepulveda in particular, traveling west to continue onto the Expo Bike Path requires navigating multiple intersections in quick succession, which breaks the continuity of the route. By narrowing the intersections at these stations and creating a more direct, easy-to-follow crossing, we can turn a fragmented connection into a seamless first/last mile link.

• Expand the LA Now shuttle system.

  I will expand the LA Now shuttle system by improving response times and ensuring the program is accountable to the constituents it serves. This means working with operators to streamline routes, increase shuttle availability, and create a transparent feedback system so riders can report issues and see tangible improvements. Once the system is running efficiently in its current neighborhoods, I will expand it to other parts of the district, such as Westchester and Playa del Rey, ensuring that all residents have access to reliable, first- and last-mile transit options.

• Make light rail stations comfortable.

  Many Westsiders rely on the E Line, but getting to and using these stations should be easier and more comfortable. I will upgrade stations like Expo/Bundy and Expo/Sepulveda with better lighting, seating, shade, and real-time arrival screens, and ensure they are clean and well-maintained. Where possible, I will support signal priority to keep trains moving efficiently.

• Rethink parking policy to benefit our communities.

  Angelenos hate parking so much they’ll do March Madness brackets to debate the worst places to park. And it’s not just the stress that hurts: one study found that Angelenos lost $2,308 in indirect costs like searching for parking, despite around 14% of incorporated Los Angeles being just parking. How is that possible? Right now, Los Angeles underprices parking, which incentivizes people to drive even for short trips, leading to more traffic, crowded streets, and greater emissions as people circle for spots. I will make parking fairer by adjusting prices based on demand, similar to the models adopted in San Francisco, so there are usually one or two open spaces per block. I will establish parking benefit districts across the Westside to make sure the money from parking meters stays in the neighborhood, funding things people can use, following successful examples in Pasadena and Boulder. Finally, I will look at underused parking lots and extra parking spaces as opportunities to build what our communities really need, like housing, greenspace, and local businesses.

• Guardrails around autonomous vehicle proliferation.

  Autonomous vehicles are already part of Los Angeles’ transportation system, and they offer some real benefits,  including reducing human error and expanding mobility options for people who cannot drive. However, we need to be mindful about their growth. We already see some real-world problems, including AVs blocking emergency responders, stalling in intersections, and failing to respond safely in unpredictable situations. We need local control over AV deployment, and can follow the example of cities like Santa Monica taking legal action to demand strong local regulations. Without these safeguards, investing in infrastructure to support and expand AVs, like Waymo charging lots, diverts scarce public space and detracts from higher priorities of reducing car dependence as much as we can.

Hold LAX Accountable

Our district is home to Los Angeles International Airport, the largest international airport in Los Angeles County and a vital global hub, and I will fight to ensure LAX is a good neighbor to Westchester, Playa Del Rey, and surrounding communities. That means integrating the airport fully into LA’s broader transportation planning and network, rather than letting it dominate or disrupt local transit. No conversation about mobility in CD11 is complete without addressing residents’ concerns around LAX. I will work with LAWA to invest in transit, ensuring the airport is not a local burden but an integral part of a regional plan that supports safe, efficient, and equitable mobility for everyone. 

• Prioritize transit over road expansion at LAX.

  The only way to reduce traffic congestion is to provide reliable, safe, and efficient alternatives to driving. Research on freeway expansion projects show that roadway expansion will actually make congestion worse, and can negatively affect residents and our environment.  I believe the best path to make LAX easier to get to is to invest in public transit networks in and out of the airport, including fully integrating the People Mover with Metro rail; increasing frequent, all-day service to LAX. 

• Accountability for the People Mover.

  The LAX People Mover and transit center actually need to open and work the way they’re supposed to. After years of delays and cost overruns, it’s time for real accountability. I will be showing up to hold Los Angeles World Airports accountable, stop overspending, get these projects across the finish line, and make sure the transit center is fully functional. As we prepare for major global events, we can’t afford transit investments that don’t deliver. I will push LAWA and partner agencies to move faster, resolve the issues holding this project back, and be transparent with the public about where things actually stand