Los Angeles Moves Ahead With Final Designs for a 1.3-Mile Protected Bike Lane and Pedestrian Upgrades Linking Westwood and Santa Monica
City transportation officials are advancing the Ohio Avenue Safety and Mobility Project, a neighborhood improvement plan designed to create safer and more connected travel options between Westwood and Santa Monica.
Stretching 1.3 miles along Ohio Avenue—from Westwood Boulevard to Westgate Avenue—and continuing along Westgate, Rochester, Saltair, and Texas avenues, the project aims to enhance mobility for cyclists and pedestrians while reducing speeding and cut-through traffic on local streets.
Ohio Avenue serves as an essential east-west corridor linking Westwood, West Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. As the only street in the area without direct on- or off-ramps to the 405 Freeway, it has long been a preferred route for cyclists traveling to destinations such as UCLA, transit hubs, and nearby community and cultural sites.
Following community outreach led by the Westside Mobility Project in fall 2023, city planners incorporated feedback into a design that features a two-way protected bike lane, improved pedestrian crossings, and traffic-calming measures. The upgrades are intended to make the corridor safer and more accessible for all users, including those walking, biking, and using transit.
Additional improvements include new curb extensions, enhanced crosswalks, upgraded ADA ramps, mini traffic circles, speed humps, and signal upgrades. Together, these features will help slow vehicle speeds, improve visibility at intersections, and create a more pedestrian-friendly environment.
The project also aligns with the Healthy Streets LA initiative, approved by voters in 2024, which requires the city to implement upgrades identified in its Mobility Plan 2035 when completing qualifying street improvements. Under that plan, Ohio Avenue is designated as a high-priority corridor for bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Project Goals:
- Shorten pedestrian crossing distances and enhance safety.
- Create a continuous two-way protected bikeway suitable for riders of all ages.
- Improve connectivity to public transit, including upcoming Metro D Line stations.
- Reduce traffic conflicts and collisions.
Timeline:
- 2022–2023: Phase I community outreach to identify neighborhood needs.
- Fall/Winter 2025: Phase II outreach to present design updates and gather feedback.
- 2026–2027: Construction phase.
Residents can learn more about the project and share feedback by visiting ladotlivablestreets.org/projects/ohio.
Once complete, the Ohio Avenue Safety and Mobility Project is expected to transform a key Westside corridor into a calmer, safer, and more sustainable connection between Los Angeles neighborhoods and the City of Santa Monica.
