Federal Level
US Traffic Fatalities Slightly Fall After Pandemic Record
After traffic fatalities surged in the U.S. during the first two years of the pandemic, the first nine months of 2022 marked a 0.2% decline in traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic fatalities increased 7% in 2020 and 10.5% in 2021, marking a 20-year high.
General LA
Bus Priority Lanes Complete On Alvarado Street
Bus priority lanes now stretch Alvarado Street from Seventh Street to Sunset Boulevard, with the latest phase completed earlier this month. Buses will use the southbound lanes from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and the northbound lanes from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Manned Self-Driving Cars Deployed in Miracle Mile, Beverly-Fairfax to Map Streets
Waymo's self-driving cars can be spotted around the Miracle Mile and Beverly Fairfax District as a program to map the streets and community with artificial intelligence. The vehicles are manned with a driver, but Waymo hopes to soon launch its autonomous driving service in Los Angeles. The service, which is already offered in Phoenix and San Francisco, allows passengers to summon rides on an app.
Progress Made On DTLA Seventh Street Streetscape Project
Three blocks of the city's first curb-protected bike lanes have been completed on Seventh Street in downtown Los Angeles as part of the city's Seventh Street Streetscape Project. The project includes protected bike lanes, pedestrian/cyclist-scale lighting, bus islands and new trees.
South Bay Cities
Long Beach's 51st Street Greenbelt Project Gets $2 Million In Federal Funding
The 51st Street Greenbelt Project -- which would develop a one-acre parcel through a walking trail, children play areas, new trees, native landscaping and stormwater capture features -- received $2 million from the federal government. The area of North Long Beach has been marked as a park poor area.
Westside Cities
Federal Funding Allocated To Pedestrian, Cycling Projects
The recent $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package included $1 million for the Manhattan Beach Safe Cycling Project and $1.15 million for the Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail.
Shared Bicycles Return To Santa Monica
After Lyft withdrew its dockless bicycles from Santa Monica last year, the city will now get new shared bikes through the international mobility company Helbiz.
Beverly Hills Explores Law To Seize Vehicles Involved in Street Racing, Takeovers
A proposed ordinance in Beverly Hills would allow the seizure of cars connected to street takeovers. The proposal is modeled after ordinances in the city of Paramount that designates vehicles used in street racing as "nuisances." That law resulted in 177 vehicles being impounded and stores, and 25 confiscated, between January 2021 and August 2022.