Substantial Upgrades for Bus, Bike, and Pedestrian Infrastructure Coming to Iconic Section of Hollywood Blvd.

Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Nithya Raman recently announced the latest addition to the Hollywood Blvd-Safety and Mobility Project. Dubbed “Access to Hollywood,” the DOT Livable Streets project will make noticeable traffic and pedestrian mobility improvements from Gower to Orange Drive, including the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Access to Hollywood project will include 3.6 miles of protected bike lanes (the first in CD 13), new crosswalks, wider sidewalks, a dedicated bus lane, outdoor dining, and more. 

The city would love to hear your feedback on these proposed upgrades, and SAFE knows its readers will want to be the first to give their opinions. Take the survey here and let them know what you think about the Access to Hollywood project (constructive feedback only, please).

This iconic stretch has long lacked bike infrastructure, leaving pedestrians and cyclists vulnerable to the hazards of speeding cars. Coupled with Hollywood's high storefront vacancy rate, the need for change is welcome.

This project is even more relevant because Hollywood Blvd is currently classified as a high-injury network street. This means it's part of the troubling 6% of Los Angeles streets responsible for a staggering 70% of pedestrian deaths and severe injuries.

This $8 million investment not only represents a significant financial commitment but also signifies a welcome collaboration between multiple council districts and partnerships with key stakeholders such as the Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Engineering, StreetsLA, and Metro, underscoring a unified effort to maximize efficiency and minimize construction impacts. A welcome change indeed!

Design plans are still being finalized with the city, and next month, Hugo Soto-Martinez’s offices will host a Town Hall (date TBD) to hear what the community thinks about the Access to Hollywood plan. Construction is set to begin later this year, with an opening date in the first half of 2025. The plan is to move forward with sidewalk expansion, planting street trees, and implementing more pedestrian upgrades before 2028 and the Olympics.

According to Councilman Martinez, this mobility project is part of a broader plan over the coming years to revitalize Hollywood, including addressing homelessness with more shelter beds, improving the CIRCLE unarmed response program, building the first public bathrooms in Hollywood, and bringing new business to the area. 

Read more about the project from Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times.

We here at SAFE are very excited about these upgrades, but we will be pressing for the eventual addition of protected class IV lanes so that moving through Hollywood is safe for cyclists and pedestrians alike.