LA Breaks Ground on Safer Streets for Pico-Union
LA begins construction on Pico-Union pedestrian safety project with safer crosswalks
LA Breaks Ground on Pico-Union Pedestrian Project
Los Angeles Department of Transportation broke ground on the Elden Elms Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure project in Pico-Union, officials announced. The project will create safer crosswalks, improved school routes, and pedestrian-friendly streets in the densely populated neighborhood. Laura Rubio-Cornejo, General Manager of LADOT, joined Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and city partners for the December 18 groundbreaking ceremony, though specific details about the scope of improvements weren't immediately available.
Vision Zero Alignment
The Elden Elms project aligns with Los Angeles' Vision Zero initiative, which the city adopted in 2015 to eliminate traffic deaths. Pico-Union is a densely populated Central Los Angeles neighborhood with significant pedestrian activity, making infrastructure improvements particularly important for resident safety. Transit officials said the project focuses on creating safer routes for students traveling to and from school. Project cost details and funding sources weren't available by publication time.
Infrastructure Improvements
The project will introduce multiple pedestrian safety enhancements throughout the Pico-Union area, according to the transit agency. Officials said improvements are specifically designed to support the community's transportation needs, though they haven't specified which streets will be affected or how many crosswalks will be upgraded. The initiative is part of LADOT's broader commitment to pedestrian-focused infrastructure, building on the agency's People St program launched in 2021. Specific technical specifications will be announced as the project progresses, officials said.
Construction Timeline
Officials haven't announced a completion timeline for the Elden Elms project. The groundbreaking marks the official start of construction, but the duration of work and specific project milestones weren't provided. Transit agencies typically release detailed construction schedules after groundbreaking ceremonies, though whether LADOT will follow that pattern for this project wasn't clear from available information.
Community Impact
The project is expected to improve pedestrian safety for Pico-Union residents, particularly students walking to school, though specific impact projections weren't provided. Similar pedestrian infrastructure projects in other cities have shown measurable safety improvements—New York City's Safe Routes to School program reduced pedestrian injuries near schools by 40% in targeted areas. Riders can check Moovit for real-time transit information and route planning as construction progresses in the Pico-Union area.
