In May 2015, LA City Councilmember Jose Huizar unveiled the DTLA Forward plan, a set of four City Council motions aimed at improving the pedestrian experience in Downtown Los Angeles. Earlier this month, DTLA Forward unveiled its first project, the installation of 15 "headstart crosswalks" that allow pedestrians to start crossing before traffic lights change, aimed at cutting down pedestrian/vehicle collisions. DTLA Forward's next goal is two major street reconfigurations that will bring protected bike lanes to two Downtown roads, reports KPCC.
Under the plan, protected bike lanes will be installed on Main and Spring streets, both spanning all the way from West Cesar E. Chavez Avenue at the northern end of DTLA to Olympic Boulevard at the southern end. These aren't just any protected bike lanes either. While many bike lanes rely on simply an unbroken line of paint to separate drivers and cyclists, the lanes Huizar has proposed will include a physical barrier between the two.
Though plans have not been finalized, a DTLA Forward press release hints that the Spring and Main bike lanes will run right along the curb, which would then push street parking over by a few feet and provide "a 'parked car' wall of protection" for cyclists. Huizar says funds are in place for the bike lanes, but a timeline has not yet been announced.
The City Council also voted Wednesday on DTLA Forward's Green Alleyway motion that aims to convert "blighted alleys into pedestrian destinations." The Council approved the motion to create green alley pilot programs in South Park, the Arts District, and the Harlem Place alley that runs in between Main and Spring in the Historic Core. The City Council will use these three alleys as a test run for future projects.
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