Vision Zero Painted Curb Extensions Come to Koreatown’s 3rd Street

1:58 PM PDT on May 3, 2017

New curb extension at Third and Vermont in Koreatown. All photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.

Catching the bus last night, I spotted some new street markings at the westbound bus stop on Third Street at Vermont Avenue in Koreatown. Initially I assumed it was some kind of bus stop treatment.

According to L.A. Department of Transportation engineer Tim Fremaux, these are striped curb extensions, which are part of the toolbox that LADOT is applying to Vision Zero Priority Corridors identified in the city's Vision Zero Action Plan. Among the 40 priority corridors is Third Street from Vermont Avenue to Normandie Avenue.

Vision Zero Action Plan priority corridors

Fremaux states:

We are experimenting with different designs, including some with vertical delineators and some with only raised pavement markers like in your photo. The goal is to reduce right turning speed and create a buffer between those right turning cars and pedestrians waiting at the corner.

The curb extensions consist of diagonal white thermoplastic stripes with some reflectors. Approaching the curb extension, in the adjacent vehicle lane, there are new arrows indicating that vehicles can go straight or turn from that lane.

Curb extension on Third Street at Vermont Avenue

Third Street's new striped curb extensions are somewhat like the painted curb extensions or bulb-outs on Cesar Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights. These interventions are cheap enough to be implemented quickly. Though Fremaux states that delinators (sometimes called candlesticks or posts) or color might be part of a future phase, they are not planned for Third Street at this time.

Right now there are twelve of these curb extensions on Third Street. They are located at all signalized intersections from Vermont to Normandie: Vermont Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue, Catalina Street, Kenmore Avenue, Alexandria Avenue, and Normandie Avenue.

This area has plenty of foot traffic and quite a few sidewalk cyclists. Many of the sidewalks are narrow, typically 6-8 feet, and effectively even narrower with street furniture, newspaper racks, poles, etc.

Curb extension at DASH bus stop at Third and New Hampshire

In my observations, most drivers stayed out of the painted curb extensions, though there were exceptions.

xxx — Third Street at New Hampshire curb extension serving as a loading zone

Mostly I observed buses pulling entirely into the curb extension area, which allows cars to continue to pass in the through lane

xxx — In some cases, buses pull over part of the way into the curb extension while still briefly blocking the through traffic lane

ThirdStreetparking — At Vermont Avenue, there is a metered parking space inside one of the curb extensions

Cyclists currently ride through the extensions (or ride on the substandard sidewalk)

The project has also upgraded crosswalks to the new "zebra" version.

New zebra crosswalk at Third and Berendo Street

What do you think readers? Have you seen these treatments popping up in other places? Are they working well? Or will they need more posts, paint, or something else to be totally effective? How are they for walking, bicycling or other modes?