Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Bike Walk Paths

Koretz, LADOT Present Plans To Close Expo Bike Path Northvale Gap

LADOT rendering of Northvale Gap Expo Line bike/walk path

LongBeachize_Ad_Concepts
This article supported by Los Angeles Bicycle Attorney as part of a general sponsorship package. All opinions in the article are that of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of LABA. Click on the ad for more information.

This week, City Councilmember Paul Koretz and the L.A. City Department of Transportation (LADOT) held a meeting to share plans to construct a new section of the Expo Line bike/walk path. The new facility would close what is known as the Northvale Gap, where the train and future bikeway parallel Northvale Road in Cheviot Hills.

NorthvaleGapmap
Location of the Expo bike/walk path Northvale Gap
Location of the Expo bike/walk path Northvale Gap

Though most of Expo Line path was part of the light rail project that fully opened in 2016, there is a roughly three-quarter mile gap that was left out - located between the E Line Westwood/Rancho and Palms stations. To travel between existing Expo path segments, Cyclists currently take a hilly sharrow-ed detour route on Northvale Road.

Once the Northvale Gap section is completed, the Expo bikeway will extend nearly seven miles - from 17th Street in Santa Monica to La Cienega Boulevard in West Adams. That will be nearly all off-street bike path, though it does include a short stretch of on-street bike lanes from Motor Avenue to Palms Station. (The Expo bikeway also extends another five miles east of La Cienega to USC, all of which is on-street bike lanes.)

Despite some resistance from some neighbors (who also opposed the train), LADOT and Koretz hosted meetings on this gap closure project, and quietly assembled the funding for it.

Early on, the plan was for the Expo walk/bike path to be located in Exposition rail right-of-way, but around the 10 Freeway, the site is constrained. In this stretch, just west of Motor Avenue, the new path will run just north of the 10, where E Line trains run south of the freeway. To make this work, the bike path will be located on an existing undeveloped easement already owned by the city. To use the site for a path, the city has had to acquire additional easement rights from underlying property owners. The acquisition process involves portions of 13 private properties, as well as city, Caltrans, and Metro properties. The city has already acquired some of the easements, and anticipates finalizing that work this summer - potentially involving some eminent domain of already-undevelopable right-of-way.

The path project includes two sections with somewhat different conditions.

CheviotPresentation012021May
Expo bike/walk path design between Motor and Dunleer
Expo Bikeway xxx

Between Motor Avenue and Dunleer Drive, the path will essentially be in a shallow trench, between the 10 Freeway and the backyards of homes.

Expo xxxx
Expo bike/walk path design between Dunleer and Overland
Expo xxxx

Between Dunleer Drive and Overland Avenue, the path will be at sidewalk level along the south side of Northvale Road - running adjacent to (north of) the E Line.

Expo bike/walk path schedule
Expo bike/walk path timeline
Expo bike/walk path schedule

LADOT anticipates that construction will begin in 2022 and be completed by 2025.

To learn more about this project, watch the full Expo path city meeting on LADOT YouTube.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Santa Monica Reducing Speed Limits Throughout City

Thirty city streets will see lower speed limits

December 3, 2024

This Week In Livable Streets

CicLAvia in the West Valley, Metro board meeting, Forest Lawn Drive, Vermont Transit Corridor, and more

December 2, 2024

Eyes on the Street: OC Streetcar Construction Progress

Orange County streetcar construction is progressing, especially with recent installation of overhead wires. OCTA's 4-mile light rail line is expected to open in 2025.

December 2, 2024
See all posts