This week, Streetsblog visited recent street improvements in the central Los Angeles community of Angelino Heights. For a few years, neighbors there have been working with the city and with the nonprofit Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) to design and implement features to curb illegal street racing exacerbated by the neighborhood being the setting for the Fast & Furious movies.
The city Transportation Department (LADOT) implemented some changes there under the prior City Councilmember Gil Cedillo. When those modest interventions failed to deter illegal racing activity, LADOT began formulating new designs that are now being installed under the recently elected Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez.
In a statement to SBLA, Hernandez acknowledged years of dangerous Angelino Heights street racing and takeovers, then expressed "I’m glad that we’ve been able to partner with community members and LADOT to bring these much-needed street safety improvements to the area and I appreciate the hard work that residents, advocates and our LADOT staff put into this project." She added that the current changes are the first phase of this redesign, and that, with the city family, she is "continuing to work with our neighbors to make safe streets a reality for all Angelenos."
LADOT Interim General Manager Connie Llanos calls the Angelino Heights project "a perfect example of what can happen when government agencies, elected officials and community members work together to solve problems with creativity and collaboration." Llanos added, "we’re delivering much needed updates that will facilitate safer and more orderly driving after years of reckless speeding, and make this neighborhood a safer and more inviting environment for residents to enjoy - however they choose to move" and expressed gratitude for Councilmember Hernandez, her team, and the Angelino Heights community, for working diligently with LADOT to make this project happen.
In March SBLA reviewed LADOT's proposed street designs and found them wanting. When the initial plastic bollards phase hadn't worked, it didn't look like doubling down on plastic bollards would make much difference. Since that time, the council office and LADOT worked to improve the project, adding features that should be more effective.
The main difference is that LADOT added lots of 'wheel stops' - basically low plastic curb/bumps, similar to what's found at the end of some parking spaces.
In addition to adding wheel stops, LADOT expanded the size of some of the medians, and is adding speed humps, expected to be installed by the end of this month.
Below are more photos of the Angelino Heights roadway redesign project.
Post updated 5/15 adding LADOT statement.
