This is your latest update from the “Be Excited! Be Prepared” campaign, providing you with information on key City projects and their construction. There is a lot going on around town; highlights below!
- Santa Monica Bike Center – The new Bike Center celebrated its Grand opening on November 18th. Located at 2nd Street and Colorado Avenue, the Bike Center provides all things bike: secure bike parking, showers and lockers, bike repair, bike rentals and tours, bike education programs, and retail and accessory sales. Located near the future terminus of the Expo Light Rail line, this new resource is an important part of promoting non-auto transportation. www.santamonicabikecenter.com
- Ocean Park Boulevard Complete Green Street - From Nielson Way to Lincoln Blvd., Ocean Park Blvd. will be turned into a "Complete Green Street,” which will result in a better performing, enhanced streetscape that is pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented, attractive, green, and prevents urban run-off from entering the Santa Monica Bay. Construction begins this week. There will be a public groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, December 12 at 10 a.m. on the Ocean Park Branch Library lawn, 2601 Main Street. Construction will last just over a year, and one lane of traffic will be kept moving in both directions at all times. www.SMConstructs.org/OPB
- Traffic Signal Improvements – The City of Santa Monica is tackling implementing the fourth phase of the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), a city-wide project to ease traffic congestion. The new system will help minimize traffic impacts to emergency response routes, public transportation, and buses. It will also provide the City with a much-needed high-tech system to manage traffic during peak travel times, special events, holidays, and traffic accidents. Construction is underway at several intersections, primarily located throughout the mid-city area. Construction will continue through late 2012 but work will move quickly – generally, construction crews will work at one location for a short period of time, and then move on. www.smgov.net/bebp/project.aspx?id=28095
- Expo Light Rail – Preconstruction work on the Expo Light Rail Line has been underway for the last several months, and is now largely complete. Initial construction work such the demolition of some buildings located along the alignment will begin early next year. Progress also continued on the design of the Expo Maintenance Facility and adjacent buffer zone at Stewart and Exposition Blvd. The City and the Pico Neighborhood Association held a community workshop on November 29th where residents expressed a desire for the buffer area to be used for a park or open space. www.smconstructs.org/ExpoYard
Coming Soon! – Keep an eye out for new projects to start construction in early 2012. Parking Structure 6 is scheduled for demolition in the first quarter, making way for its rebuilding with twice the current number of spaces. Infrastructure improvements along 20th Street and Cloverfield are also scheduled to start construction early next year. The City will be scheduling an “Ask the Staff” community forum where the public with an opportunity to meet with staff working on all of these projects.
Remember! You can learn about key projects and possible construction impacts in one convenient place, www.SMConstructs.org. Please email smconstructs@smgov.net with questions.