Flush with new funding L.A.’s Department of Transportation (LADOT) is still eyeing Fletcher Drive, between San Fernando Road and Riverside Drive, for pedestrian/bicycle safety improvements via it’s “Vision Zero” program. As part of it’s “Phase 1 Implementation” LADOT seeks to increase safety along Fletcher Drive with such low-cost measures like roadway re-striping, lane tightening or lane reductions, painted intersection tightening and the addition of buffered bike lanes; all collectively known as a road diet.
Back in 2017 LADOT attempted to force a road diet on Fletcher Drive despite widespread community opposition. LADOT’s 2017 road diet plans were drafted without any community input and failed to take into account that Fletcher Drive is major vehicular artery for local drivers and far-flung commuters and a vital access route to geographically isolated residential areas. (Click here for more information on LADOT's 2017 plans).
This time around LADOT has promised a “robust” community engagement strategy for 2019 so that all members of the community are aware of a project’s safety benefits and tradeoffs. Despite this promise LADOT has not engaged Atwater Village thus far and has provided no public updates beyond a January 2019 interdepartmental memorandum.
Vision Zero Website