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Construction scheduled to revamp Figueroa Street for bikes, pedestrians
An artist's rendering shows a protected bike lane that will be built on Figueroa Street as part of the "My Figueroa" project.
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L.A. Department of Transportation
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Construction scheduled to revamp Figueroa Street for bikes, pedestrians
The "My Figueroa" project will add wider sidewalks, bus platforms, landscaping and a protected bike lane to Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles.
One of the biggest roadways through downtown Los Angeles is about to get a facelift with the aim of making it friendlier for bikes, pedestrians and transit riders.
After years of delays and a lawsuit, the "My Figueroa Project" will finally break ground later this month.
The $20 million plan will remake a stretch of Figueroa Street from downtown to Exposition Park, adding wider curbs, landscaping, bus platforms and a fully protected bike lane.
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"It’s really exciting," said Madeline Brozen, who has been eagerly awaiting the groundbreaking as the Complete Streets program manager at UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies.
Complete Streets is an urban planning concept that encourages the designing of roads for all users, not just cars.
"We know that on Figueroa there’s a lot of people that are walking, we know there’s tons of transit riders, there are people biking," said Brozen. "This project is giving options for more people to travel different ways."
But the new bike, bus and pedestrian features will mean cutting car traffic from eight lanes to five in some places, and construction will bring some street closures in coming months.
The L.A. Department of Transportation will be posting updates and alerts on the spots to avoid on a new website at MyFigueroa.com .
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