Measure HLA, also referred to as Healthy Streets L.A., asks voters in the City of Los Angeles to require the city to — over time — redesign streets to be safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. In essence, the measure demands that the city take the opportunity to carry out the street safety enhancements outlined in the city's own Mobility Plan every time a street is undergoing improvements (such as repaving).

Official title on the ballot: City Mobility Plan Implementation Initiative

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Understanding Measure HLA

This measure arrives after a year in which Los Angeles tallied more traffic deaths (337) than homicides (327). Moreover, critics say the city has ignored the law already on the books to make the streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The history behind it

In 2015, the City Council adopted The Mobility Plan, which outlined where the city should add street safety measures such as bus lanes, bike lanes, crosswalks and pedestrian enhancements. The plan sets an ambitious goal to make these adjustments by 2035, including Vision Zero, which aims to reduce traffic-related fatalities to zero by 2025.

There's a map that shows where all of these improvements should take place. Many of the the major streets selected for improvements are part of the High Injury Network, which identifies the most problematic streets: 6% of streets in the city of Los Angeles make up for 70% of deaths or injuries for pedestrians.

Currently, the city is not close to achieving this goal of reducing deaths through needed street improvements. Measure HLA requires the city to make progress on the city's Mobility Plan and to document it for the public.

How it would work

If approved, Measure HLA would require the city to implement a street modification as laid out in the Mobility Plan whenever there's an improvement to at least one-eight mile stretch of a road or sidewalk,

The measure would also require the city to create a data portal for the public to follow the city’s progress. The ordinance would also allow a city resident to sue if the city is not compliant.

What people who support it say

If you happen to see a billboard that reads “Car crashes are the #1 killer of children in L.A.," it’s by an advocacy group called Streets For All, the measure’s main proponent.

Michael Schneider, CEO of Streets for All, said that the measure is needed to spur compliance with the Mobility Plan. Eight years into the city's 20-year-plan to make the streets safer, it has only implemented 5% of the plan.

"So if you do the math, that's not a 20-year plan, that's a 160-year plan," he said. "Meanwhile, pedestrian deaths and just deaths from car crashes in general keep going up."

Schneider said the measure should hold the city accountable on their progress for implementing the Mobility Plan.

What people who oppose it say

Keep LA Moving is one of few groups that will appear on the ballot against Measure HLA. They have publicly denounced so-called "road diets" — when traffic lanes are reduced — arguing that they actually lead to increased accidents and make the roads less safe for all commuters.

Christopher LeGrass, co-director of Keep LA Moving, argues the measure will worsen traffic congestion, making the commute for Angelenos longer and will slow down emergency response times for first responders.

The United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the union that represents L.A. city firefighters, have announced their opposition to Measure HLA. UFLAC argues that Measure HLA will make traffic worse and slow down response times for emergency responders. In a campaign video, the UFLAC also says vehicles won't be able to pull over to the right, which would block first responder vehicles.

Potential financial impact

The costs to administer the ordinance and develop the data portal are unknown, according to the city. Schneider said he believes the financial impact should be minimal since the city is being asked to follow the already approved Mobility Plan. That said, a report from the from the City Administrative Office noted that any lengthy delays in the annual repaving of streets could cost the city between $73 million and $139 million.

Follow the money

Measure HLA has so far received more than $4 million in support. The union representing Los Angeles city firefighters has raised more than $155,000 to oppose the measure.

Further reading

• L.A. Times Endorsement: Yes On Measure HLA
• Will LA Follow Through On Its Own Mobility Plan?
• After Years Of Rising Traffic Violence, Los Angeles Will Audit Its Vision Zero Program