Topline:
An $8-million project aimed at making the iconic Walk of Fame more walkable and welcoming is coming to Hollywood Boulevard early next year, city officials announced Thursday.
What's new for pedestrians: The 3.6-mile “Access to Hollywood” plan will bring protected bike lanes to the major boulevard, from La Brea Avenue near West Hollywood to Fountain Avenue in Silver Lake.
Sidewalks will be expanded in some areas, totaling more than 2,200 feet of space, which could open up opportunities for al fresco dining. Some crosswalks and signals will also be getting a makeover, and three new “HAWK” beacons — flashing yellow lens that illuminate when activated by a pedestrian — will be installed.
What's new for drivers: A center turn lane will be added along most of the stretch, and bus lanes will be installed from Orange Drive to Gower Street.
Bus times are expected to be “greatly improved,” but drivers should prepare for 1 to 5 minutes of additional travel time per mile. More than 200 on-street parking spots will be lost, or about four each block.
What's next: The project is part of a bigger plan to revamp Hollywood over the next several years, including adding more shelter beds for the unhoused community, bringing in new businesses, improving the CIRCLE unarmed response program, and building the first public bathrooms in the area, Soto-Martinez’s office said in a statement.
Where's the funding coming from: Much of the money is through Metro’s Active Transportation Plan, which represents a collaboration between the agency, multiple council districts, LADOT, the Bureau of Engineering, and StreetsLA, according to Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez’s office.
Go deeper: Read more about the years-long push to make Hollywood safer.
