Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar said today he wants to bring pedestrian-oriented improvements to the downtown Los Angeles as part of a focused approach to handling the growing number of develops and residents in the area.
Huizar introduced four motions as part of a “DTLA Forward” initiative in which he proposes to re-configure downtown streets to make them more amenable to pedestrians, install crosswalk lighting that give pedestrians a head start before cars, and transform alleyways into plazas.
He also proposed creating an approach to planting and removing trees in South Park, a downtown area near the Los Angeles Convention Center where various developments have popped up in recent years. The plan would help maintain a cohesive neighborhood “image and brand.”
With the recent population and development boom, “DTLA lacks a clear focused plan to address the strain on traffic flow, increased pedestrian and bicycle activity — which we want to encourage — and ways to create more public spaces and better connect its distinct neighborhoods,” Huizar said. “Our ‘DTLA Forward’ initiative will be the platform to create a well-thought out plan of action for smart multi-modal transportation growth now and in the future.”
Huizar said the downtown area population is projected to grow to 80,000 people, with $11 billion of development in the works.
