SM Mobility Projects Update Meeting with City Staff

Save the Date
Virtual on ZOOM: RSVP for Zoom link

Zoom link will be emailed the day of the meeting.

Submit your questions in advance to rsvp@SMSpoke.org.
During the meeting we will use the Q&A tab for questions.

SaMoDOT Mobility Staff will present updates on bike and pedestrian projects and safety campaigns. City Staff will review recent and upcoming project work followed by a Q&A.

Mobility projects to be discussed:

  • Michigan Ave/ 20th Street bike and pedestrian connection completion
  • Construction updates for:
    – Bergamot Safety Improvements
    – 6-Schools Pedestrian Improvements,

    – Colorado Ave and Broadway Protected Bike Lane Projects,
    – East Pico Safety Improvements
  • Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study
    – Outreach and Engagement Schedule
  • Santa Monica Neighborhood Greenways Grant application
  • Share Mobility Status and Deployment Update
    More topics could be added

Looking forward to catching up with you all on October 16th!

New Speed Limits in Santa Monica Aim to Prioritize Roadway Safety For Everyone

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Speed limits on more than 30 miles of Santa Monica streets will be lowered, following unanimous approval by the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday, August 27th.

These updates are the results of a required speed survey led but the Santa Monica Department of Transportation Mobility Division earlier this year to ensure that the City’s speed limits remain valid. The survey, conducted from Jan. 27 through Jul. 29, includes measurement of vehicular speeds along roadway segments to determine the speed of a majority of drivers, which is the most effective attribute in establishing speed limits. 
–California is bound by setting speeds using the 85 percentile.

The study recommended only one increase in speed limit, from 25 to 30 miles per hour, on a 0.3-mile segment of California Avenue. A full list of approved speed adjustments, recommended in consultation with the Santa Monica Police Department, is included below. 

The ordinance will be adopted 30 days after the second reading anticipated for Sept 10th, after which the city will begin rolling out the new signage exhibiting the updated speed limits beginning this fall that should be complete by the end of the year.
For more information you can view the staff report here.

Please note the advocacy efforts led by CalBike and supported by us and advocacy organizations throughout state to change this method of setting speeds in California: Assemblymember Friedman tweaks speed limit laws to save lives & Speed Kills: Addressing the Real Road Hazard

The proposed speed limit changes support the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and severe injury crashes on city streets by improving safety for all roadway users. 

The City Council adopted Vision Zero in February 2016. Unsafe speed is the second most common violation cited in fatal and severe crashes in the city, at 14 percent of the total. Crashes at slower speeds are less likely to result in fatalities, and the application of reasonable and safe speed limits allows for effective enforcement of speed limits throughout the city. 

“Reducing vehicle speeds on our roads is vital to create safer conditions for getting around in our city,” Department of Transportation Director Anuj Gupta said. “It is one of the many ways Santa Monica is creating a street network that is more safe, connected and attractive for all roadway users.” 

Reduction to 35 mph 

  • Olympic Boulevard between 11th Street and Centinela Avenue – from 40 to 35 mph 

Reduction to 30 mph 

  • Lincoln Boulevard between I-10 Freeway and Pico Boulevard – from 35 to 30 mph 
  • Ocean Park Boulevard between 23rd Street and Centinela Avenue – from 35 to 30 mph
  • Pico Boulevard between Lincoln Boulevard and Centinela Avenue – from 35 to 30 mph 

Reduction to 25 mph 

  • 2nd Street between Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue — from 30 to 25 mph 
  • 4th Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph 
  • 11th Street between San Vicente Boulevard and Marine Street — from 30 to 25 mph
  • 14th Street between San Vicente Boulevard and Ashland Avenue — from 30 to 25 mph
  • 20th Street between Wilshire and Pico boulevards — from 30 to 25 mph 
  • 26th Street between San Vicente and Cloverfield boulevards – from 30 to 25 mph
  • Colorado Avenue between Ocean Avenue and 17th Street — from 30 to 25 mph 
  • Dewey Street between Robson Avenue and 23rd Street — from 30 to 25 mph 
  • Main Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph
  • Marine Street between Lincoln Boulevard and 17th Street — from 30 to 25 mph
  • Montana Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Stanford Street — from 30 to 25 mph
  • Neilson Way between Pico Boulevard and Marine Street — from 30 to 25 mph 
  • Ocean Avenue between the north city limit and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph
  • Ocean Park Boulevard between Barnard Way and 23rd Street — from 30 to 25 mph 
  • Pico Boulevard between Appian Way and Lincoln Boulevard — from 35 to 25 mph
  • Stewart Street between Colorado Avenue and Pico Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph
  • Wilshire Boulevard between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard — from 30 to 25 mph

Reduction to 20 mph 

  • 6th Street between Pico Boulevard and Pier Avenue — from 30 to 20 mph 
  • 20th Street between Pico and Ocean Park boulevards — from 25 to 20 mph 
  • Appian Way between Pacific Coast Highway and Bay Street — from 25 to 20 mph 
  • Ashland Avenue between Neilson Way and Lincoln Boulevard — from 25 to 20 mph
  • Barnard Way between Hollister Avenue and Neilson Way — from 25 to 20 mph 
  • California Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard — from 25 to 20 mph 
  • Michigan Avenue between Lincoln Boulevard and 19th Street — from 25 (statutory) to 20 mph
  • Washington Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Stanford Street — from 25 to 20 mph 

Increase to 30 MPH 

  • California Avenue between Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue (also known as the California Incline) — from 25 to 30 mph

Metro Bike Share Community Ride: to the Beach!

Santa Monica Spoke and Metro Bike Share invite you for a social, all-ages ride from the Expo Line to the Beach!

Get your Free tickets by clicking here:

Join Santa Monica Spoke and Metro Bike Share for a memorable community ride celebrating summertime. Join us for a leisurely bike ride starting from 17th St / SMC Expo Line station, where you’ll pedal through lively neighborhoods and charming cafes. Enjoy the fresh air as you make your way towards the coast, where the tranquil beach awaits. At the shoreline, take in the serene views and sea breeze before returning to the station.
It will likely be summer beach hot – please dress accordingly (layers), drink plenty of water and bring sunscreen!

To view more of the RIDE INFO – click HERE

Action Alert: Local Safe Streets Funding

Meeting: Tuesday, June 25th, Council Agenda Item 14A (attachment B)
Support item 14A: Parking Facilities Tax Measure

Santa Monica Spoke and the Santa Monica Safe Street Alliance request your help in support of placing a measure on the November ballot that – if approved – would help fund safer streets in Santa Monica. The measure is an increase in the parking facilities tax that would allocate steady funding for programs and infrastructure projects to build safer streets in Santa Monica for everyone.   

Join us to email the council to approve placing a parking facilities tax measure on the November ballot that if approved by the voters would increase the Santa Monica parking facility tax by 8%, only applied to private lots. 

As Santa Monica strives toward economic recovery, budget shortfalls have hindered the City’s ability to expand services to levels that meet the community’s needs and expectations. The leading cause of death for our children in LA County is motor vehicle crashes. Let’s make sure we are funding safer street projects. 

This measure would generate around $7 million annually for our community to help fund safe street programs and infrastructure. This increase will not affect costs in city-owned parking lots downtown or at the beach. The tax increase would impact people using overnight parking or utilizing private parking facilities. 

Not since 1995 – almost 30 years ago – has our local parking facility tax been updated. Santa Monica’s values and norms lead with sustainability and climate actions as we steadily work to meet our climate goals. Over 2/3 of our city’s emissions stem from transportation, particularly motor vehicles. It is critical to stop subsidizing and incentivizing car trips.

Join us today and add your voice to help strengthen the community’s call for a fair increase of the parking facility tax to help fund safer streets. This measure could have a significant and positive impact on improving street safety. Let the Santa Monica City Council know that a healthier and more equitable future requires us to act today with creative solutions like this ballot measure to increase the parking facility tax by 8% –
let’s support putting it to a vote in November!


One Click email to Council:  Please do add your comments and personal stories if you can!

Or use/personalize this “copy and paste / template” below:

Send emails to:
To: councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov, council@smgov.net
gleam.davis@santamonica.gov, jesse.zwick@santamonica.gov, Caroline.Torosis@santamonica.gov, lana.negrete@santamonica.gov, oscar.delatorre@santamonica.gov, phil.brock@santamonica.govchristine.parra@santamonica.gov
cc: david.white@santamonica.gov, Anuj.Gupta@santamonica.gov
bcc: info@smspoke.org


Subject: Support item 14A: Parking Facilities Tax Measure

Dear Santa Monica City Council Members: 

Please support item 14A (attachment B) that places a measure on the November ballot that would help fund safer streets in Santa Monica.

It is time for us to get more serious about reducing incentives to drive and make sure motor vehicle drivers contribute to funding safe streets for everyone.

The leading cause of death for our children in LA County is motor vehicle crashes. Over 2/3 of our city’s emissions stem from transportation, particularly motor vehicle use. To achieve a cleaner and safer Santa Monica, it is critical to stop subsidizing and incentivizing car trips. As Santa Monica recovers economically – this measure can create a critical step towards achieving our adopted climate goals and improve safety for everyone who lives in and visits our city regardless of how they travel. It’s been nearly 30 years since parking fees were updated.  Let’s do this now!

We will never meet our goals to reduce car trips if we continue to subsidize parking that only encourages driving. This measure allocates funding for programs and infrastructure projects aimed at creating a safer, more environmentally sustainable, and joyous Santa Monica for everyone

Please vote to approve placing this Parking Facilities Tax Measure on the November ballot and give Santa Monica residents the opportunity to vote on this important measure.

Please support item 14A, Attachment B, Parking Facilities Tax Measure