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BPAC - ACTION ITEM - Receive Update and Discuss Design Alternatives for the Better Overland Project.
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Meeting Date: September 17, 2026
Contact Person: Thomas Check, PE, TE - Public Works Department,
Mobility & Traffic Engineering Division
Phone Number: (310) 253-5627
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [ ]
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notice: E-Mail via GovDelivery (09/04/2026): Meetings and Agendas - Mobility Subcommittee; Notify Me - Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures; Stay Informed - Bicycle & Pedestrian / Culver CityBus / Construction Street Maintenance and Closures
Dept Approval: Nick Zornes, Acting Public Works Director (09/03/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) receive an update on the Better Overland Project, including a presentation on design alternatives. The Committee may discuss and provide feedback to staff.
BACKGROUND
The Better Overland Project is an active transportation improvement project along Overland Avenue beginning at Venice Boulevard and extending southward to the Fox Hills neighborhood, including the Culver City Transit Center at the Culver City Westfield Mall.
Planned improvements include:
• More than 2.5 miles of protected bike lanes
• A new signalized crosswalk at the Julian Dixon Library
• Sidewalk and ADA improvements
• Sidewalk-facing streetlighting
• New traffic signals at Overland Avenue & Kelmore Avenue/Ranch Road and Overland Avenue & Sawtelle Boulevard
The conceptual plans for the Better Overland Project were approved by the City Council in May 2024. Staff are now working to implement the Project in phases. So far, three phases of the Project have been scoped:
Phase 1: Overland Ave from Venice Blvd to Culver Blvd and Library Signal
The scope of improvements in Phase 1 is limited to protected bike lanes and repair of damaged sidewalks. Phase 1 also includes a new fully signalized pedestrian crosswalk at the Julian Dixon Library, which is between Culver Blvd and the Ballona Creek. Note that no protected bike lanes are included on the east side of Overland Ave between Venice Blvd and Washington Blvd because this portion of the street is within the City of Los Angeles.
Phase 2: Overland Ave from the Ballona Creek bridge to Freshman Dr
The scope of improvements included in Phase 2 includes protected bike lanes, sidewalk repairs, ADA/curb ramp upgrades, and street lighting upgrades. Phase 2 also proposes safety improvements, including removing slip lanes at Overland Ave & Jefferson Blvd and traffic signal modifications at Overland Ave & Virginia Ave, Overland Ave & Jefferson Blvd, Overland Ave & Maytime Ln, and Overland Ave & Freshman Dr. These signal modifications will promote the safety of people walking and biking while still accommodating the safe movement of vehicular traffic.
Phase 3: Overland Ave from the Ballona Creek to Freshman Dr
The scope of improvements included in Phase 3 is limited to protected bike lanes and repair of damaged sidewalks. Note that the library signal to be installed in Phase 1 is within this stretch of Overland Ave.
Later Phases
The Better Overland Project extends further south of Freshman Dr (the southernmost extent of the current three phases) but that portion has not yet been scoped into phases.
DISCUSSION
Over the course of developing the conceptual plans for each phase, staff considered a variety of different treatment options for the protected bike lanes. Proposed treatments have included using “quick build” materials such as flexposts and striping and permanent concrete barriers. Another treatment option that was considered was to raise the bike lane to sidewalk level, however, this design treatment was never advanced due to cost.
As part of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, City Council allocated $3,000,000 to a new Street and Right of Way Improvements CIP. This CIP focuses on safer streets and attaining zero traffic fatalities in Culver City and is intended to be used to fund new and/or improved facilities for pedestrians and bicycles, calming vehicular traffic, and increasing roadway safety.
In light of this additional funding, staff are returning to the Committee to provide additional information on a sidewalk-level bike lane treatment as part of the project update, including potential cost and any ramifications to the construction timeline.
ATTACHMENTS
None.