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MOBILITY - ACTION ITEM: (1) Receive an Update and Discuss the Better Overland Project; and (2) Direct Staff as Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: November 19, 2025
Contact: Thomas Check, Senior Traffic Engineer,
Public Works Department
Phone: (310) 253-5627
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notification: E-Mail via GovDelivery (11/13/2025): Meetings and Agendas - Mobility Subcommittee; Notify Me - Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures, Better Overland & Safer Fox Hills; Stay Informed - Bicycle & Pedestrian / Culver CityBus / Construction, Street Maintenance and Closures
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff will provide an update on the Better Overland Project. Members can discuss and provide direction to staff as appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Better Overland Project is an active transportation project extending from Venice Boulevard southward to the Fox Hills Neighborhood, including the Culver City Transit Center. The Project features over 2.5 miles of protected bike lanes, new and enhanced sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, sidewalk-facing streetlighting, new traffic signals at Overland Avenue & Kelmore Avenue/Ranch Road and Sawtelle Boulevard, and more. Together the improvements will transform Overland Avenue into an active transportation corridor, linking neighborhoods, making this primary connector safer for all users and, promoting walking and biking as practical, enjoyable ways to move throughout the City.
Staff are implementing the Project in phases based on available funding. To date, Phases 1 and 2 are funded; subsequent phases will be identified after funding has been secured. Staff continue to apply for grants and will be applying to the California Transportation Commission’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 8 program next year.
Better Overland Phase 1
Phase 1 will add traffic calming measures, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian safety improvements along Overland Avenue between Venice Boulevard and Culver Boulevard. This initial phase closes a gap in the City’s bikeway network by connecting the existing protected bike lanes on Venice Boulevard to the Class II bike lanes on Overland Avenue between Culver Boulevard and the Ballona Creek bridge. Phase 1 also includes adding a signalized pedestrian crosswalk on Overland Avenue at the Julian Dixon Library.
City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget on June 9, 2025, which includes approximately $1.4 million towards final design & construction of Better Overland Phase 1. Final construction costs will be determined once engineering design is completed and construction bids are received. Funding sources include:
• General Fund allocations carried over from prior fiscal years (no new General Fund allocations were made in Fiscal Year 2025-2026);
• Mobility Improvement Fund; and
• Metro Active Transport, Transit, and First/Last Mile (MAT) Program Cycle 1.
Due to limited budget, Phase 1 is being built using lower cost materials, such as flexposts, and does not include extensive traffic signal or ADA/curb ramp modifications given the high cost of such improvements. When additional funding becomes available, staff will implement the remaining aspects proposed for this segment of the corridor, including ADA and street lighting upgrades, to fully build out the Better Overland Project improvements.
Staff anticipate presenting the final plans for Phase 1 for Council approval at their January 26, 2026, meeting. Once approved by Council, staff will put the Project out to bid to hire a construction contractor and proceed with construction.
Better Overland Phase 2
Phase 2 will add traffic calming measures, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian safety improvements along Overland Avenue from (and including) the Ballona Creek bridge through Freshman Drive, which serves as the entrance to West LA College. Phase 2 also includes traffic signal modifications at Overland Avenue & Virginia Avenue, Jefferson Boulevard, Maytime Lane, and Freshman Drive that will shorten pedestrian crossing distances, slow vehicle turning speeds, and improve safety for people biking and those with disabilities. Phase 2 will connect to the existing conventional bike lanes on Overland Ave between Culver Blvd and the Ballona Creek.
The anticipated cost to design and construct Phase 2 is $5.4 million, and design costs are anticipated to be approximately $540,000. The cost of Phase 2 is significantly higher than Phase 1 because it includes extensive traffic signal modifications, ADA improvements, median reconfigurations, and concrete protected bike lanes. The improvements in Phase 2 represent a full build-out of the Better Overland Project on this portion of the corridor.
The City applied for a MAT Cycle 2 grant on April 7, 2025, for construction funding. In September 2025, Metro announced that Phase 2 was selected for full funding.
On November 6, staff released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire a professional engineering firm to complete the plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for Phase 2. Staff anticipate recommending awarding a design contract to a consultant at the January 26, 2025 Council meeting. Design is anticipated to take 18-24 months.
Overland Ave from Culver Blvd to the Ballona Creek Bridge
The segment of Overland Avenue from Culver Boulevard to the Ballona Creek Bridge currently has Class II bike lanes. Upgrading these bike lanes is not included within the scope of Phases 1 or 2, as staff require direction from Council on which design treatment to implement. Staff anticipate returning to Council on January 26, 2025, for this direction.
Other Funding
In addition to grant programs mentioned above, staff have already applied for grants for later phases of the Better Overland Project from the following sources:
• Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) & Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program: STBG and CMAQ are administered by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). These programs a federal transportation funding sources for projects that preserve and improve the conditions and performance of highways, bridges, and public roads; pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; reduce traffic; and improve air quality.
Staff applied for funding from these programs for the Better Overland Project and the Safer Fox Hills Project. At the November 2025 Transportation Committee meeting, SCAG placed the projects on the contingency list if additional funding becomes available through the STBG or CMAQ. The projects received a “Highly Recommended” ranking.
• Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program: A federal transportation funding source that supports the U.S. Department of Transportation National Roadway Safety Strategy and the Department’s goal of zero roadway deaths using a Safe System Approach. Staff submitted an application to implement protected intersections and other intersection improvements at 13 signalized intersections along the Better Overland Project corridor, as well as to signalize two intersections-Overland Avenue & Kelmore Avenue/Ranch Road and Overland Avenue & Sawtelle Boulevard-to improve multimodal access and safety. Staff anticipate the results of this program to be announced in early 2026.
• Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Community Project Funding Request: Community Project Funding (CPF) is an initiative that started in fiscal year 2022 (FY22) to allow Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent. A congressmember may submit up to 15 CPF requests. Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove submitted a request for $5 million in support of the Better Overland Project and Safer Fox Hills Project, but the request is subject to approval by the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no new fiscal impact associated with this item.
ATTACHMENTS
None.