Playa del Rey Starts Safety Task Force to Evaluate Roads
After receiving a lot of pushback from many Playa del Rey residents, Los Angeles Councilman Mike Bonin has officially put together a 20-person safety task force to evaluate all road configurations in the area, current and future.
The group is called The Playa del Rey Safer Streets Task Force, and it was formed by Bonin after two months of public complaints regarding 9.4 miles of traffic lane cuts on parts of Vista del Mar, Culver Boulevard, Jefferson Boulevard, and Pershing Drive. Task force members include residents and business owners of the community who both agree and disagree with the recent bike and lane changes in the neighborhood.
Although the lane reductions began as part of Bonin’s “Safe Streets” initiative to eliminate all traffic-related fatalities in the area and make room for upcoming protected bike lanes, many drivers have complained that the changes have increased traffic congestion, significantly slowing down daily commute times.
Lane restoration on Vista del Mar has already started, though no decisions have been made regarding other main streets. The safety task force will look at overall data, neighborhood feedback, and financial resources before making further safety recommendations. They have been allotted 90 days to come up with possible solutions to present to the public.