Sustainable & Connected: Santa Monica Safe Streets project named Best of the Year

November 13, 2024 7:30 AM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Nov. 12, 2024) - The Southern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association, or APWA, announced its B.E.S.T. Project of the Year award winners, with the city of Santa Monica's Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue project winning in the transportation category.

The APWA awards celebrate projects that advance Public Works in Southern California across areas such as building, facilities, storm water quality, and more. Fifty-three agencies submitted 97 entries this year, a record number of entries.

The five projects that won in the transportation category advance the safety, connectivity and efficiency of our transportation networks.

Santa Monica's Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue project was created in response to increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic on 17th Street stemming from the opening of the Metro E (Expo) Line in 2016.

To make the street safer for all users, the city added a protected bikeway, pedestrian scale lighting, curb extensions and upgraded ADA ramps, updated pedestrian and bike crosswalks and protected intersections between Wilshire and Pico boulevards. On Michigan Avenue, the project included curb extensions, new and upgraded curb ramps, and mini traffic circles.

"Santa Monica has been working hard to improve safety on 17th Street and Michigan Avenue for all community members, and it's an honor to have this project recognized by APWA," Director of Public Works Rick Valte said. "The Safe Streets project is just one of the many ways the city is working to promote a safer and more accessible urban environment for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike."

This is the latest of several acknowledgements for the Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue project. It also received the 2024 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Award from the League of California Cities and was named one of the best new U.S. bike lanes built in 2023.

Learn more about the city of Santa Monica's current mobility projects.

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