STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: March 24, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Daren Grilley, Assistant Director of Public Works/City Engineer Jessie Holzer Carpenter, PTP, Transportation Manager
Subject:
Attachments:
Westside Cities Council of Governments’ Westside Bus Connection Program
1. Map of Transit Corridors
2. Community Workshop Flyer
INTRODUCTION
This report provides details regarding the first round of community engagement events for the Westside Bus Connection Program, which is a Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG) proposal to implement regional transit improvements on three key corridors, including the portion of La Cienega Boulevard through Beverly Hills.
BACKGROUND
The WSCCOG launched the Westside Bus Connection Program to identify and design corridor improvements that can enhance bus speed, reliability, and rider experience across the Westside.
In late 2025, they hired a consultant team tasked with delivering construction-ready “quick-build” bus infrastructure designs on portions of up to three of the Westside’s busiest transit corridors (Attachment 1):
The combined north-south La Cienega Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard corridor from West Hollywood, through Beverly Hills, to Westchester;
Santa Monica Boulevard (west of Beverly Hills); and
Sepulveda Boulevard (between UCLA and LAX).
If approved by the WSCCOG member cities, the improvements could be completed in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games.
The three transit corridors being considered are included in the Westside Mobility Study, which is a regional transportation plan for the WSCCOG area that identifies new inter-jurisdictional projects and investments to address issues for all transportation modes, improve access throughout the Westside, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Westside Mobility Study was approved by the WSCCOG Board in 2020.
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Meeting Date: March 24, 2026
DISCUSSION
The WSCCOG’s consultant kicked off the Westside Bus Connection Program in late 2025 by initiating a review of existing conditions along the three corridors to establish a shared baseline across jurisdictions. Their consultant is also currently developing high level conceptual design concepts for the three corridors that may include:
Dedicated and/or peak-hour bus lanes;
Transit signal upgrades;
Curb use and striping changes; and
Pedestrian safety improvements.
Bus lanes provide a dedicated travel lane for transit buses, which allow for significantly increased passenger throughput as compared with single-occupancy vehicles or even carpooling.
Additionally, travel times are more reliable for transit riders since buses are not trapped in traffic congestion, which can lead to reduced congestion overall as more people on buses means fewer cars on the road.
The WSCCOG will host two community workshops to receive input on the existing conditions analysis and preliminary conceptual design options for the three corridors. The dates, times, and locations of both events are listed below.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 PM
West Hollywood Aquatics and Recreation Center
8750 El Tovar Place, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 9:30-11:30 AM
Culver City Senior Center
4095 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232
Given the regional nature of the project, the WSCCOG has made an effort to schedule the workshops at facilities central to each jurisdiction and will publish presentation recordings and/or meeting materials online at www.westsidecities.org/transportation for stakeholders that cannot attend in-person. They also intend to distribute a survey to further solicit public feedback.
Next Steps
After these initial engagement activities conclude, the WSCCOG will review feedback received for each corridor and evaluate physical, operational, and policy constraints that may affect bus operations, such as roadway widths, traffic volumes, parking and loading conditions, and signal operations. After a comprehensive assessment of potential impacts and community preferences, they will make recommendations regarding early “off-ramping” of infeasible segments, prioritization of corridor segments where quick-build transit improvements are most feasible and impactful, and potential advancement of less-constrained segments to the next stage of design.
The WSCCOG and their consultant anticipate presenting these recommendations during the second round of community workshops, tentatively planned for May 2026. If approved by their respective member agencies, the segments selected to move forward would be installed with cost-effective materials allowing for faster implementation (e.g. pavement markings as opposed to concrete).
If the section of La Cienega in Beverly Hills is recommended to move into the next stage of design, staff would bring the proposal forward for City Council consideration.
Meeting Date: March 24, 2026
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact to this item.
In 2022, the WSCCOG Board approved the allocation of Metro’s Measure M Subregional Equity Program (SEP) funding for design and installation of the three transit corridors. Metro established the SEP to provide equivalent funding to each County subregion, administered by their respective Council of Governments, for projects related to transit or highway modes, including first/last mile, active transportation, and complete streets improvements.
RECOMMENDATION
This report is for information only.
Shana Epstein,
Director of Public Works
Approved By
Attachment 1
WSCCOG C 7 A orridors for 10% Design
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Attachment 2
WSCCOG WESTSIDE BUS
CONNECTION PROGRAM
If approved by the WSCCOG member
agencies, improvements would be
implemented with low cost materials
that could be installed quickly in time
for the 2028 Olympics. The Westside Bus
Connection Program aims to make bus
travel faster, safer, and more reliable
through targeted improvements.
Join us for a Community Workshop!
About the Project
The Westside Cities Council of Governments
(WSCCOG) is developing a plan to enhance
the bus rider experience along three of the
busiest transit corridors:
• Santa Monica Boulevard (west of
Beverly Hills)
• Sepulveda Boulevard (between UCLA
and LAX)
• La Cienega and Jefferson Blvds (West
Hollywood to Culver City)
Proposed design concepts may include:
• Dedicated and/or peak-hour bus lanes
• Transit signal upgrades
• Signing and striping modifications
• Pedestrian safety improvements
Learn more about the Westside Bus Connection Program and proposed corridor improvements and share feedback on priorities and designs.
Contact Us
Email:
[email protected]
Website: bit.ly/WestsideBusConnection
Scan the QR code
to sign up for
project updates.
Wednesday March 25, 2026,
6:00-8:00 PM
Culver City Senior Center
4095 Overland Ave, Culver City,
CA 90232
Workshop 1
Saturday March 28, 2026,
9:30 - 11:30 AM
West Hollywood Park Aquatics &
Recreation Center
8750 El Tovar Pl, West Hollywood,
CA 90069
Workshop 2
Spanish interpretation and light refreshments available. 0 Santa Monica Boulevard
- Los Angeles Road Segment
- Santa Monica Road Segment
La Cienega Boulevard/
Jefferson Boulevard
West Hollywood Road Segment
Beverly Hills Road Segment
- Los Angeles Road Segment
- Culver City Road Segment
Sepulveda Boulevard
- Los Angeles Road Segment
- Culver City Road Segment
- Unincorporated Los Angeles County
Road Segment
Metro Transit Lines
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-O- Under Construction Metro Rail Line & Station
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Freeway Interface Challenges
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