LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The Los Angeles Department of Transportation has been awarded $18 million as part of the 2021 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant program from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The LADOT proposal was selected as one of 24 projects awarded across 18 states out of 157 eligible applicants. In addition to creating local jobs and improving infrastructure, the 2021 round of INFRA grants was the first in history to consider projects based on how they would address climate change, environmental justice and racial equity.
"When the administration put out the call for new thinking on infrastructure, Los Angeles was ready to deliver," said LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds. "We know that how we invest in transportation has far reaching impacts on economic growth, the safety of streets and the health of communities. I want to thank USDOT for supporting our vision and helping us with these investments for Los Angeles communities."
LADOT's INFRA grant will fund the Community Infrastructure & Resiliency Zone Project, which addresses the impacts of the National Highway System in Los Angeles.
South LA communities have withstood economic and social harm from a legacy of redlining, neighborhood demolition to construct the interstate highway system and poor air quality, according to LADOT.
By focusing on the area, the CIRZ Project underscores the need to invest in neighborhoods that have experienced historic injustice and completes funding for several shovel-ready projects. Specifically, the grant will improve safety by funding 26 new traffic signals in the project area and new Leading Pedestrian Intervals that give pedestrians additional time to cross the street, at 90 intersections.
The project area extends along the I-110 corridor from downtown LA to just south of the Imperial Highway.
"This funding supports our larger efforts to address nearly a half century of disinvestment in our South Los Angeles neighborhoods and its infrastructure," said LA City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. "The investment will augment the work we've done to address racial equity and environmental justice with the installation of protected bike lanes, enhanced street lighting and the addition of trees and high-visibility crosswalks in the Broadway-Manchester community."