The removal of the current WeHo Rainbow Crosswalks at San Vicente and Santa Monica Boulevards will begin Tuesday night, February 22, 2022 at 11:00 p.m. and will conclude at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, February 23, 2022. The removal will make way for the reinstallation of the new approved updated colors of the progress pride flag. The project is scheduled to be completed on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
The current WeHo rainbow crosswalks within the intersection of San Vicente and Santa Monica Boulevards on both the north and south approaches will be removed and
replaced with an updated version approved by West Hollywood City Council. The work will take place in two phases.
In phase one, the City’s asphalt repair contractor Hardy and Harper will grind and remove the current WeHo rainbow crosswalks and will overlay with asphalt. They will remove and replace a depth of 2″. The contractor will provide all work area signage and temporary traffic deviations to guide and direct traffic while roadway work is being performed as required in the MUTCD -WATCH manual. All work will be performed in accordance under contract specifications covered in the “Greenbook” Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction.
WeHo Rainbow Crosswalks – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESPhase two is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. to Thursday, March 3, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. The City’s traffic striping contractor P.C.I. will install the approved updated colors and patterns using traffic grade thermo plastic material in accordance under contract.
On December 21, 2020, the City Council directed staff to study the permanent installation of transgender colors in crosswalks located at a prominent intersection along Santa Monica Boulevard and to proceed with updating the existing rainbow flag crosswalks located on San Vicente Boulevard at Santa Monica Boulevard with the rainbow flag that is inclusive to all communities. As part of this directive, staff was asked to gather information from the Transportation Commission, the Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board (LGAB), and the Transgender Advisory Board (TAB) to identify a crosswalk location and return to Council with a recommended location for final approval. The City Council also, directed the Facilities and Field Services Division (Facilities) at its December 21, 2020, meeting to install the inclusive colors at the rainbow crosswalks at Santa Monica and San Vicente Blvd.
WeHo Rainbow Crosswalks – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESThe Department of Public Works presented Council’s directive to identify preferred Transgender Flag crosswalk locations to the Transportation Commission, Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board (LGAB) and Transgender Advisory Board (TAB) and received various recommendations. Based on input received from the LGAB and TAB regarding the evolving Flag design, Facilities and Recreation Services postponed the directive to update the Santa Monica/San Vicente crosswalks until Council has an opportunity to review the various recommendations.
WeHo Rainbow Crosswalks – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESOn April 21, 2021, the Transportation Commission recommended to place a Transgender Flag crosswalk at the Robertson/Santa Monica intersection and consider placing an additional Transgender Flag crosswalk at the Crescent Heights/Santa Monica intersection. In addition, the Transportation Commission recommended that the LGAB and TAB consider installing the Progress Pride Flag crosswalk at either intersection.
On July 7, 2021, the TAB recommended that the crosswalk at the San Vicente/Santa Monica intersection, be painted with the Pride Progress Flag, this intersection currently has the rainbow flag crosswalk. The TAB did not recommend having a specific Transgender Flag Crosswalk, instead the Board recommended adding the Transgender Flag colors to the existing rainbow flag crosswalk, via use of the Progress Pride Flag colors.
