The City of West Hollywood continues to seek community feedback on the future of Fountain Avenue by extending the deadline of the city’s Fountain Avenue Survey from October 21, 2022 to November 13, 2022.
The Fountain Avenue Survey is in response to direction from the City Council to explore the feasibility of a protected bicycle facility along Fountain Avenue. The goal of this study is to develop a future Fountain Avenue that is more local-serving, and safer for everyone, with improved access for those walking, biking, and in wheelchairs. This survey is intended for those who use Fountain Avenue between La Cienega Blvd and La Brea Ave.
To take the survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FountainAveSurvey.
Existing conditions on Fountain Avenue include narrow sidewalks, above-ground utilities, and a lack of trees and shade. Additionally, inconsistent roadway widths and peak-hour parking restrictions contribute to unpredictable driving conditions and safety issues for all roadway users.
The City of West Hollywood is considering critical changes to Fountain Avenue that reduce the potential for excessive speeding and that improve safety for all users. Proposed improvements include widening sidewalks, planting street trees where possible, and installing bike lanes. Data shows that 64% of the traffic on Fountain Avenue within West Hollywood does not have an origin or destination in West Hollywood, meaning that the street is used mainly by commuters as pass-through traffic. This presents an opportunity to develop a future Fountain Avenue that is more local community-serving, safer for everyone, and more accessible for people who are walking, biking, and in wheelchairs.
Two options under consideration would enhance safety for all roadway users and increase the experience of comfort for people walking, using wheelchairs, and biking by installing either standard or protected bike lanes. Both options would include wider ADA-compliant sidewalks, new street trees and landscaping, and the removal of peak-hour (morning and evening rush-hour) parking restrictions. To make room for these improvements, one auto lane in each direction would be re-purposed, reducing automobile capacity and on-street parking would be reduced by between 12% and 50% depending on the option selected.
The city hosted a virtual Zoom platform community meeting on October 20, 2022 to share preferences and priorities for an improved Fountain Avenue. After the completion of the survey, City staff will return to the City Council with recommendations for an initial pilot program to evaluate proposed improvements informed by technical analysis and feedback from the public. Ultimately, any long-term proposals for future interventions would build off of safety-oriented actions that the City has already implemented to improve Fountain Avenue.
During the past several years, the City has implemented a series of short-term safety improvements to Fountain Avenue to begin to address these conditions such as high visibility crosswalks with refuge islands and bright yellow paddle signs as well as bulb-outs at intersection corners to reduce crossing distances. On March 1, 2021, the West Hollywood City Council directed staff to study the feasibility of installing protected bike lanes on Fountain Avenue.
Worst idea ever from the failed policies of the WEHO Marxist City Council and the equally miserable planning commission. They want to turn it into a 20 year project like the pathetic West Hollywood Park. Took them 15 years to put up a sculpture,make a pool, and pave uneven crappy tennis courts. Guess if you suck really badly at everything you can always work for the city of WEHO.
LEAVE FOUNTAIN ALONE.
Here, here! Bike on SMB.